Nico Paz impressed in first World Cup start

Nico Paz and his Argentina side finished the group stage as leaders of Group J after three consecutive wins – the most recent against Jordan. Paz had played in Argentina’s first game as a second-half substitute. He did not feature against Austria. However, in the final game of their season, Lionel Scaloni opted to give minutes to players who had been waiting on the sidelines.

Giovanni Lo Celso opened the scoring, firing a free-kick into the top-left corner after Mohannad Abu Taha had fouled him on the edge of the box. Lautaro Martinez doubled the lead from the spot, sending Yazeed Yazeed Abulaila the wrong way after Nizar Al Rashdan’s high boot caught Senesi. Mousa Tamari pulled one back for Jordan, turning in Ehsan Haddad’s cross. Leo Messi sealed it, curling a free-kick around the wall for his record-extending 19th World Cup goal.

Nico Paz played 61 minutes. He was tidy in possession, completing 50 of 53 passes (94%) and both long balls, with two successful dribbles from five. He won four of nine ground duels and made four recoveries.