Argentina, with an alternative team, won 2-0 against Slovenia (Kicker)

Unworried by the soft bruises of the midfielders Javier Mascherano and Lucas Bilgia (both were replaced in order to be protected, but the injuries aren't serious), Argentina, with an alternative roster, won comfortably 2-0 against Slovenia in their last match before traveling to Brazil for the World Cup.

The first goal was made soon by the midfielder Ricardo Alvarez (player of the Internazionale FC), and then, in the second period, when almost all the best forwards were on the pitch, Lionel Messi made the second and last goal. However, some doubts remained about the injuries of Lucas Biglia, who was fiercely kicked by Belibor Stevanovic, and the one of Javier Mascherano, who has a bruise in the ribs. He was replaced by Emmanuel Mammana, a sparring who usually trains with the National Team.

Biglia, whose place was occupied by Hugo Campagnaro in the 7th minute of the first period, and Mascherano joined Rodrigo Palacio and Martin Demichelis, who were also hit in their ankles during the last match against Trinidad & Tobago (3-0) on Wednesday.

The Argentinian team started with an unusual system 3-5-1-1 and Mascherano among the defenders in his usual position in Barcelona FC, with  José Basanta and Federico Fernández in the last row. As midfielders, Augusto Fernández on the right side, Enzo Pérez, Biglia and Maxi Rodríguez in the centre and Marcos Rojo on the left side, Alvarez moving forward behind Ezequiel Lavezzi, and the latter as the only forward.

Everything changed with Biglia´s injury and this original rehearsal had to be immediately changed, so Campagnaro passed to the right side and Mascherano had to move to his usual central position.

The match was hard and fierce, because the Slovenian team folded back. However, Maxi Rodriguez could increase the difference, but his shot was diverted by the goalkeeper Belec so the ball hit the crossbar.

Already in the second period, the Stadium of La Plata arose when the Argentinian coach, Alejando Sabella, ordered to enter together to Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero, Angel Di María and Fernando Gago, who gave a different dynamism to the attack and so they arrived to the second goal made by the superb player of  Barcelona FC in a play in which all the companions who entered with him participated.

Because of receiving the hits in the last friendly match against Trinidad & Tobago, and the proximity of the World Cup, in which Argentina will play next Sunday in Rio de Janeiro against Bosnia, Sabella had already preserved Gonzalo Higuaín and Pablo Zabaleta, and the players also tried to preserve themselves the most possible.

For the anecdote, again, it could be seen how, in the mid of the second period, Messi  vomited again in what has been described by Sabella as “an evident nervous episode”.

The goalkeeper Sergio Romero had no job as he was not demanded by the Slovenian team.