2024-07-16 12:26:11
While waiting for Geronimo Rulli, Nicolas Otamendi and Julian Alvarez -that in a few days will pass from winning the Copa America to seeking an Olympic medal at the 2024 Paris Gamesso they will travel directly from the United States to Paris-, Javier Mascherano’s U-23 team played the first of two friendlies that programmed before the contest in Francewhich will start next week.
Petrus Flo Association was beaten 5-0a combination of French players who are currently without a club. An urgent rivalsince, in principle, the agreed team was FC Rouen.
The duelwhat was disputed at the Jean Manfredi stadium in Fernsconsisted of two 30-minute periods. Luciano Gondou (on two occasions), Lucas Beltran, Kevin Zenon and the admitted Claudio Echeverri scored the goals for the “Jefecito” team.
The selected onewhich until the squad is complete has only 15 players (in addition to Sevilla goalkeeper Lorenzo Luchino, who traveled as a sparring partner), formed with Leandro Brey; Joaquin García, Marco From CaesarBruno Amione and Julio Soler; Cristian Medina, Santiago Get it; Thiago Almada (another champion in Qatar 2022), Beltran, Zenon; Gondou. Ezequiel Fernández (recovering from a muscle injury), Gonzalo Luján and Giuliano Simeone were on the bench.
What’s coming
After a few more days of training, Argentina will have its second friendly test on Friday, with greater demand considering that The rival will be Guineaselected who will also participate in the Olympic Games.
Next Saturday the delegation will leave for Saint-Etiennewhere he will concentrate already thinking about his debut. Precisely In that city they will play their first match on Wednesday 24th at 10am against Morocco.at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium, game which will open Group B.
On Saturday 27that the same time, The rival will be Iraq in the stadium of Lyon; while the closure from the group stage It will also be in Lyon, on Tuesday 30 July against Ukraine.
It is worth remembering that The top two in the group will advance to the quarterfinals.en where they will cross paths with the two best in Group Awhich will feature France, the United States, New Zealand and Guinea.
In search of the third golden
Expectations are higheven for the Copa America champions. Alvarez (24 years old), Otamendi (36) and Rulli (32) are the three over 23 years old chosen by Mascherano to join Argentina’s squad that will seek an Olympic medal.
The Manchester City striker indicated In a conversation with AFA Estudio, he said that he was “excited” about attending the Olympic Games. “It’s the only competition I’ve yet to win, obviously, but to play in it too. Just playing in it is a privilege.”said the footballer from Calchín, Córdoba.
The U-23s reached their first Olympic final in 1996, where they lost to Nigeria (3-2).. Roberto Ayala, current member of the Major League technical team led by Lionel Scaloni, played on that team. Ayala repeated the final in Athens 2004 -agreed with Mascherano-, although in this case with 1-0 victory against Paraguay and golden for Marcelo Bielsa’s teamcurrently a technician from Uruguay.
In the next Olympic event, Beijing 2008, the “Jefecito” shared a dressing room with Lionel Messi and Angel Di Mariawho They won the second gold for Argentina.