Argentina

Gerardo Martino frustrated with Argentina

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 14 October 2015

Argentina boss Gerardo Martino reveals his frustration after his team could only draw with Paraguay in their second 2018 World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

Argentina boss Gerardo Martino has insisted that he was "not satisfied with the point" that his team secured against Paraguay on Tuesday.

The 2014 World Cup finalists were beaten 2-0 by Ecuador in their first 2018 World Cup qualifier last week, before securing a goalless draw with Paraguay to move onto one point in the group.

Martino has praised his team's work-rate in Asuncion, but has said that the draw was not the result that he was looking for.

"We came to recover the points that we lost in the first matchday. We regret that we did not get the three points, which is what we came for. I am not satisfied with the point," Martino told reporters.

"I am happy with the effort that the players put in. They were better in the first half than in the second. It is not easy to get fluidity in play within two or three days having changed the tactical plan.

"The bad thing from these fixtures is the amount of points we took. What is worrying is the defeat to Ecuador. I do not usually emphasise the attitude but I do know because these players were very brave after difficult days."

Argentina were without leading marksman Lionel Messi for their most recent qualifiers, with the Barcelona forward still on the sidelines with damaged knee ligaments.