Thursday, October 31

Guatemala vs. Argentina: Luis Fernando Tena's team will have a tough test against the world champion

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By Jorge Hernandez

Jun 12, 2024, 18:57 PM EDT

The Guatemala teamunder the command of the Mexican coach Luis Fernando Tenais already on his way to the United States to face next Friday Argentina in a friendly meeting in Maryland.

However, the chapín painting will face this tough test without two of its starssince this Wednesday the team left for North America without one of its main figures, Nathaniel Mendez-Laingfrom Derby County of the English second division, who will have a rest, in the words of the Mexican to local media.

The defender will not be against the albiceleste either Aaron Herreraanother of the prominent names from Guatemala, since the American DC United soccer player is injured.

Tena’s selection He comes from winning his first two qualifying matches last week heading to the 2026 World Cup, after having beaten Dominica (6-0) already British Virgin Islands (0-3).

For Luis Fernando Tena this will be a great experience

Before the trip, the Mexican technical director, who led El Tri to win the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics, He classified the possibility of facing the world champion as “a great experience”, as he declared to local media on Tuesday.

Similarly, He added that a very tough game awaits them and remembered that He has never faced Argentina as a coach.

“We hope to have a good game. A worthy match that, beyond the result, millions of Guatemalans feel proud of their team,” he expressed.

Tena will have four players who play abroad against Argentina: forward Oscar Santis, from Dinamo Tbilisi of Georgia; Nicholas Hagen, of the Columbus Crew of the United States; Rubio Rubín, from the Mexican Querétaro, and Nicolás Samayoa, from the Politehnica Iasi of the Romanian first division.

The rest of the 20 soccer players who traveled to the United States this Wednesday are from the local league, mostly from the last champion, Municipal, and Comunicaciones.

The match will serve Guatemala as part of its preparation for the League of Nations of the Confederation of North, Central America and the Caribbean Football, which begins in September, since they were unable to qualify for the Copa América as representatives of Concacaf.

For its part, Argentina debuts on Thursday, June 20 in the continental tournament against Canada.

The match of This Friday it will take place at FedEx Field Stadium in Maryland, at 8 pm ET

*With information from EFE.

Keep reading:
· Luis Fernando Tena and Guatemala are out of the Copa América after receiving a defeat from Panama
· Luis Fernando Tena says goodbye to the Gold Cup with Guatemala, but warns ahead of the qualifiers: “We are going to be worthy contenders”
· Luis Fernando Tena believes that Guatemala can have the same level as Mexico