Nagjee Cup: Argentina Under-23 takes on Dnipro

In the Group B first match against TSV 1860 Munich, the Argentines were dominated in the first half, but showed lot more urgency to press forward in the second.

Argentina Under-23 were demolished by TSV 1860 München II in their first Group B match on February 6. They lost 0-3 to the German side.

Argentina Under-23, after a disappointing start to its campaign, takes on Ukraine’s Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in the Sait Nagjee Trophy tournament at the Corporation Stadium on Friday.

“From now on, every game is a final for us,” Argentine coach said. “We are planning to play Friday’s game the way we played in the second half of our first match.”

In the Group B first match against TSV 1860 Munich, the Argentines were dominated in the first half, but showed lot more urgency to press forward in the second.

“Our boys were very nervous in the opening half,” said Julio Olarticoecha, who was part of the 1986 Argentine team that won the World Cup. “We have to get more of the possession of the ball against Dnipro.”

Dnipro coach Dmitry Mikhailenkov said Argentina was a strong said.

“It would be a tough game for us,” he said. “They have many fine players.”

He added that he was happy to see so many spectators turning up to watch the matches.

“I think close to 20,000 people watched us in our first match,” he said. “Our boys do not normally get such crowds to watch them.”