Argentina to begin post-Messi era with Bolivia friendly

Argentina’s post-Lionel Messi era will begin with a friendly against Bolivia on September 30, followed by matches against Burkina Faso and Benin, the Argentine football association said on Tuesday.
The game against Bolivia will take place in Cordoba, while River Plate’s Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires will stage the two fixtures against the African sides on October 3 and 6.
Last month FIFA ordered Argentina to play their next home match with capacity reduced to 50 percent for breaches of its disciplinary code relating to using a sports event for making demonstrations of a non-sporting nature.
After Argentina beat England 2-1 in a tense World Cup semi-final in July, several players held up a banner saying: “The Falklands are Argentine”.
The friendlies are also expected to count towards suspensions handed down following incidents after Argentina’s World Cup final defeat by Spain. Road repairs: Edo urges residents to be patient Edo blames Obaseki’s shoddy projects for road decay FULL LIST: All-time free-kick scorers, Messi moves to second, Ronaldo ninth
Midfielder Leandro Paredes received a 10-match ban, while defender Nahuel Molina was suspended for seven games and Thiago Almada for one.
Messi in August ended a two-decade international career that included winning the 2022 World Cup and Copa America triumphs in 2021 and 2024.
I have nothing more to give, Messi haf announced retirement from national team on August 31 shortly after the world cup final loss to Spain.
AFP

Agency Report

Stay informed and ahead of the curve! Follow The Punch Newspaper on WhatsApp for real-time updates, breaking news, and exclusive content. Don’t miss a headline – join now!

Stay in the know—fast. Get instant alerts, breaking headlines, and exclusive stories with the Punch News App. Download now and never miss a beat.