The Argentine National Team continues its preparation for future international challenges with a new test passed against Costa Rica in a friendly played at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles.
With a performance that highlighted defensive solidity and collective play, the team led by Gustavo Alfaro faced an Albiceleste that, although it did not have the presence of Lionel Messi On the field, he demonstrated his strength and determination to obtain victory.
The absence of the Argentine star, due to a “small injury to the hamstring of the right leg”, did not prevent the national team from showing its quality and depth of squad. Lionel Scaloni, team strategist, chose to give opportunities to other players, including changes to the starting lineup, such as the decision to leave Dibu Martínez on the substitute bench.
Although Martínez was in optimal physical condition, the coach decided to give him the opportunity to debut with the Albiceleste shirt. Walter Bentez, who has been standing out for PSV Eindhoven with 17 clean sheets in 29 games this season. This decision deprived Martínez of reaching a historic record with the national team, since it was only one game away from equaling the mark of 22 consecutive games in the national goalestablished by Sergio Chiquito Romero.
Despite the missed opportunity, Martínez continues to be a fundamental pillar in the Argentine team, occupying second place in the historical table with the most consecutive games defending the Albiceleste shirt.
