Argentina had certainly made it easier by facing Panama, 61st nation in the FIFA rankings. And the Albiceleste’s mission seemed all the more simple as Panama had landed with its B team.
And if Lionel Scaloni’s men had to wait until the last quarter of an hour to make the difference, they finally managed to hold their rank by winning 2-0 to the delight of their supporters.
This victory puts an end to the curse that affected the world champions. It is indeed necessary to go back to 1994 to find a winning team of the World Cup winning its first match after its coronation.
🇦🇷 Argentina become the 1st team to win their match following their World Cup title since Brazil against Yugoslavia on December 23, 1994. #Argentinavspanama
— Stats Foot (@Statsdufoot) March 24, 2023