2024-09-03 16:10:03
Maxi Rodríguez was the captain and scored two goals, Mauro Icardi made his debut and names like José Sosa, Sebastián Domínguez and Leandro Somoza “retired” (or played for the last time in the Albiceleste shirt). Oh, and Argentina lost. That 3-2 defeat on October 16, 2013 against Uruguay in Montevideo was the last time the national team played a match for points without Lionel Messi or Ángel Di María. This Thursday, September 5, against Chile in Buenos Aires, it will happen again. Ten years and ten months later. Three World Cups, five Copa Américas and several legends forged later.
This Thursday’s match at the Monumental will be a free sample – free because there is not much at stake despite being a qualifying match – of the The increasingly present future of the National Team that, between celebration and celebration, avoids thinking about the departure of the two main players of the team in the last almost 15 years. First, he left From Maria in a retirement as announced as unpredictably heroic in the Copa America and not much time is left for the farewell of Messiabsent due to injury in this case, who will play in the next World Cup, hopefully.
Eleven years and seven endings
From that match against Uruguay to today, the National Team played 91 games by points (World Cups, Copa America, Qualifiers or Finalissima). In all of them, at least one of its two left-footed stars from Rosario was present. When one was missing, the other was there, often sharing the captain’s armband. Messi played 78 of those matches (41 goals and 24 assists) while Di María was in 74 (13 goals and 14 assists)..
As if to reflect the impact of the stars, of those 91 games the National Team lost only 11, five of which occurred when one of the two was not there. That is, With them the percentage of losses is 10 while without either of them it goes to 17not so far from doubling.
Note, it is worth noting that Since Scaloni has been in charge, the National Team has been able to respond to the absence of its leaders and has never lost.something that was far from happening before. They won all four of their games on points without Messi and maintained their unbeaten record in those without Fideo (eight wins and three draws).
That Uruguay 3, Argentina 2
As soon as That match with Uruguay was almost 11 years agoit is worth noting that it corresponded to the last date of the Qualifiers and the team of Alejandro Sabella had already qualified for the World Cup in Brazil, even with first place assured. That’s why the team went with many uncommon names Montevideo to face a Celeste that needed to win at all costs to try to qualify directly (something that it did not achieve, so it had to go to the play-offs). Because of Messi and Di María, the first was injured while the second was given a rest.
Argentina He then formed with Chiquito Romero; Campagnaro, Fede Fernandez, Seba Dominguez and Basanta; Maxi Rodriguez, Augusto Fernandez, Biglia, Banega and Lamela; and Palacio as the only forward. Then Somoza, Jose Sosa and Icardi came in.
Uruguay took the victory with goals from Cebolla Rodríguez (at 5), Luis Suarez (penalty kick, at 34) and Cavani (at 50). While for Argentina the captain Maxi Rodríguez temporarily tied the score (at 15 and 41), who according to the commentary of Page/12 In that classic, he “refreshed, if necessary, his status as the best local footballer” and “also confirmed (if necessary) that he will play in his third consecutive World Cup.”
To face Chile this Thursday there will not be too many unusual names but there will be some new additions (still question marks) such as the captain, the person who will wear the number 10 and the first replacement for Di María in the post-Fideo era.