Argentina put seven past Burkina Faso after travel issues

BBC.COM • 3h ago

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Julian Alvarez scored Argentina's fifth goal in the 36th minute

Argentina produced a devastating display to thrash Burkina Faso 7-0 in a friendly overshadowed by problems surrounding the visitors' trip to Buenos Aires.

The African team arrived in Argentina just five hours before kick-off after a private flight from Morocco was cancelled because of a "technical failure".

Match organisers said several of Burkina Faso's senior players then refused to travel, citing fatigue, which meant they fielded a young, inexperienced team at Estadio Monumental shortly after an 11-hour flight.

Lautaro Martinez, Gianluca Prestianni, Nico Paz, Julian Alvarez, Franco Mastantuono, Giuliano Simeone were all on the scoresheet for the hosts, while Moumoune Diallo netted an own goal.

"What the Burkina Faso national team has done is truly commendable; it elevates football," Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni said.

"We try to respect them and are very grateful that they were able to come."

In a press release by match organisers, Fifa match agent Jairo Pachon said: "We would like to emphasise the commitment and dedication of the Burkina Faso federation and government.

"Faced with an extraordinary situation, they worked to provide a solution that would allow their country's representation to be maintained and give the footballers an important sporting opportunity."

Argentina's talisman Lionel Messi did not feature against Burkina Faso, as he prepares for Tuesday's friendly against Benin, which will mark the end of his 21-year international career.

Messi announced his retirement from Argentina duty in August in the wake of his country's defeat by Spain in the 2026 World Cup final and after saying he was considering his future in football following the death of his father, Jorge.

The 39-year-old, who captained Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022, has scored 125 goals in 207 appearances, making him the country's all-time leading scorer and most-capped player.

"I imagine Tuesday's match will be very emotional for everyone, including Leo," Scaloni said.

"It will be an unforgettable day. It will be his day, and his teammates' day, who also gave him his greatest footballing joy. I'm grateful to be able to enjoy it."

"I imagine that if there were five Monumental stadiums, they would be packed."

Team Lineupshome team, ArgentinaManager: Lionel Scaloni

Number2323, Martínez, GoalkeeperMartínezNumber44, Giay, DefenderGiayNumber1313, Romero, DefenderRomeroNumber66, Martínez, DefenderMartínezNumber2525, Medina, DefenderMedinaNumber1818, Paz, MidfielderPazNumber88, Fernández, MidfielderFernándezNumber2020, Mac Allister, MidfielderMac AllisterNumber1616, Prestianni, MidfielderPrestianniNumber2222, Lautaro Martínez, StrikerLautaro MartínezNumber99, Alvarez, StrikerAlvarezStarting lineupNumber2323, Martínez, GoalkeeperE. Martínez G. Rulli 79', substituted for G. Rulli at 79 minutesNumber2525, Medina, DefenderF. Medina N. González 63', substituted for N. González at 63 minutesNumber66, Martínez, DefenderL. Martínez T. Palacios 46', substituted for T. Palacios at 46 minutesNumber1313, Romero, DefenderC. Romero (c), CaptainL. Balerdi 46', substituted for L. Balerdi at 46 minutesNumber44, Giay, DefenderA. Giay G. Simeone 64', substituted for G. Simeone at 64 minutesNumber1616, Prestianni, MidfielderG. Prestianni L. Flores 46', substituted for L. Flores at 46 minutesNumber2020, Mac Allister, MidfielderA. Mac Allister V. Barco 69', substituted for V. Barco at 69 minutesNumber88, Fernández, MidfielderE. Fernández E. Palacios 69', substituted for E. Palacios at 69 minutesNumber1818, Paz, MidfielderN. Paz M. Soulé 46', substituted for M. Soulé at 46 minutesNumber99, Alvarez, StrikerJ. Alvarez F. Mastantuono 46', substituted for F. Mastantuono at 46 minutesNumber2222, Lautaro Martínez, StrikerL. Martínez S. Castro 69', substituted for S. Castro at 69 minutesSubstituteshome team, ArgentinaNumber22, Balerdi, SubstituteL. Balerdi Number2424, Barco, SubstituteV. Barco Number2727, Santiago Beltrán, SubstituteS. Beltrán Number2929, Castro, SubstituteS. Castro Number3131, Flores, SubstituteL. Flores Number1515, González, SubstituteN. González Number2121, López, SubstituteJ. López Number3030, Mastantuono, SubstituteF. Mastantuono Number3232, Tomás Palacios, SubstituteT. Palacios Number1414, Palacios, SubstituteE. Palacios Number1212, Rulli, SubstituteG. Rulli Number1717, Simeone, SubstituteG. Simeone Number2626, Simón, SubstituteS. Simón Number2828, Soulé, SubstituteM. Soulé Number3333, Vega, SubstituteR. Vega away team, Burkina FasoManager: Moussa Sanogo

Number2323, Martínez, GoalkeeperMartínezNumber44, Giay, DefenderGiayNumber1313, Romero, DefenderRomeroNumber66, Martínez, DefenderMartínezNumber2525, Medina, DefenderMedinaNumber1818, Paz, MidfielderPazNumber88, Fernández, MidfielderFernándezNumber2020, Mac Allister, MidfielderMac AllisterNumber1616, Prestianni, MidfielderPrestianniNumber2222, Lautaro Martínez, StrikerLautaro MartínezNumber99, Alvarez, StrikerAlvarezStarting lineupNumber2323, Martínez, GoalkeeperE. Martínez G. Rulli 79', substituted for G. Rulli at 79 minutesNumber2525, Medina, DefenderF. Medina N. González 63', substituted for N. González at 63 minutesNumber66, Martínez, DefenderL. Martínez T. Palacios 46', substituted for T. Palacios at 46 minutesNumber1313, Romero, DefenderC. Romero (c), CaptainL. Balerdi 46', substituted for L. Balerdi at 46 minutesNumber44, Giay, DefenderA. Giay G. Simeone 64', substituted for G. Simeone at 64 minutesNumber1616, Prestianni, MidfielderG. Prestianni L. Flores 46', substituted for L. Flores at 46 minutesNumber2020, Mac Allister, MidfielderA. Mac Allister V. Barco 69', substituted for V. Barco at 69 minutesNumber88, Fernández, MidfielderE. Fernández E. Palacios 69', substituted for E. Palacios at 69 minutesNumber1818, Paz, MidfielderN. Paz M. Soulé 46', substituted for M. Soulé at 46 minutesNumber99, Alvarez, StrikerJ. Alvarez F. Mastantuono 46', substituted for F. Mastantuono at 46 minutesNumber2222, Lautaro Martínez, StrikerL. Martínez S. Castro 69', substituted for S. Castro at 69 minutesSubstitutesNumber22, Balerdi, SubstituteL. Balerdi Number2424, Barco, SubstituteV. Barco Number2727, Santiago Beltrán, SubstituteS. Beltrán Number2929, Castro, SubstituteS. Castro Number3131, Flores, SubstituteL. Flores Number1515, González, SubstituteN. González Number2121, López, SubstituteJ. López Number3030, Mastantuono, SubstituteF. Mastantuono Number3232, Tomás Palacios, SubstituteT. Palacios Number1414, Palacios, SubstituteE. Palacios Number1212, Rulli, SubstituteG. Rulli Number1717, Simeone, SubstituteG. Simeone Number2626, Simón, SubstituteS. Simón Number2828, Soulé, SubstituteM. Soulé Number3333, Vega, SubstituteR. Vega away team, Burkina FasoManager: Moussa Sanogo

Number11, Guira, GoalkeeperGuiraNumber1414, Bama, DefenderBamaNumber22, Yaméogo, DefenderYaméogoNumber44, Cyril, DefenderCyrilNumber33, Diallo, DefenderDialloNumber66, Doumbia, Defensive MidfielderDoumbiaNumber1111, Kam, MidfielderKamNumber88, Kanté, MidfielderKantéNumber55, Ouédraogo, MidfielderOuédraogoNumber1313, Diarra, MidfielderDiarraNumber2525, Papus Ouattara, StrikerPapus OuattaraStarting lineupNumber11, Guira, GoalkeeperR. Guira Number33, Diallo, DefenderM. Diallo 3', Yellow Card at 3 minutesM. Coulibaly 58', substituted for M. Coulibaly at 58 minutesNumber44, Cyril, DefenderC. Dao F. Barro 46', substituted for F. Barro at 46 minutesNumber22, Yaméogo, DefenderB. Yaméogo Number1414, Bama, DefenderD. Bama Number66, Doumbia, Defensive MidfielderC. Doumbia (c), CaptainS. Tietietta 85', substituted for S. Tietietta at 85 minutesNumber1313, Diarra, MidfielderJ. Diarra O. Camara 58', substituted for O. Camara at 58 minutesNumber55, Ouédraogo, MidfielderH. Ouédraogo A. Moussa Ky 58', substituted for A. Moussa Ky at 58 minutesNumber88, Kanté, MidfielderA. Kanté N. Koné 46', substituted for N. Koné at 46 minutesNumber1111, Kam, MidfielderD. Kam M. Zongo 46', substituted for M. Zongo at 46 minutesNumber2525, Papus Ouattara, StrikerP. Ouattara R. Sanou 76', substituted for R. Sanou at 76 minutesSubstitutesNumber1515, Fadil Barro, SubstituteF. Barro Number1717, Camara, SubstituteO. Camara Number2323, Compaoré, SubstituteM. Compaoré Number2121, Coulibaly, SubstituteM. Coulibaly Number2626, Dabo, SubstituteI. Dabo Number2222, Diabaté, SubstituteA. Diabaté Number1818, Koné, SubstituteN. Koné Number2020, Moussa Ky, SubstituteA. Moussa Ky Number99, Sanou, SubstituteR. Sanou Number2727, Tietietta, SubstituteS. Tietietta Number1919, Zongo, SubstituteM. Zongo Close ModalMatch OfficialsReferee: José CaberoAssistant Referee 1: Wladimir MuñozAssistant Referee 2: Carlos VenegasFourth Official: Fernando VéjarMatch StatsKey, Argentina v Burkina FasoArgentinaKeyBurkina FasoBasic StatsOverall possessionARG75�A25%Argentina 75%Burkina Faso 25%ShotsArgentina 30Burkina Faso 330Shots3Shots on targetArgentina 17Burkina Faso 117Shots on target1Total touches inside the opposition boxArgentina 57Burkina Faso 5ARG575BFAGoalkeeper savesArgentina 1Burkina Faso 111Goalkeeper saves11Aerial duels wonArgentina 11Burkina Faso 511Aerial duels won5Fouls committedArgentina 9Burkina Faso 59Fouls committed5CornersArgentina 7Burkina Faso 17Corners1In-depth match statsAttackShotsArgentina 30Burkina Faso 330Shots3Shots on targetArgentina 17Burkina Faso 117Shots on target1Shots off targetArgentina 10Burkina Faso 210Shots off target2Attempts out of boxArgentina 6Burkina Faso 26Attempts out of box2Hit woodworkArgentina 1Burkina Faso 01Hit woodwork0One-on-one attemptsArgentina 1Burkina Faso 01One-on-one attempts0Total offsidesArgentina 1Burkina Faso 01Total offsides0DistributionTotal passesArgentina 882Burkina Faso 283882Total passes283Pass accuracy %Argentina 92.9Burkina Faso 69.692.9Pass accuracy i.6Backward passesArgentina 144Burkina Faso 47144Backward passes47Forward passesArgentina 245Burkina Faso 128245Forward passes128Total long ballsArgentina 42Burkina Faso 5342Total long balls53Successful final third passesArgentina 212Burkina Faso 23212Successful final third passes23Total crossesArgentina 12Burkina Faso 512Total crosses5DefenceTotal tacklesArgentina 18Burkina Faso 1818Total tackles18Won tackle %Argentina 61.1Burkina Faso 83.361.1Won tackle �.3Fouls committedArgentina 9Burkina Faso 59Fouls committed5Total yellow cardsArgentina 0Burkina Faso 10Total yellow cards1Total clearancesArgentina 7Burkina Faso 157Total clearances15Head to HeadSeason so farFriendlies

Please note: All times are UK. Some content is provided by third parties, is subject to change, and is unverified.Live TextMatch ends, Argentina 7, Burkina Faso 0.

Second Half ends, Argentina 7, Burkina Faso 0.

Goal! Argentina 7, Burkina Faso 0. Giuliano Simeone (Argentina) header from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Valentín Barco.

Santiago Castro (Argentina) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the right side of the box. Assisted by Exequiel Palacios.

Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time.

Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Razack Guira.

Attempt saved. Santiago Castro (Argentina) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Razack Guira (Burkina Faso). Assisted by Leonel Flores.

Attempt missed. Valentín Barco (Argentina) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Leonel Flores.

Attempt saved. Franco Mastantuono (Argentina) left footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the right is saved in the top right corner by Razack Guira (Burkina Faso).

Matías Soulé (Argentina) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Substitution, Burkina Faso. Salif Tietietta replaces Chec Bebel Doumbia.

Corner, Burkina Faso. Conceded by Giuliano Simeone.

Delay in match because of an injury Mohamed Zongo (Burkina Faso).

Nouhoum Koné (Burkina Faso) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution, Argentina. Gerónimo Rulli replaces Emiliano Martínez.

Attempt missed. Nico González (Argentina) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Valentín Barco.

Substitution, Burkina Faso. Razack Sanou replaces Papus Ouattara.

📰 Original Source Attribution

Reported by bbc.com.

Read Original Report at bbc.com ↗