Preview: Indonesia vs. Argentina
The reigning world champions Argentina will attempt to extend their unbeaten run to 10 matches when they face Indonesia in Jakarta on Monday.
The hosts, meanwhile, head into the friendly fixture in promising form after losing just one of their last 12 internationals.
Since losing 2-0 on aggregate to Vietnam in the semi-finals of the AFF Championship, Indonesia have played three consecutive friendly fixtures.
Two of those friendlies took place against Burundi in the March international window, with the fixtures producing a 3-1 win and a 2-2 draw.
After registering five goals in their two matches in March, Indonesia were unable to carry that goalscoring form into Wednesday’s meeting with Palestine.
Shin Tae-yong’s side had to be content with a goalless draw, which extended their unbeaten run in friendlies to nine games.
That impressive run of form in friendly matches is bound to come under threat against Argentina, with Indonesia set to face the South American nation for the very first time.
Preview: Indonesia vs. Argentina – prediction, team news, lineups
After breezing past Panama and Curacao in March, Argentina took to the field for the third time since winning the World Cup in Qatar when they faced Australia in China
Lionel Messi scored the first goal when Argentina beat Australia 2-1 in the last-16 of the 2022 World Cup, and the 35-year-old replicated the feat on Thursday, albeit in a much faster time.
Playing for the first time since announcing his move to Inter Miami, Messi produced a sublime strike from outside the box inside 80 seconds to score the fastest goal of his career.
German Pezzella came off the bench to double his side’s advantage and wrap up a victory that extends Argentina’s unbeaten run in friendlies to 15 games.
Since drawing 2-2 with Uruguay in November 2019, La Albiceleste have recorded seven successive friendly victories without conceding, and they will be confident of continuing that impressive run on Monday.
Indonesia friendly form:
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Indonesia form (all competitions):
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Argentina friendly form:
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Argentina form (all competitions):
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We say: Indonesia 0-4 Argentina
Argentina may have to do without Messi, Di Maria and Otamendi, but their squad still boasts an array of talent, and with a number of fringe players eager to impress, we think that the visitors will ease to a comfortable victory.