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Defending Champions Argentina Look Sharp Five Days Before World Cup start
- Selvin Garcia
- 9 hours ago
- 2 min read
The reigning world champions continued their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Honduras on Saturday night at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. Despite the absence of superstar Lionel Messi, Argentina controlled the match from start to finish and showcased the depth of their squad ahead of the tournament.
Argentina dominated possession early and created several scoring opportunities, forcing Honduras goalkeeper Edrick Menjívar into multiple saves. The breakthrough finally came in the 37th minute when Lautaro Martínez calmly converted a penalty after Nicolás Tagliafico was fouled inside the box. The goal gave La Albiceleste a deserved 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
Lionel Scaloni's side continued to press after the break and doubled their advantage in the 53rd minute. A brilliant team move ended with Lautaro Martínez providing a clever assist for Giuliano Simeone, who finished confidently to make it 2-0. The goal effectively ended any hopes of a Honduras comeback as Argentina remained in complete control.
With the result secured, Scaloni rotated his squad and gave valuable minutes to several players as Argentina continues its final preparations for the World Cup. Honduras struggled to create meaningful chances throughout the night and was unable to seriously test Argentina's defense.
Although many of the more than 91,102 fans in attendance hoped to see Messi, the captain remained on the bench as Argentina carefully manages his recovery ahead of the World Cup. Even without their biggest star on the field, the defending champions looked organized, confident, and ready for the challenges ahead.
Argentina will now turn its focus to its final World Cup preparations with a friendly against Iceland this Tuesday at the University of Auburn in Alabama, while Honduras leaves Texas with lessons learned after facing one of the favorites to lift the trophy this summer.
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