Argentina continued their fine form with Lo Celso firing them into a 1-0 win over Venezuela at the Hard Rock Stadium, but all eyes were on one man who didn't feature - Lionel Messi. Coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed after the match that the captain was rested to avoid fitness risks. He said:
Argentina's only goal came from Giovani Lo Celso, who finished calmly in the first half after a clever build-up through midfield. With Messi not available, Scaloni turned to youth, giving Nicolas Paz his first senior start. The 19-year-old impressed, showing composure and creativity between the lines. Franco Mastantuono was also unavailable after being ruled out with a muscle strain .
Scaloni said post-match: