Overview
- Argentina beat Honduras 2-0 in Texas on Saturday with Lautaro Martínez converting a penalty and Giuliano Simeone scoring the second goal.
- Defender Leonardo Balerdi was ruled out of the World Cup after tests showed a tear in the soleus of his right leg, forcing the squad to open a late vacancy.
- Scaloni said he will not pick Balerdi’s replacement until after the Tuesday friendly versus Iceland in Alabama because several players’ fitness remains uncertain.
- Lionel Messi stayed on the bench and several young players made their Argentina debuts, including Santiago Beltrán, Tomás Aranda, Nicolás Capaldo and Joaquín Freitas.
- The match drew attention off the field when the wrong music was played instead of the Argentine anthem and the opening penalty on Nicolás Tagliafico drew broadcast and social-media dispute over its legitimacy.