The Argentine National Team beat Ecuador 1-0 in the first of the last two friendlies before the start of the Copa América in the United States and Julián Alvarez could not end the drought.
The Manchester City forward, who shared the attack along with Lautaro Martínez and Ángel Di María, since Lionel Messi started the match on the substitute bench, reached 12 games without being able to convert.
Julián had no options to convert, he generally played outside the area and had the usual display. His best interventions were some front changes from left to right.
Alvarez has seven goals in 30 games played with the Albiceleste and his last cry dates back to December 13, 2022, within the framework of the semifinal of the Qatar 2022 World Cup against Croatia (3-0) at the Lusail Stadium. Julián had been stung by Nahuel Molina and Rodrigo De Paul, but he opted for the personal one and did not fail: the ex-River became a bulldozer until he got under the goal of Dominik Livakovic, who had already given him a penalty and was now demanding a alleged hand in the temporary 2-0. A beautiful goal and with a lot of luck, enough for the light blue and white substitute bench to explode with emotion.
But from that day everything changed. And although he was always called up for the following commitments of the Argentine National Team, whether for the remainder of Qatar 2022, South American Qualifiers towards the 2026 World Cup or friendlies like today, luck eluded the native of Calchín , starter most of the time. France, Panama, Curacao (did not add minutes), Australia, Indonesia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Brazil, El Salvador (did not add minutes) and Costa Rica.
Given the performance below expectations of Lautaro Martínez, suffering from an injury, the Manchester City forward had earned a place in the Albiceleste and paid handsomely. All until Toro was able to reverse his situation in this last season, especially with Inter Milan, after becoming champion of Serie A, MVP and top scorer with 24 goals (two from penalties) in 38 games.
Lautaro, who had a streak similar to Julián’s, took off his muff and returned to scoring for the Argentine National Team during the 3-1 friendly victory against Costa Rica, also in the United States, on March 27. Paradoxically, the ex-Racing player cut his streak of 777 minutes without scoring at 77 minutes of play, shortly after replacing Alejandro Garnacho, when after a good appearance by Di María on the right he unloaded for De Paul, who managed to pass him deep so that he could define with a touch to the far post.
After scoring against Honduras in one of the friendly matches prior to the 2022 World Cup, on September 23 of that year, Lautaro had started with a negative streak, the worst personal one in the Argentine National Team: there were 16 games, but only three complete ones. Despite the drought, El Toro is the Scaloneta’s second top scorer with 21 goals, only behind Messi, who reached 41 during a great 2023.
How Julián Álvarez arrives at the Copa América
Julián, unlike Lautaro who renewed his contract in the last week, is wanted by different very powerful teams in Europe, such as Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Atlético Madrid. Relegated in Pep Guardiola’s consideration for the starting eleven, the future of the one who emerged from River’s youth ranks may lie in another club.
Of the 38 games that City played in the Premier League, 31 had the Argentine as a starter, but in the last five games he only saw many minutes against Nottingham Forest (89), in the other four he did not play more than 10 minutes. He entered in the 82nd against Fulham and Wolverhampton, in the 90th vs. Tottenham and did not take the field against West Ham.
In the Champions League, Real Madrid was the executioner of Julián’s team in the quarterfinals, an instance in which he only played 33 minutes of the 210 possible. In the rest of the games, he only completed 90 against Red Star on the first date, when he scored a double to win 3 to 1.
Álvarez in the Argentine National Team seems to be the starting option for the most difficult games. Against Uruguay (the undefeated team missed) and Brazil, on the last FIFA date corresponding to the South American Qualifiers, he was in the starting 11 and played 158 of the 180 possible minutes.
2024-06-10 01:22:46
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