Argentina Cruise Past Honduras 2-0 as Scaloni Rests Messi Before World Cup
An experimental Argentina side beat Honduras 2-0 at Kyle Field with Lautaro Martínez and Giuliano Simeone scoring, as Lionel Messi was kept on the bench to manage muscle fatigue.
Topline
- Argentina beat Honduras 2-0 in their penultimate pre-World Cup friendly.
- Lautaro Martínez and Giuliano Simeone scored at Kyle Field, Texas.
- Messi was rested as he recovers from left hamstring muscle fatigue.
- Argentina face Iceland on June 9 in their final warm-up.
Full Report
World Cup DeskWorld champions **Argentina** eased to a **2-0 win over Honduras** in College Station, Texas, in their penultimate friendly before the World Cup, with manager Lionel Scaloni opting to protect **Lionel Messi** by leaving him on the bench.
Martínez and Simeone on Target
Lautaro Martínez
broke the deadlock from the penalty spot in the 37th minute, and **Giuliano Simeone** doubled the lead early in the second half. Despite fielding an experimental line-up packed with younger players at Kyle Field, Argentina controlled the tempo from start to finish against limited opposition.
Managing Messi's Fitness
Messi remained an unused substitute as he recovers from muscle fatigue in his left hamstring, sustained on May 26 with Inter Miami. Scaloni has been cautious with his captain throughout the build-up, prioritising his availability for the tournament itself over minutes in warm-up fixtures.
The Bigger Picture
Scaloni said afterwards that Argentina's identity "remains intact," a reassuring verdict even with a rotated side. The reigning champions close their preparations against **Iceland on June 9** before launching their title defence, with the hope that Messi will be fully fit for the opening matches.
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