The Argentine National Team started off on the right foot in its post-2026 World Cup phase. In its first official match since the final against Spain, Lionel Scaloni's team thrashed Bolivia 4-0 at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Córdoba.
The match began with a clear dominance by the Albiceleste, who controlled the ball but struggled to create goal-scoring chances. The first clear opportunity would come at 19 minutes, and Lautaro Martínez would convert it into a goal. El Toro received a subtle pass from Alexis Mac Allister at the edge of the opponent's area and, after controlling it, shot low to the right post of Guillermo Viscarra to make it 1-0.
The national team would not lower its intensity and 10 minutes later would extend the lead on the scoreboard. After a recovery in the opposing half, Exequiel Palacios would provide an excellent through ball for Nico Paz, who first-timed it over the Bolivian goalkeeper to score 2-0.
Although there would be some dangerous approaches, such as a one-on-one between Julián Álvarez and Viscarra that the latter managed to save, the first half would end without changes to the score. In the second half, Argentina would continue to dominate the game and would not take long to find the 3-0. At 53, from a free kick near the corner, Nico Paz would cross for Cristian "Cuti" Romero, who would head the ball past the Bolivian goalkeeper.
Taking advantage of the lead, Scaloni would make substitutions to try out different options. Throughout the second half, Franco Mastantuono, Valentín Barco, Leonardo Balerdi, and José Manuel López would come on. Additionally, alongside Román Vega, who started, Ezequiel Fernández, Santiago Simón, Leonardo Flores, and Valentín Gómez would make their absolute debut with the senior National Team.
At the end of the match, Flaco López would score the 4-0 after a series of rebounds, but it would be wrongly disallowed for offside (he was onside). Despite the frustration, just moments later the Palmeiras forward would have his revenge: after winning the ball in the Bolivian area following a great play by Flores, he would poke the ball to score his first goal with the Albiceleste and the team's fourth.
After this resounding victory, the national team will return to the Ezeiza training center to prepare for its upcoming FIFA date matches against Burkina Faso and Benin. The first will be played this Saturday, October 3 at 21:00 at the Monumental Stadium, while the second, which will be Lionel Messi's farewell, will take place on Tuesday the 6th at the same venue at 20:00.
