Despite the absence of captain Lionel Messi, Argentina displayed their dominance with a commanding 3-0 victory over El Salvador in a friendly match, as they prepare for their Copa America title defence. Goals from Cristian Romero, Enzo Fernández, and Giovani Lo Celso secured the win for the world champions at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

Argentina demonstrated their strength in a decisive 3-0 victory against El Salvador in a friendly match, laying the groundwork for their upcoming Copa America championship defence. At Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, the world champions put on a commanding display, even without captain Lionel Messi, who sat out due to a hamstring injury suffered while playing for Inter Miami.

The scoring spree commenced with defender Cristian Romero breaking the deadlock in the 16th minute, capitalizing on a corner kick from Angel Di Maria to put Argentina in the lead. Minutes before halftime, Enzo Fernández doubled the advantage, courtesy of a well-crafted setup involving Di Maria and Rodrigo de Paul, before Giovani Lo Celso sealed the victory with a clinical finish in the 52nd minute.

Despite the chilly conditions in Philadelphia, Argentina displayed composure and cohesion, dictating the tempo of the match and asserting their superiority over an El Salvador side grappling with a winless streak spanning 21 matches.

Manager Lionel Scaloni utilized the friendly as an opportunity to provide valuable playing time to emerging talents, including Alejandro Garnacho and Valentin Barco. Garnacho, in particular, showcased promise, with the 19-year-old left-back impressing with his performance for the U-23 team during Paris Olympics qualification.

As Argentina fine-tunes their preparations for the Copa America, their commanding victory over El Salvador serves as a testament to the depth and quality of their squad, instilling confidence as they embark on their quest to retain their coveted title. Despite Messi's absence, the world champions demonstrated resilience and adaptability, underlining their status as formidable contenders on the international stage.