Javier Mascherano did not gesture.
He didn't raise the tone either.
However, the coach of the Argentine national team in the Under '23 Olympic Qualifiers hid his anger over the controversial penalty that led to a 2-2 draw against local team Venezuela and stated that "with or without VAR, the victim is always the same." equipment".
The Argentine National Team faced its counterpart from Venezuela in the first game of the quadrangular that will define who will qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. And things had started well.
The fact is that, after starting losing by a goal with a lot of responsibility from goalkeeper Brey, the national team turned the result around (Vivas tied, against, and Thiago Almada scored the second) and took the three golden points to lead the group with Paraguay that beat Brazil.
But, when five minutes of added time were being played, the Ecuadorian referee Bautista charged Luján a penalty (with VAR intervention) for a friction in the area and Kelsy
"Lujan":
For the penalty for Venezuela in the match against the Argentine National Team #U23 pic.twitter.com/ZpFRMk1Mxr
— Why is it a trend?
(@becausetendencia) February 6, 2024
For Mascherano, the situation was eloquent: "Look at the images of what has happened in all the games. Everyone can think what they want. But the reality is one, we have been through everything: goals disallowed and penalties not taken," he said. he complained.
"It's been four games that have hurt us," continued the former central midfielder for River, Liverpool, Barcelona and the National Team.
In a match corresponding to the first date of the final quadrangular of the competition that will grant two places for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Venezuelan team achieved an agonizing draw against Argentina, with a controversial penalty sanctioned by the Ecuadorian referee Augusto Aragón.
"Here you make excuses or move on. We have to focus on what we can control, which is being superior to the rival as happened today," said the coach.
To close, Mascherano referred to the difficulties that will arise, after the expulsions of Valentín Barco and Gonzalo Luján and some ongoing injuries, in forming the team for Thursday's clash against Paraguay.
“REALITY CANNOT BE COVERED” 💬
▶ Javier Mascherano's analysis of the penalty in favor of Venezuela at the end of the #PreOlympicEnDSPORTS match.
🎙 #MásQueFútbol with @JPVarsky and @ManuOlivari pic.twitter.com/XVl5m0V8Vl
— DSports (@DSports) February 6, 2024
On Wednesday at five in the afternoon, Argentina faces Paraguay with the absences of Barco and Luján: "We will seek to field the best eleven possible," the coach concluded.