Argentina ran out comfortable 3-0 winners against Trinidad and Tobago this evening.
Despite a number of missed chances from La Albiceleste, Rodrigo Palacio scored a stoppage-time header in the first half to send Alejandro Sabella's side in with the advantage.
Following the restart Javier Mascherano made it 2-0, before Maxi Rodriguez came off the bench to further the lead.
See how the action unfolded below.
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of Argentina's clash with Trinidad and Tobago in a warm-up match ahead of the World Cup.
The Argentina team news is just reaching us here...
Argentina: Romero; Campagnaro, Fernandez, Demichelis, Rojo; Mascherano, Gago, Di Maria; Lavezzi, Messi, Palacio
So the big news for Alejandro Sabella's side will be that Lionel Messi starts. The Barcelona forward is the talisman of La Albiceleste, and could be one of the stars of the tournament in Brazil.
It was also be interesting to see how Angel di Maria fares in a midfield role. It is one he played with distinction for Real Madrid at times last season, but he is known primarily as a winger. Watching him sit in alongside Fernando Gago and Javier Mascherano will be intriguing.
We're still waiting on the Trinidad team news, we will have that with you when we get it.
Argentina coach Sabella is under no illusions as to what is expected of his side at the World Cup. The tactician knows he has a talented group to work with and did little to dampen expectation ahead of this game...
Soccerway quotes him as saying: "There are some great players in this team, most of all the forwards. Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria, with them you are enthusiastic. I can't deny that even I am...
"Every fan is excited by the prospect of watching these players when they are in form. I can see that Lionel Messi is in good shape, happy and willing to work with all of us in order to have the best World Cup."
The Trinidad team has reached us...
Trinidad and Tobago: Williams; Hoyte, Abu Bakr, Bateu, Mitchell; Boucaud, Guerra, Peltier, George; Jones, Winchester
Kenwyne Jones starts for the visitors this evening. The striker was of course relegated with Cardiff City last term, but he gets a chance to show what he can do this evening in Argentina.
Argentina kick off their World Cup campaign with a game against Bosnia on June 15, before clashes with Iran and Nigeria.
We're minutes away from kick off here, the game will be played at Estadio Monumental, the home of River Plate.
Of course, anytime you get to watch Messi is a pleasure, and it will hopefully be entertaining match judging from the look of Argentina's attacking lineup.
Argentina break quickly, and it eventually falls to Messi, who can quite keep his shot down.
End-to-end stuff at the moment as Trinidad and Tobago nearly score from a corner before Argentina race up the other end and nearly open the scoring themselves.
Fernando Gago is closed down in midfield well. The defensive-minded Gago was looking to try and find Messi, but the visitors did well to snuff it out. They'll need more of that this evening.
I'm, hearing that our commentary has experienced some difficulties for the first few minutes of the game. We apologise for that, but you're back with us at 0-0. The visitors are doing well so far.
Messi and Di Maria link up to try and release Lavezzi but the Paris Saint-Germain forward couldn't quite get on the end of it. Nice play by the La Liga stars in the build-up there.
Kenwyne Jones is having to do some tireless hold-up play this evening. He's trying his best to bring his teammates into play. Not really happening for the visitors up top so far, but they will be relatively pleased with their defensive work.
Marshall hacks Rodrigo Palacio down. If Trinidad and Tobago cannot win the ball by fair means, they're having no issues with fouling. That was a tasty one from the visiting defender...
Wonderful defending from Campagnaro to shut out Trinidad, and Argentina break quickly again, but Messi cannot convert the chance after another lightning counter-attack.
The visitors are starting to creep higher and higher up the pitch, and that could be a dangerous tactic with the pace of Lavezzi and Messi up top. We shall see...
CHANCE! Lavezzi should score, it looked harder to miss. The PSG forward was found by Palacio with a deft header after a good find from Di Maria, but he can only hack at the finish. What a waste!
Good defending from Martin Demichelis. He read the danger early and snuffed out the chance for Jones with a sliding tackle. A decent turn of pace from the Manchester City defender.
Messi's corner find Rojo, but the defender can't get his effort on target. One of these will go in for the home side, you'd have to think. Khaleem Hyland goes in the book for a poor challenge on Gago
CHANCE! Palacio misses with a close-range effort. He really should have scored there. Can the visitors hold on until the second half?
The T&T goal has lived a charmed life in parts, but they look like they've held on to see half time with the scores goalless.
GOAL! Argentina 1-0 Trinidad and Tobago 0 (Rodrigo Palacio)
Well talk about commentator's curse! As soon as I say it, Argentina break them down and it's Palacio who opens the scoring, moments after Messi had missed an absolute sitter.
With the goal gaping the four-time Ballon d'Or winner sidefoots over from close range, with the slightest tip from the keeper. A finish you don't associate with him, but Palacio made light of it as he netted seconds later from the resulting corner with his head. That was a frantic few moments for the home side.
HALF TIME: Argentina 1-0 Trinidad and Tobago
Well they took their time breaking them down and were guilty of some terrible misses, but they got there in the end. Rodrigo Palcaio putting Argentina 1-0 on the stroke of half time.
Argentina will be content with their play for the most part, but with their mouth-watering attacking talent, they should really be home and dry by now. That'll be a minor sore point for Sabella.
We're just about to get underway here for the second half...
There is a slight delay for now. Whilst we wait, I fancy Argentina to wrap this up with three or four in this second half. Surely they can't be as wasteful in this second period.
KICK OFF: So, we finally get up and running again.
Nice build-up from T&T as Justin Hoyte finds Jones before he spins and finds a teammate wide left, but he's eventually closed down with Peltier in space at the back post. Argentina go up the other end with a typical counter attack and Di Maria hammers it wide.
Messi is on the receiving end twice in just a few seconds. The latter resembled a clothesline on the edge of the box. Mitchell goes in the book for that attempt to stop the Barca star. Free kick on the edge of the box...
GOAL! Argentina 2-0 Trinidad and Tobago (Javier Mascherano)
Mascherano is making his 97th appearance tonight and he has just his third goal. Messi's free kick is a beauty but it rattles the post and midfielder is on hand to tap into the empty net.
CHANCE! Beautful run from Di Maria, and as tries to find Palacio, he overhits the pass and the chances goes. He did the hard part there! wasteful from Di Maria.
Superb from Mascherano, turns his man in midfield and switches the play to send Lucas Bilgia up the field. Argentina eventually win a corner. Lavezzi is replaced by Maxi Rodriguez in the meantime.
Messi with a typical darting run and he tries to play a one-two with Di Maria on the edge of the box, but the Real Madrid man's pass is poor once more.
The game has gone a bit flat since the second goal. Messi tried to jnect some pace moments earlier but since then the crowd has gone flat somewhat. It's methodical from Argentina...
Angel Di Maria'a night is over as he comes off for Enzo Perez.
GOAL! Argentina 3-0 Trinidad and Tobago (Maxi Rodriguez)
A long ball over the top finds Palacio and he taps it around the goalkeeper before sliding to keep it in play. He then cuts it back and Maxi taps it into the virtually unguarded net. Great long ball by Mascherano to set Palacio through.
CHANCE! Messi sets Maxi through on the left side of the area, and the former Liverpool man should score but Williams makes a good save. Should have been 4-0 there!
Mascherano has been excellent this evening. He has dictated play from deep positions time and again. It's all too easy for the Barcelona man. Hard to believe he plays primarily as a defender in Spain.
Mascherano comes off for Ricky Alvarez.
Argentina have the ball in the net but it's ruled out for offside. Correct decision, it was Enzo Perez who had drifted into the wrong area.
Mitchell comes off for Gavin Hoyte for T&T
Gavin Hoyte wins a corner for T&T after a decent foray down the left. He injected some pace almost instantly down that side.
The ball almost broke to Jones inside the box, but it eventually goes out for goal kick. Argentina come up the pitch with Rojo wide left. They're playing a game of keep ball now the home side.
Messi is halted on the edge of the box and his pass backwards finds a T&T player, but the visitors cannot make the most of their numerical advantage with the attack. Argentina go straight up the other end and Messi is through but he is flagged for offside.
Both teams seem happy enough with this scoreline, but there is the feeling that Argentina can add to it at will right now. It's all quite pedestrian, but one ball over the top almost sees Messi through once again.
Argentina's strength in depth could see them go a long way in Brazil. They're full of household names, and their attacking options are as good as any in world football. Trinidad and Tobago ave founded that out tonight this second half.
T&T's high line was pointed out towards the end of the first half but it has been to their detriment this second period, particularly for Argentina's third. In truth, not a lot happening these last 10 minutes or so.
The visitors can pat themselves on the back for this performance. They haven't really threatened up front, but for the first half they largely frustrated their illustrious opponents...
FULL TIME: Argentina 3-0 Trinidad and Tobago 0
Well pretty much the perfect warm up for Alejandro Sabella's side. They were never overexerted, Trinidad and Tobago acquitted themselves well, but were never going to overly threaten as an attacking force and La Albiceleste netted three goals. The coach will be fairly content...
Of course, there will be sterner tests along the way in Brazil, but with their mouth-watering array of attacking stars, they could go far in Brazil.
Well, that's all from me this evening, as Argentina head towards their meeting with Slovenia on Saturday, perhaps they believe that they can win the World Cup in fierce rivals Brazil's backyard? bye for now...
Written by
Paul Gorst
Paul Gorst
