Argentina suffered a 2-1 defeat against Uruguay on Friday in its first match since the retirement of long-time captain Lionel Messi.
The friendly fixture, held at La Bombonera, marked a new chapter for the Albiceleste as they transition away from the veterans who defined a trophy-laden era.
Uruguay, managed by Diego Forlan, effectively utilized a low block to blunt the host nation’s attack throughout the contest, according to Goal.
The visitors took control following a chaotic sequence in the second half where an own goal by Leonardo Balerdi opened the scoring.
Uruguay doubled its advantage shortly thereafter when a corner kick struck Maxi Araujo and looped into the net.
Julian Alvarez managed to narrow the deficit in the 72nd minute, but the hosts were unable to find an equalizer despite a late rally.
The match occurred shortly after the national team received news that head coach Lionel Scaloni and his staff had signed a contract extension through 2030, as reported by Goal.
Alvarez expressed optimism regarding the coaching continuity and the team’s commitment to maintaining high standards.
Regarding the reaction within the dressing room, the striker noted that “Scaloni told us they were staying on, and that gives us confidence and joy.”
The forward also emphasized the squad’s focus on future development during this period of transition.
Reflecting on the legacy left by departed icons, Alvarez stated, “We’re going to keep working. We learned and grew during these years with people who gave everything to the National Team; we try to copy that and lead by example.”
The loss marks the third victory for Forlan since taking charge of the Uruguayan side.
Argentina will look to improve its performance in upcoming friendly matches scheduled for Tuesday.