BUENOS AIRES (The Thursday Times) — Uruguay beat Argentina 2-1 in a friendly at La Bombonera on Friday, spoiling the World Cup runners-up’s first match since Lionel Messi retired from international football.
Uruguay went ahead soon after half-time. A Giorgian de Arrascaeta free-kick from the left caused confusion in the Argentina defence, and Lisandro Martínez’s attempted headed clearance struck team-mate Leonardo Balerdi and went in.
De Arrascaeta set up the second in the 53rd minute, when his corner appeared to hit Maxi Araújo on the shoulder before looping into the net. Julián Álvarez pulled one back in the 73rd minute and had another chance in stoppage time, but Uruguay held on for a third win under their new coach, Diego Forlán.
Messi, 39, played his last match for Argentina in an emotional farewell friendly against Benin in October, ending an international career of 207 appearances and 125 goals. His last competitive match was the World Cup final in New Jersey, which Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain.
Coach Lionel Scaloni, who signed a contract extension to 2030 this week, did not give the No. 10 shirt to any player, saying he had not yet chosen a successor. Many fans in the stands wore Messi’s shirt, but the stadium was not sold out, a rarity for Argentina home games while Messi played.
“We have to rebuild without Leo Messi, and we have the talent to bounce back from this loss,” Scaloni said. “We knew it would be difficult, and now we have to keep working.”
He asked for patience with the younger players in his squad. “We can’t expect them to carry the team on their shoulders,” he said. “We already know the star players aren’t here, and those who remain are good players. We have to give them time.”
Argentina kept the ball well but lacked a cutting edge in the final third, and neither Nico Paz nor Thiago Almada could fill the creative gap Messi left. Goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli captained the side for the first time, and Scaloni said he “had nothing to do with the goals.”
Álvarez, the Atlético Madrid striker, called it “a new era, with a lot of young guys,” adding: “We have to keep working to carry on the legacy left by the others.”
Argentina host Costa Rica in Córdoba on Tuesday, while Uruguay play the Dominican Republic at home on the same day.
