The Argentine Under 23 National Team beat their counterpart from Paraguay 4-0 at the Tomás Adolfo Ducó Stadium and left great feelings thinking about the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The team of Javier Mascheranowho turned 40 this Saturday, was far superior to Albirroja, who won the Venezuela Pre-Olympic at the beginning of the year and will also be present at the Olympic event, and defined the match in the first half.
Kevin ZenonBoca’s midfielder, opened the game with a tremendous goal at 17 minutes: he received from Cristian Medina, after a recovery in the rival field in which Pablo Solari and Lucas Beltrán also participated, he controlled with two touches and took a violent shot from very far away that got into the upper left corner of Ángel González.
But the initial stage still had a couple of shouts in store for the Albiceleste, both with Beltrán’s signature, former River player who plays for Fiorentina. The first came after a high-level cross from the left by Lucas Esquivel, and the second after a pass from Solari in a two-on-one against the rival goalkeeper (28′ and 35′) generated by a great clearance from Medina.
With the aforementioned Medina, Alan Varela and Claudio Echeverri starting the attacks in the middle, Argentina, which also enjoyed solidity in defense, became very strong and easily reached the offensive zone.
And in terms of the complement, although Mascherano’s team lowered the intensity a little, the dynamic did not change greatly. The author of the final 4 to 0 was Solariwho had tried to score on a couple of occasions, by hooking towards the center and finishing in a great way (59′).
The second half had a great novelty Giuliano Simeone’s debut in the National Team, one of Cholo’s sons. Santiago Hezze, Thiago Almada, Santiago Castro and Thiago Fernández also entered, while the starting team was: Brey, Luján, Di Césare, Lomónaco, Esquivel, Varela, Medina (captain), Echeverri, Zenón, Solari and Beltrán.
Argentina and Paraguay, the two CONMEBOL representatives in Paris 2024, will meet again next Monday (at the same time, 3 p.m.), but on the Lanús field. The two confrontations between these teams in the January-February Pre-Olympic had ended tied (1-1 and 3-3).
The Albiceleste will debut in the Olympic Games on July 24 against Moroccoin Saint Etienne, for Group B. Three days later they will play against Iraq and will close the first phase with UkraineJuly 30th.
