By Joiner Martínez
27 Feb 2024, 15:16 PM EST
The Argentina team announced on social networks that it changed rivals for one of the friendlies it will have in the United States prior to the 2024 Copa América.
Argentina announced that Costa Rica joins El Salvador as the matches to be played in March. “Due to an administrative problem with visas, the Nigerian National Team will not be able to play its match against the Argentine National Team, scheduled for the double date in March in the United States. That is why the Costa Rica National Team will replace the African team on the stipulated schedule,” the letter recited about the reason why the duel fell.
The Argentine Football Association did not give further details about the unforeseen event and only added that Costa Rica will be the new rival on the same date and place.
In this way, the international window was formed with the match against El Salvador on Friday, March 22 at the Lincoln Financial Field in the city of Philadelphia and on Tuesday, the 26th of the same month against the Ticos at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
This announcement adds to the one made on February 26 to reveal two more friendlies before the continental competition. On Sunday, June 9, they will play against Ecuador at the Soldier Field stadium in Chicago. Next, on Friday the 14th they will face Guatemala in the city of Washington DC, at FedEX Field.
Argentina canceled its tour of Asia
Argentina, also continental champion in 2021, had planned a tour of China on the FIFA date in March, which was canceled by the Chinese sports authorities amid the discomfort caused by the absence of star Lionel Messi in a recent friendly match played by his club. Inter Miami in Hong Kong.
Messi said he was suffering from a groin ailment, but his excuse was received with skepticism in Hong Kong, when a few days later he played 30 minutes in Tokyo against Vissel Kobe.
In Asia, the albicelestes had matches scheduled against Nigeria in Hangzhou and against the Ivory Coast in Beijing.
With the commitments in Asia falling, the AFA had to rush out to look for rivals that are below the level of demand that Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni intended in preparation to defend the title in the continental tournament, which will be played from June 20 to July 14 in the United States.
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