- Soccer. Will Messi miss the 2026 World Cup? Scaloni can't guarantee his presence on the Argentina National Team
- Soccer. Alarm bells ring with Raphinha: substituted with Brazil due to discomfort in his right thigh
What would be the difference in the thrashing? That was the question before the match. Afterwards, the question was different: how much did Argentina take care of itself and how much did it really cost them? The answer left some concern. The Albiceleste barely won 2-1 against weak Mauritania in a Bombonera that was not even full. An unexpected result because of the shortness and, above all, because of the sensations.
The best thing about Argentina was the self-criticism. Emiliano Martinez did not hide: "Thank God we didn't play the Finalissima. If we played like that, we would lose..." Then he went further: "When we put on the national team jersey, we have to put more. We need more heart. We lacked intensity." And when asked about some criticism from the Spanish press about Argentina's lack of hierarchy in friendlies, Dibu replied: "The last World Cup was the same. It's game by game. We have the experience of going far; they don't"...
Lionel Scaloni did not sugarcoat anything either: "The conclusions are not positive. The team was not good at any time". The coach left Messi on the bench at the start and opted for Nico Paz and Thiago Almada. The number 10 came on in the second half along with Rodrigo De Paul and Franco Mastantuono. The paradox was great: none of the three had any impact and the team fell apart against a rival that occupies 133rd place in the FIFA ranking.
Argentina had put the night on track in the first half, with ball control and rhythm, although with little depth. They took the lead with a long-range shot from Enzo Fernandez and a nice free-kick from Nico Paz, who scored his first goal for the Albiceleste.
A strange match
But after the break, the team's level dropped and Mauritania found a way to make things uncomfortable. Emiliano Martinez held the team together with three decisive saves. The equalizer came in the 94th minute through Jordan Lefort and left the warning light on.
Now Zambia remains, on Tuesday. And also the obligation to change the face to say goodbye to their people in a different way, after a thick night at the Bombonera and a triumph that sounded much less than what the result marked.