Experimental Argentina beaten by Poland
Reuters - Sunday 05 June 2011, 18:16
WARSAW - Euro 2012 co-hosts Poland beat
Argentina's experimental team 2-1 in a friendly on Sunday,
sending the South Americans to their second defeat of an unhappy
two-match tour.
The defeat came a day after FIFA announced it was
investigating possible match-fixing in Argentina's 4-1 defeat in
Nigeria last Wednesday when both sides were awarded
controversial penalties.
Coach Sergio Batista, fielding European-based players on the
fringes of the first-choice squad, has also been criticised by
Argentina FA president Julio Grondona, who said the team's
prestige was being put at risk.
Substitute Pawel Brozek scored the winner in the 67th minute
as Poland, like Nigeria, made their greater pace in attack pay
while the Argentines generally failed to impose the possession
game Batista preaches.
Midfielder Adrian Mierzejewski gave the home side the lead
midway through the first half, easily slipping past a defender
and giving keeper Adrian Gabbarini no chance.
Argentina's best move less than two minutes into the second
half led to striker Marco Ruben equalising when he turned in the
box on the right to send a diagonal shot into the bottom far
side of the Wojciech Szczesny's net.
Argentina are preparing to host the Copa America next month
but only two players in the tour party were included in the
26-man provisional tournament squad named by Batista on Tuesday.