Geronimo Rulli (7): He saved everything, even the penalty, beyond the fact that Enner Valencia captured the rebound. And very well in the aerial game against a rival that charged the Argentine area a lot. Highly approved in an opportunity that could have opened the door to the World Cup.
Gonzalo Montiel (5): He suffered with Ibarra and Estrada in the first quarter of an hour, then he adapted. Given the defensive demand, he spent less than usual on the attack.
Lucas Martínez Wednesday (5): with some failures at the start, although then he got quite a lot, including a couple of late crosses.
Nicholas Otamendi (7): great game of the defender. He rejected almost all air shipments from Ecuador, prevailed in the friction stage and showed personality. If Argentina had won, they would have owed much to it as the mainstay of the resistance, especially in the second half.
Nicolás Tagliafico (6): good game from the left-back, author of the assist on Julián Álvarez’s goal. The tie penalty comes from his hand, although, as he himself declared, he tried to get his arm out. And the images do not confirm his, there was no friction on his leg before.
Rodrigo DePaul (7): with Otamendi and Rulli, the best of the National Team. Pattern and clean touch. He was the one who received the most fouls, the one who recovered the most and the second who gave the most passes. He plays in the best moments of the team, sacrifice when it comes to holding on.
Leandro Paredes (6): when Argentina accommodated, Paredes accommodated. The one who gave the most passes on the team. Later he felt the wear and tear, like all the selected ones.
Alexis Mac Allister (6): like against Venezuela, he proved again that he can be a good partner in midfield. The peak of Argentina’s performance came when he and De Paul got along with Messi and sheltered the ball, slowing down Ecuador. He participated in the goal.
Lionel Messi (6): very good level until he got tired. When he teamed up with the midfielders, or spotted Álvarez’s diagonals, Argentina controlled the game. Already without legs, he even collaborated on the brand.
Julian Alvarez (6): in his first game as a starter he scored his first goal. He was shown looking for spaces to offer himself as Messi’s download. Even with ups and downs, the usual bumblebee when pressing the opponent’s exit, as happens in River.
Nicholas Gonzalez (5): a machine to hit the team, even in the context of a game that did not offer him spaces. A good run to the left in the first stage.
Exequiel Palacios (5): entered for Argentina to recover possession, but could not contribute its management.
Angel Strap (5): He tried to make his ability weigh, but he only succeeded in punctual plays.
Guy Rodriguez: entered through Paredes to solidify the middle.
John Foyth: He entered as a right back for Montiel, in a purely defensive role.
Lucas Ocampos: less than 15 minutes to lead the counter that did not arrive.
Lionel Scaloni (6): It was difficult for the team to start, but as the minutes passed they understood how to play the game. He found in Mac Allister a variant of Lo Celso. He bet on Julián Álvarez and it came out. The changes in the second half did not bring him what they promised.
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