The Argentina Under 23 team led by Javier Mascherano suffered a huge defeat of 3 goals to 0 against the Mexican team in the second match scheduled as a series of friendlies that serve as preparation for the albiceleste to arrive in the best way for the current year’s Olympic Games that will take place in Paris, capital of France.
In the first match the result was 4 goals to 2 but this time in favor of the Albiceleste squadbut in the second confrontation Argentina showed a rather poor image at the Cuahtémoc in Puebla and was defeated by goals from Santiago Múñoz from a penalty and a double from Ramiro Arciga.
How is the story going between both nations in the Sub 23?
The history between the Sub 23 teams of Argentina and Mexico has quite important antecedents in official tournaments, each and every one corresponding to the Pan American Games where Argentina has two victories, a draw and a triumph for the Aztec team.
Argentina remains focused on winning gold in Paris
This new party was vital for those led by Javier Mascherano who continue to do the necessary adjustments to arrive in the best technical, physical and mental shape for the Olympic event in Paris where the Albiceleste team is the top seed in Group B.
Those led by the so-called ‘Jefectio’ will begin their journey on July 24 at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint-Étienne against the Moroccan national team, champion of the last Under 23 African Cup of Nations. Later, on July 27 at the Stade de Lyon, Argentina will be facing the third place in the AFC Under 23 Asian Cup, a competition that It will take place from April 15 to May 3 in Qatar.
The albiceleste will finally close the first phase on July 30, again at the Stade de Lyon. In that scenario they will have to face Ukraine, a team that finished third in the Under 21 Euro Cup. It must be made clear that the qualification format for the next phase is made up of the 2 best teams in each zone, who will be advancing to the quarterfinals.
Mascherano spoke after the match and ahead of Paris 2024
“We know that Morocco has won the African Cup and will surely be a very tough rival. Looking at the possibilities, they may have senior and senior U23 players who play in Europe. With Ukraine it is a bit the same: we don’t know them as a team, but we know that they have good individuals who can be in the competition.”
“Being able to compete serves to continue strengthening the group, the base of the Pre-Olympic boys. Being able to have the possibility of having kids who couldn’t be in the Pre-Olympic, because they play in Europe or because they were left out. Now we can see how they adapt to the idea, along with those who were already working with us. (An Olympic Game) It is a different experience than what we players are used to. Normally in tournaments we are isolated and you go from the hotel to training and from training to the hotel… An Olympic Games allows you to coexist with athletes from all over the world, from all possible activities. “It is enriching to live together in an Olympic Village,” he added.
Party formations:
Mexico: Fernando Tapia; Pablo Monroy, Jorge Berlanga, Ramón Juárez, Mateo Chávez; Diego Medina, Rodrigo López, Diego Gómez, Víctor López; Santiago Muñoz and Braian González Alonso. DT: Ricardo Cadena.
Argentina: Fabricio Iacovich; Juan Nardoni, Gonzalo Luján, Aaron Quirós, Román Vega; Juan Sforza, Álan Varela, Nicolás Paz; Santiago Castro, Claudio Echeverri and Luciano Gondou. Coach: Javier Mascherano.
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