College Station (United States) (AFP) – Argentina eased to a 2-0 victory against a lacklustre Honduras in the reigning champions’ penultimate World Cup warm-up game in Texas on Saturday. Lautaro Martinez and Giuliano Simeone scored the goals in a game dominated by Argentina in College Station.
Lionel Messi was on the bench but not used by coach Lionel Scaloni as he nurses the superstar back to fitness for the World Cup group games after he suffered a hamstring injury on May 24. A lethargic game burst into life on 37 minutes when Nicolas Tagliafico was fouled in the penalty area by Cristopher Melendez, and Inter Milan forward Martinez drove home the spot kick low to his left to make it 1-0 on 37 minutes.
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The lively Martinez was the creator when Argentina doubled their lead on 54 minutes as his intelligent backheel set up Atletico Madrid’s Simeone to fire past Honduras goalkeeper Edrick Menjivar. In other highlights, Giovani Lo Celso hit the crossbar with a superb curling shot from outside the area in the first half, and Tomas Aranda’s second-half attempt was well saved by the Honduras ‘keeper.
Honduras barely crossed the halfway line in the second half as Argentina exerted their dominance. Scaloni said that despite playing some of his younger squad members, his team showed they have a solid identity as the defense of their crown approaches. “Maybe it could have been done better, but as for the team’s hallmark, its identity, I think it remains intact, and that’s the most important thing. That’s what we’re looking for, in the end, not to break that identity,” he said.
Argentina face Iceland in their final friendly match in Auburn, Alabama on Tuesday before the three-time winners begin their World Cup group games against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City. Scaloni has indicated that Messi could play a small part in one of the friendlies, meaning an appearance against Iceland is likely.
© 2024 AFP
