Match ends, Argentina 2, Slovenia 0.
Argentina 2-0 Slovenia
- From the section 2014 Fifa World Cup
Argentina's players posed behind a banner supporting their country's claims to the Falkland Islands before a World Cup warm-up in Buenos Aries.
The team displayed a message to support an on-going campaign to claim sovereignty of the islands, a British Overseas Territory.
Argentina then beat Slovenia 2-0 with goals from Ricardo Alvarez and substitute Lionel Messi.
They start their Group F campaign against Bosnia-Herzegovina on 15 June.
Coach Alex Sabella chose not to risk Messi, Manchester City's Sergio Aguero, Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain or Real Madrid's Angel Di Maria from the start of their final friendly before the finals in Brazil.
But Argentina still went ahead in the 11th minute when Inter Milan midfielder Alvarez scored with a powerful run and shot.
Sabella made changes in the second half and Di Maria and Aguero combined for Messi to add the second when converting Aguero's headed pass with a left-foot finish with 15 minutes to go.
"We have a great group and team," said Messi. "A World Cup is very tough and we will have to fight a lot for it.
"We arrive with the right age, with most of us playing in the best leagues of Europe for years. Winning it is our target, but it will be very hard."
Argentina also face Iran and Nigeria in their qualifying group.
Line-ups
Argentina
- 1Romero
- 17Fernandez
- 14MascheranoBooked at 51minsSubstituted forMammanaat 77'minutes
- 23Basanta
- 8Pérez
- 13FernándezSubstituted forGagoat 58'minutesBooked at 80mins
- 6BigliaSubstituted forCampagnaroat 14'minutes
- 16Rojo
- 19ÁlvarezSubstituted forDi Maríaat 57'minutes
- 22LavezziSubstituted forMessiat 58'minutes
- 11RodríguezSubstituted forAgüeroat 58'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Campagnaro
- 5Gago
- 7Di María
- 10Messi
- 12Orión
- 20Agüero
- 21Andujar
- 24Mammana
Slovenia
- 12Belec
- 2Brecko
- 6IlicSubstituted forLazarevicat 45'minutes
- 5CesarSubstituted forBalazicat 88'minutes
- 13Jokic
- 18RotmanBooked at 27mins
- 20StevanovicBooked at 34minsSubstituted forMerteljat 82'minutes
- 8Kurtic
- 19IlicicSubstituted forPecnikat 45'minutes
- 11NovakovicSubstituted forFirerat 88'minutes
- 17KirmBooked at 19minsSubstituted forSamardzicat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Samardzic
- 4Balazic
- 7Pecnik
- 10Firer
- 14Lazarevic
- 15Struna
- 16Oblak
- 22Mertelj
- 23Janza
- Referee:
- Martín Vázquez
Match Stats
Home TeamArgentinaAway TeamSlovenia
- Possession
- Home63%
- Away37%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away5
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away3
- Corners
- Home1
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away16
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Argentina 2, Slovenia 0.
Attempt missed. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left from a direct free kick.
Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Rajko Rotman (Slovenia).
Attempt missed. Jasmin Kurtic (Slovenia) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Nejc Pecnik.
Attempt blocked. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Enzo Pérez (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Ales Mertelj (Slovenia).
Substitution
Substitution, Slovenia. Ivan Firer replaces Milivoje Novakovic.
Substitution
Substitution, Slovenia. Gregor Balazic replaces Bostjan Cesar.
Enzo Pérez (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ales Mertelj (Slovenia).
Attempt missed. Ángel Di María (Argentina) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Lionel Messi.
Substitution
Substitution, Slovenia. Ales Mertelj replaces Dalibor Stevanovic because of an injury.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Dalibor Stevanovic (Slovenia) because of an injury.
Booking
Fernando Gago (Argentina) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Fernando Gago (Argentina).
Dalibor Stevanovic (Slovenia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Argentina. Emanuel Mammana replaces Javier Mascherano.
Goal!
Goal! Argentina 2, Slovenia 0. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Sergio Agüero with a headed pass.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Dejan Lazarevic (Slovenia) because of an injury.
Foul by Ángel Di María (Argentina).
Dejan Lazarevic (Slovenia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by José Basanta (Argentina).
Nejc Pecnik (Slovenia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Sergio Agüero (Argentina) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Marcos Rojo.
Foul by Sergio Agüero (Argentina).
Miso Brecko (Slovenia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Ángel Di María (Argentina) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Lionel Messi.
Foul by Marcos Rojo (Argentina).
Nejc Pecnik (Slovenia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Bostjan Cesar (Slovenia).
Attempt saved. Milivoje Novakovic (Slovenia) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Dejan Lazarevic.
Substitution
Substitution, Argentina. Fernando Gago replaces Augusto Fernández.
Substitution
Substitution, Argentina. Lionel Messi replaces Ezequiel Lavezzi.