New Era Victory
Argentina Cruises Past Bolivia 4-0 in First Match of the Post-Messi Era
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Key Points
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Before the match, Scaloni said no player would wear Argentina’s No. 10 shirt until after Messi’s farewell; Nico Paz was described as a possible successor to the iconic number.
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Scaloni gave starts to Agustín Giay, Paz and Gianluca Prestianni, while Román Vega made his debut at left-back. Scaloni said it was “wonderful to see so many young players enjoying themselves” and called giving a player a national-team debut especially exciting.
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Argentina’s win was its fourth consecutive head-to-head victory over Bolivia without conceding. Bolivia arrived at the match having lost four straight and then suffered a fifth consecutive defeat.
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Rodrigo De Paul and Gonzalo Montiel were expected to return for the Benin match, while Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina and Enzo Fernández were set to miss it through suspensions incurred in Argentina’s World Cup final defeat to Spain.
Argentina launched its post-Messi era with a dominant 4-0 victory over Bolivia in Córdoba, signaling the team's readiness to move beyond its greatest player. 101greatgoals reported that Lautaro Martínez and Nicolás Paz scored in the first half, with captain Cristian Romero and substitute José Manuel López adding second-half goals as coach Lionel Scaloni handed debuts and starts to several young players.
The win marks Argentina's fourth consecutive shutout victory against Bolivia and comes ahead of Lionel Messi's planned farewell match against Benin. newsy-today noted that Scaloni deliberately left the No. 10 shirt vacant, reserving it for Messi's final appearance while testing the next generation of talent.
Young Stars Shine as Argentina Moves Forward
Nicolás Paz emerged as a creative force in midfield, scoring and orchestrating Argentina's attack with flair that impressed observers. Scaloni gave debuts or starts to Agustín Giay, Paz, Gianluca Prestianni, and left-back Román Vega, who made his international debut. en.vijesti reported that Scaloni called it "wonderful to see so many young players enjoying themselves," signaling his commitment to building around emerging talent.
José Manuel López, a substitute who entered late, netted his first international goal to seal the rout. The performance demonstrated that Argentina has depth beyond its legendary No. 10, with multiple players capable of stepping into key roles.
Messi's No. 10 Remains Untouched Until Farewell
Argentina's coaching staff has decided not to assign the iconic No. 10 shirt to any player until after Messi's final match. flashscore noted that Nicolás Paz has been identified as a possible successor to the number, though Scaloni is taking no rush in making that decision permanent.
Messi's retirement from international football is scheduled for October 7 against Benin, following a second friendly against Burkina Faso. This gives the veteran forward one last chance to say goodbye in an Argentina jersey.
Bolivia's Losing Streak Extends to Five Games
Bolivia's problems mounted with its fifth consecutive defeat, arriving in Córdoba already winless in four straight matches. ysscores reported that Argentina's defense was suffocating, with the team shutting out Bolivia for the fourth time in a row in head-to-head matchups.
The lopsided scoreline underscores the gap between Argentina's elite squad and Bolivia's struggling program. Argentina's depth allowed Scaloni to introduce multiple debutants while comfortably controlling the match throughout.
Suspensions Cloud Argentina's Benin Preparations
Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina, and Enzo Fernández will miss the Benin match due to suspensions stemming from Argentina's World Cup final loss to Spain. Meanwhile, flashscore indicated that Rodrigo De Paul and Gonzalo Montiel are expected to return for that fixture, strengthening the squad.
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