In a surprising turn of events, Lionel Messi and the Argentine national team experienced their first defeat since the infamous World Cup loss to Saudi Arabia. The almost year-long unbeaten run came to an end at La Bombonera, where Uruguay triumphed 2-0 in a compelling CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers clash.
The breakthrough for Uruguay materialized through Maxi Araujo and Darwin Nunez, marking the first goals conceded by Argentina since the memorable World Cup final against France. The defeat, although frustrating for Argentina, holds broader implications, signaling their vulnerability in the lead-up to the Copa America.
Defensive Disarray:
-
- Emiliano Martinez (6/10): The shutout streak concluded, conceding the first goal since the World Cup final. A potential lapse in defense contributed to this setback.
-
- Nicolas Tagliafico (6/10): A steady performance from the left-back, albeit with room for criticism regarding the first goal. The defensive unit faced challenges when Nahuel Molina lost possession.
-
- Nicolas Otamendi (6/10): Displayed solidity but showed signs of age, struggling with pace at times.
-
- Cristian Romero (7/10): A standout performance from the Spurs defender, showcasing versatility by excelling in various aspects of the game. Notably, he had opportunities to score and contributed significantly.
-
- Nahuel Molina (5/10): A costly giveaway in the goal sequence emphasized the high stakes of errors at this level.
Midfield Mediocrity:
-
- Enzo Fernandez (7/10): Despite being the best-performing midfielder, the overall midfield performance lacked luster. Fernandez was the only one of the trio to complete the full 90 minutes.
-
- Alexis Mac Allister (6/10): A subpar 45-minute run resulted in being sacrificed at halftime, receiving a yellow card and making way for Lautaro Martinez.
-
- Rodrigo de Paul (5/10): A relatively anonymous showing from Messi’s midfield partner, with the exception of a tackle that seemingly left Maxi Araujo injured.
Struggles in Attack:
-
- Nicolas Gonzalez (5/10): A quiet performance with challenges in creating opportunities and inconsistent passing.
-
- Julian Alvarez (6/10): Limited impact due to insufficient ball possession. Only managed one shot, falling short of expectations for a striker of his caliber.
-
- Lionel Messi (7/10): Although Messi rattled the bar and created numerous chances, his efforts were insufficient for a heroic comeback.
-
- Substitutes and Managerial Choices:
-
- Lautaro Martinez (6/10): Brought in to boost the attack, with limited impact beyond one shot on target.
-
- Angel Di Maria (6/10): Entered early in the second half, providing a few dangerous crosses that failed to lead to goals.
-
- Exequiel Palacios (7/10): Made valuable contributions in midfield after replacing De Paul.
-
- Giovani Lo Celso (N/A): Introduced too late in the game to influence the outcome.
-
- Marcos Acuna (N/A): Arrival came too late to make a significant impact.
-
- Lionel Scaloni (6/10): While criticism is tempered considering Argentina’s achievements, questions linger about the effectiveness of substitutions in a challenging encounter against Uruguay.
Despite this setback, both Argentina and Uruguay remain strong contenders for World Cup qualification, with their eyes set on the 2026 tournament. However, the defeat exposes vulnerabilities that may embolden other teams as the Copa America approaches.
