Emiliano Martínez (9): In the previous one, it was even possible to doubt the Draw because of its presence in English football. But one thing is the National Team (one goal in the last five games) and another is Aston Villa (13 in the last five). He sustained the National Team as in its best days, with four important saves and the usual air safety. He also had a chance on his side again, with a shot that hit the stick in the first half and another that escaped between his legs at the end and was at the mercy once he turned around.
Nahuel Molina (6): He started off confident and they slept one side on the pennant. That was enough to accommodate the ideas. He had to deal with the fast but giddy Brian Rodriguez and did not suffer any shocks. When he could, he went on the attack to stretch the court: tireless, he reached the bottom at 75 and sent the pass back to Joaquín Correa, who defined poorly.
Cristian Romero (7): Another that started losing a ball, after a bump from behind Bentancur. But what followed the ex-Belgrano was high-end. Recoveries, exits with elegance and inflated chest. The guardian angel of Otamendi and Rodríguez: he corrected everything wrong they did. In an almost exclusively defensive team game, it was the best.
Nicolás Otamendi (5): Loose in hand-to-hand, he was well covered by his teammates when he was on the road. It also cost him in the passing game, an anomaly. Accustomed to commanding the start from the bottom, he could not do much with a team squeezed by a very high rival pressure.
Marcos Acuña (7): A very defensive night of the Egg. He had Nández for his band and he made a feast, either taking infractions or dominating the ex-Boca brand, who is not characterized by his offensive qualities. A game was put together on the end, holding the ball, leaving two on the road and overflowing to enable Messi.
Rodrigo De Paul (5): Shaky as always, imprecise as rarely. Without Messi, he was the only one capable of putting a pass from danger, something that happened little. When the low average is low, Argentina has a hard time. His brushstroke – there is always at least one – was in the second half, when he took a counterattack with a notable first pass to Lo Celso and Joaquín Correa, who left alone.
Guido Rodríguez (4): The one chosen by Uruguay to provoke the Argentine error. It was impossible for him to receive and turn around, his was playing first, generally with the centrals. Therefore, it was never a way out. In defense, he was also outdone. A couple of badly passed passes brought danger to the Draw area.
Young Lo Celso (4): Another who had more creative responsibilities in the absence of Messi and was very erratic: 79 percent passing effectiveness and 13 lost balls.
Angel Di Maria (6): The man with the goals (and important). In the Champion of the Century, he put one that will be remembered, at least, for a decade. Captaincy in arm, he started as if to be a figure and his incredible shot at the farthest angle from Muslera confirmed that, when he has time and space, he can do the seemingly impossible. With his goal, he was among the top 10 scorers in the history of the National Team, with 21, equaling none other than Herminio Masantonio and José Sanfilippo. He tried to get together with De Paul to generate a game – a la Messi- but it didn’t work. He lost balls in difficult areas and ended up being replaced quickly.
Lautaro Martínez (5): As usual, his main function was defensive. Then, to generate offenses in attack, something that went quite well. Third in order of importance for exRacing comes scoring goals, but this time there was not a single one left. Lautaro, the man who is alone, with his back turned and waiting.
Paulo Dybala (5): Messi’s replacement played little, but generated the play of the goal with his recovery in attack and subsequent discharge with Di María. Thrown on the right, he collided with the Rosario, and when he was delayed to act as a liaison, the National Team spent it resisting the Uruguayan attacks. His return to the team lasted 45 minutes.
Joaquin Correa (5): He entered halftime and, as is often the case, had good chances to score. But in a hand to hand they locked it; after an overflow of Molina he defined with indifference; and in a personal one he ended up locked against the line and the goalkeeper.
Alejandro Gomez (5): It did not take much of his income that a beautiful play was generated, pure skill and paddock. His shot was cleared by Muslera and that was his contribution.
Angel Correa (5): Like so many, he could not influence the game with the Selection completely doomed in defense.
Lionel Messi (-): If he played in Uruguay, it was the story of the previous one and he finally had a few minutes, but not even the final one came out after the overflow of Acuña. The objective, the classic against Brazil on Tuesday.
Exequiel Palacios (-): To run and suffer, like all of Argentina.
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