Because there is never a bad thirty-fourth.

Argentina is going through difficult times as a result of a lot of mistakes throughout history. Many have taken invoice at this moment. In fact, there are so many that the situation has become critical. And even Venezuela is capable of beating them now.

At least that’s what we saw at Wanda Metropolitano.

Venezuela played a good game; possibly one of the best with – a controversial and politicized – Dudamel in charge. But Argentina’s problems were more.

In other words, the result says more about the Argentinian problems than the Venezuelan successes.

Football, politics and other dramas

Scaloni, Scaloni… What happened now?

First, the tactical stoppage. The call led to think of seeing a triangle appearing in the middle of the field. Venezuela seemed like a good opponent to prove this. The good moments of Paredes, Lo Celso and company, too.

Well, no. Scaloni came out with three central defenders, two lanes and a double pivot with the above mentioned.

After Salomón Rondón’s first goal, he quickly changed. And from then on, the Albiceleste team was disorganised.

There was never a clear role for Paredes. Lo Celso-Messi never looked for this partnership.

Venezuela, for their part, betting on withdrawal and direct play found spaces everywhere. It’s that I even found them, the Argentinian disorder gave them away.

Even so, the performance of his wings, Murillo and Machís, was remarkable.

Messi did not shine. At the end of the match, he was disqualified from the summons due to injury. Weird, yes. And Lautaro Martinez did very well.

In this the match was summarized, as the majority of encounters between selections. More individual performances than collective presentations.

This time was no exception.

However, the news wouldn’t be there. It’s hard to talk about football and Venezuelan coach Rafael Dudamel put the continuity of his position in the hands of the Venezuelan Football Federation.

Reasons? Politics Yes, football and politics have never been separate worlds. It is stupid to believe and ask the opposite.

In short, it was a tragicomedy. It all depends on which perspective you look at it.