2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Argentina, without Lionel Messi, thrashes Bolivia in La Paz | Video

The Argentine National Teamcurrent world champion, beat 3-0 as a visitor Boliviameeting corresponding to the second date of the South American qualifier for the 2026 World Cupheld this Tuesday at the Hernando Siles Stadium in La Paz, where the star Lionel Messi He did not participate with his team.

In the match held in the Bolivian capital, 3,600 meters above sea levelArgentina assumed the leading role in the game and created the best scoring opportunities against a rival who failed to disturb.

Messi was preserved by the coach Lionel Scaloni and followed the actions from bench of substitutesafter he finished with a physical problem in the home win against Ecuador.

Ángel Di María, Argentine captain in the absence of Messihe pointed out at the end of the match.

We played a perfect game, we didn't make mistakes, we didn't score goals, we worked as we had prepared and we converted every time we arrived, that was the important thing.

The Argentine team, which presented a alignment with the footballers who least feel the effects of altitude, carried danger from the first minutes through Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández and Julián Álvarez.

The opening of the scoreboard for The Albiceleste arrived at 31 minutes through Fernandezafter a center of Say Maria from the right side.

Eight minutes later, BOlivia was left with one less man for the expulsion of Roberto Fernandez, who received the red card due to an infringement on Cristian Romero.

The second goal for the Argentine team was scored by the defender Nicolas Tagliafico at 42 minutes through a header, tras a free kick in the form of a center Say Maria.

In the second stage, Argentina brought danger again with a finish of Alvarez that hit one of the posts and with a Di María's auction that covered the goal Guillermo Viscarra.

Argentina completed the rout in the 83rd minute through Nicolás González, after a series of defensive errors by the home team.

#Eliminations 🎙️@lioscaloni: "I told the players that you can play football, with the added difficulty of height, but we knew we could. The important thing is that the team knows how to face the games."

— 🇦🇷 Argentina National Team ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) September 12, 2023

On the next FIFA date in October, Argentina will receive Paraguay and will be a visitor to Peru; while, Bolivia will face Ecuador at home and then will play away from home against Paraguay.

(With information from Reuters)