Argentina run riot against Bolivia in first post-World Cup friendly

Argentina took their first steps as returned to action on Wednesday with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Bolivia in a friendly at the Mario Kempes Stadium in Córdoba.

Lautaro Martínez (19th minute), Nicolás Paz (29th), Cristian Romero (53rd) and José ‘Flaco’ López (86th) scored for the Albiceleste, who played for the first timewithout captain Lionel Messi after the Rosario-born star announced his retirement from international football.

The match against Bolivia offered a glimpse of the future for the Argentina national team. With the legendary number 10 now retired from international football and several new faces given the change to establish themselves, a new era of the Albiceleste is beginning to take shape.

In Messi's absence, Romero wore the captain's armband.

The departing skipper will receive his farewell on October 6, when Argentina face Benin in another friendly.

Argentina will continue its preparations with two more friendlies in October. Before Messi's farewell match, the Albiceleste will host Burkina Faso at the Monumental Stadium on October 3.

Line-ups

Argentina: Emiliano Martínez; Agustín Giay (Santiago Simón 74), Lisandro Martínez (Leonel Flores 81), Cristian Romero (capt.), Román Vega; Exequiel Palacios (Valentín Gómez 81), Gianluca Prestianni (Valentín Barco 58), Nicolás Paz (Franco Mastantuono 56), Alexis Mac Allister (Ezequiel Fernández 74); Julián Álvarez, Lautaro Martínez (José Manuel López 75). Coach: Lionel Scaloni.

Bolivia: Guillermo Viscarra (capt.); Diego Arroyo (Leonardo Viviani 43), Efraín Morales, Marcelo Torrez; Héctor Cuéllar (Rai Lima 83), Yomar Rocha, Ramiro Vaca (José Flores 46), Robson Tomé (Óscar López 72), Roberto Fernández (Diego Medina 83), Jesús Maraude (Luis Haquín 83); Miguel Terceros (José Martínez 83). Coach: Óscar Villegas.