Argentina scores 7 goals against Burkina Faso in the friendly of shame
The African team played with an Under-23 squad and arrived at the match only six hours earlier after an 11-hour flight
Argentina thrashed Burkina Faso 7-0 in a surreal friendly marked by the African national team's problems . Burkina Faso arrived in Buenos Aires only six hours before kickoff after an 11-hour flight from Casablanca. After the senior national team refused to travel to Argentina due to problems with the flight arrangements and certain financial issues, Burkina Faso was forced to play with the Under-23 team in an embarrassing friendly from start to finish.
With goals from Lautaro Martínez (3rd minute), Moumouni Diallo, own goal (8th minute), Gianluca Prestianni (12th minute), Nicolás Paz (35th minute), Julián Álvarez (36th minute), Franco Mastantuono (57th minute) and Giuliano Simeone (91st minute), Argentina could have scored as many goals as it wanted against a Burkina Faso side that had 25% possession and managed just one shot on target in the entire match.
Especially dramatic were the first 15 minutes of the match, with a penalty awarded to Argentina in the 4th minute (Lautaro Martínez missed it, although he then scored from the goalkeeper’s rebound), an own goal by Burkina Faso in the 8th minute, and a strike by Prestianni in the 12th. Argentina went into half-time 5-0 up after two goals in one minute : Nico Paz in the 35th minute and Julián Álvarez in the 36th.
Scaloni's words after the embarrassment
To thank Burkina Faso, those who came for the effort they made. They dignify football, we tried to play the match as if it were a final because that is the only way these boys would be respected . We appreciate the effort they made to come, they could have stayed and the match would have been suspended. What they did is very commendable. Such a long flight and arriving at the time they did and playing... It's not easy.
In the second half, Scaloni rotated the entire bench (including the goalkeeper) and gave three new players their debut with Argentina: Matías Soulé, Tomás Palacios and Santiago Castro.
After this embarrassment, Argentina is now preparing for Leo Messi's farewell in his final match with the Albiceleste. It will be on Tuesday night against Benin at Buenos Aires' Monumental Stadium.
"The Tuesday match, I imagine, will be very emotional, for everyone , including Leo; it will be an unforgettable day . It will be his day, and that of his teammates as well, who also gave him his greatest joy in football. I am grateful to be able to enjoy it," Scaloni acknowledged at a press conference.
7. Argentina: Emiliano Martínez (79", Gerónimo Rulli); Agustín Giay (64th min, Giuliano Simeone), Cristian Romero (46th min, Leonardo Balerdi), Lisandro Martínez (46th min, Tomás Palacios), Facundo Medina (64th min Nicolás González); Enzo Fernández (69th min, Valentín Barco), Alexis Mac Allister (69th min, Exequiel Palacios), Gianluca Prestianni (46th min" Leonel Flores), Nicolás Paz (46th min, Matías Soulé); Julián Álvarez (46th min, Franco Mastantuono) and Lautaro Martínez (69th min, Santiago Castro).
85, Salif Tietietta), Hassamandou Ouedraogo (m.58, Allan Moussa Ky), Nasser Ouattara (m.76, Razak Sanou); Dylan Kam (m.46, Nouhoum Koné) and Jack Diarra (m.58, Ousmane Camara).
Goals: 1-0, 3rd min: Lautaro Martínez. 2-0, 8th min: Moumoni Diallo, own goal. 3-0, 12th min: Gianluca Prestianni. 4-0, 35th min: Nicolás Paz. 5-0, 36th min: Julián Álvarez. 6-0, 57th min: Franco Mastantuono. 7-0, 91st min: Giuliano Simeone.
Referee: Chilean José Cabrero booked Moumouni Diallo.
Incidents: Friendly match on a FIFA date played at the Antonio Vespucio Liberti "Monumental" Stadium, in the City of Buenos Aires.
