Argentina vs Uruguay: Uruguay win 2-1 in first game after Messi retired
No Messi, no No. 10 shirt: Argentina lost 2-1 to Diego Forlan's Uruguay at La Bombonera. Who scored, what went wrong, and who Argentina play next.
Uruguay beat Argentina 2-1 in a friendly at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires on Friday, 13 November. It was Argentina’s first match since Lionel Messi retired from international football, and he was not in the squad.
A Leonardo Balerdi own goal and a looping Maxi Araujo header from a corner put Uruguay 2-0 up early in the second half. Julian Alvarez pulled one back, but Argentina could not find an equaliser.
Did Messi play in Argentina vs Uruguay?
No. Messi, 39, has retired from the national team. His last game for Argentina was a farewell friendly win over Benin last month, and he finished with 207 caps and 125 goals, AFP reported.
Coach Lionel Scaloni chose not to give the No. 10 shirt to anyone for this match, the Associated Press reported. The AP also noted that the famous Boca Juniors ground was not sold out, an unusual sight for an Argentina home game.
Argentina vs Uruguay goals
- 48th minute, 0-1: a free kick from Giorgian de Arrascaeta was headed clear by Lisandro Martinez, but the ball hit Balerdi and went in.
- 53rd minute, 0-2: another de Arrascaeta delivery, this time a corner, struck Maxi Araujo on the shoulder and looped into the net.
- 73rd minute, 1-2: Julian Alvarez, the Atletico Madrid striker, scored to give Argentina hope.
The first half ended 0-0. Argentina had about two thirds of the ball, according to VAVEL’s live coverage, and Nico Paz forced the best save of the half from Uruguay goalkeeper Cristopher Fiermarin. Alvarez had one more good chance in stoppage time.
What went wrong for Argentina?
The AP wrote that Argentina’s attack missed the spark Messi used to give it, and that Paz and Thiago Almada could not fill that gap. The home side controlled long spells but lacked a sharp finish, and both of Uruguay’s goals came from set pieces rather than open play.
For Uruguay this was a third win under their new coach Diego Forlan, the former striker who won the Golden Ball at the 2010 World Cup.
Why it matters to fans in Pakistan
Argentina have a huge following in Pakistan, from Lyari’s football grounds to the fans who searched this match more than almost anything else on Friday night. This was the first real look at the team after Messi, and the answer on day one was a home defeat.
Argentina’s next match
Argentina play Costa Rica in Cordoba on Tuesday, 17 November. Uruguay host the Dominican Republic the same day.
