The Argentina Sub 23 Teamdirected by Javier Mascheranocontinues his preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where he will debut on July 24 facing Morocco. This afternoon, the Albiceleste faces Paraguay in a friendly test. The match is played at the Huracán stadium, without an audience, and is broadcast by Telefe.
The 11 starters chosen by Masche show the power that the National Team has in the category, and what is exciting for the upcoming competition. Argentina came out with Brey; Luján, Di Césare, Lomónaco and Esquivel; Varela, Medina, Echeverri and Zenón; Solari and Beltrán. Thiago Almada, Santiago Castro and Luciano Gondou, among others, were waiting on the bench. To them we must add the three “older” players who will make up the list of 18, who in theory would be Dibu Martínez, Nicolás Otamendi and Julián Álvarez. Great equipment.
At the start, Echeverri had the clearest shot for Argentina. The River footballer entered the area with a pure dribble from the left sector and when he was one-on-one with the goalkeeper he scored crossed, too open, and the ball went next to a post.
But Argentina shouted the 1-0 very quickly, at 17 minutes, and thanks to Kevin Zenón, author of a real great goal. The Boca midfielder seems to want to take advantage of the chance that Mascherano gives him and he hit a spectacular left foot shot from 25 meters and nailed it into the left corner of Ángel González, the Guaraní goalkeeper.
From a goal from Boca to another from River, in the foot of Lucas Beltrán, who emerged in the millionaire quarry. The scorer who emigrated to Fiorentina scored 2-0 at 28 minutes and after a great play started by Alan Varela and led by Cristian Medina, so that the left back of Atlético Paranaense and former Unión, Lucas Esquivel, assisted in the 9th.
Argentina wins, likes and scores in the Ducó, with a midfield that moves as if it knows itself by heart and an attack that also arrives and hits. The 3-0 score was once again signed by Beltrán, who was left alone under the goal after a pass from Pablo Solari.
The first half closed with the feeling that Argentina was accelerating and arriving. Zenón was the most outstanding thanks to his great goal but also every time he had to intervene with the ball.
Masche’s team came out determined to extend the lead in the second half. Solari could not convert after a pass from Beltrán, who was generous with his former teammate at River and gave him the ball when he could finish without a left-footed goalkeeper.
Solari had revenge shortly after and scored 4-0. The former Colo-Colo received a long ball, hooked it and scored at the far post with his left foot, to get the urge to shout a goal dressed in light blue and white.
The coach made several changes, among them the entry of Gianluca Simeone, the son of the former soccer player and today coach of Atlético de Madrid, Diego Pablo Simeone. The kid entered through Solari. Varela and Echeverri also left, replaced by Santiago Hezze and Thiago Almada, respectively. Then it was the turn of Thiago Fernández, for Medina, and Santiago Castro, for Beltrán.
Almada was key in the 31st minute to create a wall on the left with Thiago Fernández, from Vélez, who shot a cross and after a rebound, the one who could not define well was Castro, another from Fortín.
It is worth remembering that Paraguay is not a rival for anything minor. He was the winner of the South American Championship that allowed him to qualify for Paris 2024 and Argentina could not beat him in any of the two matches he had to face. Only some pieces are missing, yes, among them the midfielder Diego Gómez, Messi’s teammate at Inter Miami.
