Argentina shone against New Zealand and closed the group stage with a win

Total soccer. And a compensated group final a week ago. Because Argentina, who entered this World Cup through the window, is now flourishing and ended up playing like they hadn’t played in all this time. They thrashed New Zealand 5-0 at the San Juan Bicentennial stadium, which enjoyed the exhibition of Javier Mascherano’s team.

Despite the eight changes and the alternative team, the selected team did not stop its upward performance and completed its best performance in this World Cup before starting the direct elimination stage.

Argentina, maximum champion of the category with six titles, finished as leader of Group A with an ideal score, ten goals for and just one against. The team will appear again in San Juan next Wednesday the 31st for the round of 16 against a rival that will come out of the four best third parties from group C, D or E.

Mascherano’s team dominated from the beginning and eventually the Oceania champion, who will have to wait to see if they can enter the round of 16 as one of the four best third-placed.

Before the first 15 minutes, the Albiceleste, dressed in purple, already took the lead due to a header from Maestro Puch, the replacement for the goalscorer Véliz. The Atlético Tucumán forward hit a great cross from the left of the unbalancing Brian Aguirre after a quick exit from a corner kick.

Barely three minutes later, Luka Romero recovered a ball in the rival field and enabled Gino Infantino, who entered the area from the left sector and defined with a crossed left foot. To decorate the overwhelming performance of the first half, Luka Romero stands out because it is one of the greatest projections in world football. The talented left-hander born in Mexico but who chose to play for our country grabbed the ball in the middle of the field, got rid of three markers and after driving a few meters, he took a tremendous shot from outside the area that went into the angle.

In the second half, goals from Brian Aguirre, from a penalty, and Alejo Véliz from a header stood out. The Rosario Central striker closed the party and the win and added three goals in the tournament.

That section of the game was practically filled and even Mascherano had the luxury of making substitute goalkeeper Nicolás Claa debut in replacement of Gomes Gerth. The youth from Lanús, one of the new faces of the cycle, probably had no alterations and was a luxury witness to the performance of his teammates.

Brazil and Colombia play their chances

Today continues with four games the third date of the group stage of the Under 20 World Cup. In Group D, Brazil and Nigeria meet from 3:00 p.m. at the Único de La Plata stadium, and at the same time but in Malvinas Argentinas they face each other Dominican Republic and Italy.

Nigeria, who won the first two games they played, is the team with the best chance of qualifying for the round of 16.

For Group C, Japan and Israel define from 18 in the Argentine Malvinas, while Colombia and Senegal face each other in La Plata. This group is led by Colombia with 6 points, followed by Japan with 4, while Israel and Senegal barely add 1 and have little chance of advancing.