Match story
- Argentina fired more attempts (4 vs 0 shots).
Argentina defeated Curaçao 7-0 in Friendlies. The fixture is part of the Friendlies 1 stage in the 2023 season. The match was played at Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades in Santiago del Estero, Prov. de Santiago del Estero. G. Tejera officiated the match. The full-time result capped a Argentina vs Curaçao meeting in Friendlies with detailed post-match statistics available on Sportra. This match centre covers lineups, live events, player ratings, team statistics, xG, head-to-head history, and related news for Argentina and Curaçao. On Sportra you can view xG, lineups, match statistics, events, player ratings, predictions, head-to-head history, and related news for this fixture.
Recorded meetings: 0 (available previous meetings, not necessarily all-time).
Argentina defeated Curaçao 7-0 in Friendlies. The fixture is part of the Friendlies 1 stage in the 2023 season. The match was played at Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades in Santiago del Estero, Prov. de Santiago del Estero. G. Tejera officiated the match. The full-time result capped a Argentina vs Curaçao meeting in Friendlies with detailed post-match statistics available on Sportra. This match centre covers lineups, live events, player ratings, team statistics, xG, head-to-head history, and related news for Argentina and Curaçao. On Sportra you can view xG, lineups, match statistics, events, player ratings, predictions, head-to-head history, and related news for this fixture.

AFA president Claudio Tapia issued a strong statement addressing the conspiracy theories surrounding the 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain. A month after Argentina fell 1-0 to Spain in overtime at the 2026 World Cup final, Argentine Football Association (AFA) president Claudio Tapia broke his silence with a lengthy, pointed statement on social media, taking direct aim at what he called a “miserable campaign” to paint the national team as having thrown the match. The backlash stems from a wave of conspiracy theories that spread in Argentina in the weeks following the loss, some of them tied to a leaked video showing Lionel Messi delivering an unusually calm pre-match speech in the locker room, in which he told his teammates to “forget about everything”. That clip was seized on by some to suggest the players had mentally checked out before kickoff, and it wasn’t long before speculation grew into open accusations, with some in Argentina even floating the idea that the squad had deliberately “given away” the final. Tapia didn’t hold back in responding to those claims, noting that a month had passed without a single apology from anyone who spread the theories. “None of them apologized. None of them came out and said, ‘We were wrong’,” he wrote, adding that while making a mistake is human, lying and fueling a false narrative for days before quietly disappearing once it’s debunked is not. pic.twitter.com/5oHuoFF6AF— Chiqui Tapia (@tapiachiqui) August 19, 2026 He was especially forceful in defending the players themselves, arguing that once someone accuses the national team of being traitors, there’s no walking it back. Claudio Tapia’s full statement “A month has passed. A month since that final. A month since the lie, the operation, and a miserable campaign to paint this national team as having given up. And the most striking thing is that, after a month, none of them apologized. None of them came out and said, ‘We were wrong.’ None of them had the honesty, the dignity, or simply the guts to take responsibility. Because making a mistake can happen. What can’t happen is lying, building a false story, feeding a suspicion for days, and then, when time proves it was all smoke, hiding and acting like nothing ever happened. While our players left everything on the field, some outside were doing exactly the opposite: sowing hatred, dividing, tarnishing, and trying to destroy the image of a national team that earned the respect of millions. To all of them: take responsibility. Staying quiet isn’t enough. Waiting for time to pass isn’t enough. Changing the subject and acting like you never said anything isn’t enough.And even if you now want to avoid the comments, the complaints, or the criticism from people over all the lies you told, you won’t be able to erase what you did. Because words have consequences, and accusations leave marks. You don’t come back from calling the national team’s players traitors. You don’t come back from putting those who defended this jersey under suspicion. You don’t come back from accusing them of giving up. And you certainly don’t come back from doing it without a single piece of proof, only to choose silence once the lie is exposed. You demanded explanations when you didn’t have a shred of proof. You pointed fingers at players who were giving their lives for this. You fed a lie and passed it off as truth. Now it’s your turn to explain yourselves. Because greatness also means owning up to a mistake. And when you accuse, lie, and publicly hurt people who gave everything for this jersey, apologizing isn’t a favor. It’s an obligation. And there’s something else: how do you go back home after doing all this? How do you look your kids in the eye and talk to them about honesty, respect, dignity? How do you teach them that there are values worth defending, when you had the chance to do exactly that and chose to lie, point fingers, and hide instead? Values aren’t negotiable. A month has passed and we still

The league has introduced a series of changes designed to make matches faster and reduce the amount of time lost to stoppages, with the new approach potentially changing how players manage substitutions, injuries and restarts. Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie are entering another important Serie A campaign with Milan and Juventus respectively, but the American stars will have something new to deal with once they step onto the pitch. The league has introduced a series of changes designed to make matches faster and reduce the amount of time lost to stoppages, with the new approach potentially changing how players manage substitutions, injuries and restarts. The changes arrive after a summer in which similar measures were trialed elsewhere in soccer, including at the 2026 World Cup. Serie A wants more soccer actually being played, while referees have also been given clearer instructions on player behavior and communication with officials. For Pulisic, who is looking to rediscover his best form with Milan after a difficult second half of last season, the changes could create a faster and more demanding environment. The American winger scored 10 Serie A goals before the turn of the year last season but then went through a prolonged scoring drought, making a strong response particularly important. McKennie enters the season after producing the best numbers of his Juventus career, having recorded nine goals and six assists in 52 appearances last campaign. His versatility means he could be particularly exposed to the substitution and injury-management changes, especially given how frequently he operates across different positions. Christian Pulisic #10 and Weston McKennie #8 of the United States celebrate a goal. The two Americans are also among the leading USMNT figures preparing for another major period with the national team. The new Serie A regulations could therefore have an impact beyond their club careers, particularly as players adjust to a quicker tempo and fewer opportunities to slow matches down. Serie A introduces stricter rules on time-wasting The biggest change concerns the amount of time players will have to restart play or leave the field. A substituted player must leave the pitch within 10 seconds after the substitution board is shown, while the countdown begins when the final board is displayed if several substitutions are made simultaneously. Throw-ins and goal kicks are also coming under greater scrutiny. Players will have five seconds to restart play, with a corner awarded to the opposition if a goalkeeper takes longer than five seconds to take a goal kick. The new rules also target situations involving injuries. A player who receives treatment on the field must remain off the pitch for one minute after play resumes, although goalkeepers are exempt from the provision. Former Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri embrace his player Rafael Leao Serie A’s leadership believes these changes can make a significant difference to the spectacle. “Many of the changes introduced will concern situations where play is stopped, with the aim of increasing the effective playing time of matches, making games even more dynamic and spectacular,” Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo said, according to ANSA via CalcioMercato. Only captains can approach the referee Another major change concerns communication with officials. Only the designated captain will be allowed to approach the referee to complain or request explanations, meaning other players will have to stay away from confrontations. Daniele Orsato explained the reasoning behind the measure during the briefing attended by representatives from all 20 Serie A clubs. “The captain will be the figure representing the club on the pitch, and the referee will only refer to them,” Orsato said, according to CalcioMercato. Lautaro Martinez #10 of FC Internazionale Milano speaks with the match officials The refereeing authorities have also addressed the controversial gesture of covering the mouth d
Chelsea are bound to be the busiest Premier League club in what remains of the summer transfer window - at least when it comes to getting players out of the door.
He is replacing a World Cup winner and is his country’s first Premier League keeper, but Villa’s new signing has already dealt with harder challengesIn November 2001, the first Japanese goalkeeper to play English league football conceded a goal within the first minute of his debut. Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi may have struggled for second-tier Portsmouth, conceding 21 times in his 12 league games after being spotted by the then director of football, Harry Redknapp, but he also produced some world-class saves and had glowing things to say about the Royal Mail.Replaced by a 42-year-old Dave Beasant, Kawaguchi nevertheless remains a cult hero on the south coast, as a standing ovation in his final game demonstrated. Despite going on to play 116 times for Japan, he never made the jump to the Premier League. Now though, finally, Japan has a No 1 in the top flight. Continue reading...
Barcelona have not given up on signing Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid despite Los Colchoneros’ stubborn stance from the beginning.The Spanish capital club have been very clear that the Argentin...
Tap a headline to view metadata and excerpt fields in Sportra, then use the article website button to continue on the original publisher page.

AFA president Claudio Tapia issued a strong statement addressing the conspiracy theories surrounding the 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain. A month after Argentina fell 1-0 to Spain in overtime at the 2026 World Cup final, Argentine Football Association (AFA) president Claudio Tapia broke his silence with a lengthy, pointed statement on social media, taking direct aim at what he called a “miserable campaign” to paint the national team as having thrown the match. The backlash stems from a wave of conspiracy theories that spread in Argentina in the weeks following the loss, some of them tied to a leaked video showing Lionel Messi delivering an unusually calm pre-match speech in the locker room, in which he told his teammates to “forget about everything”. That clip was seized on by some to suggest the players had mentally checked out before kickoff, and it wasn’t long before speculation grew into open accusations, with some in Argentina even floating the idea that the squad had deliberately “given away” the final. Tapia didn’t hold back in responding to those claims, noting that a month had passed without a single apology from anyone who spread the theories. “None of them apologized. None of them came out and said, ‘We were wrong’,” he wrote, adding that while making a mistake is human, lying and fueling a false narrative for days before quietly disappearing once it’s debunked is not. pic.twitter.com/5oHuoFF6AF— Chiqui Tapia (@tapiachiqui) August 19, 2026 He was especially forceful in defending the players themselves, arguing that once someone accuses the national team of being traitors, there’s no walking it back. Claudio Tapia’s full statement “A month has passed. A month since that final. A month since the lie, the operation, and a miserable campaign to paint this national team as having given up. And the most striking thing is that, after a month, none of them apologized. None of them came out and said, ‘We were wrong.’ None of them had the honesty, the dignity, or simply the guts to take responsibility. Because making a mistake can happen. What can’t happen is lying, building a false story, feeding a suspicion for days, and then, when time proves it was all smoke, hiding and acting like nothing ever happened. While our players left everything on the field, some outside were doing exactly the opposite: sowing hatred, dividing, tarnishing, and trying to destroy the image of a national team that earned the respect of millions. To all of them: take responsibility. Staying quiet isn’t enough. Waiting for time to pass isn’t enough. Changing the subject and acting like you never said anything isn’t enough.And even if you now want to avoid the comments, the complaints, or the criticism from people over all the lies you told, you won’t be able to erase what you did. Because words have consequences, and accusations leave marks. You don’t come back from calling the national team’s players traitors. You don’t come back from putting those who defended this jersey under suspicion. You don’t come back from accusing them of giving up. And you certainly don’t come back from doing it without a single piece of proof, only to choose silence once the lie is exposed. You demanded explanations when you didn’t have a shred of proof. You pointed fingers at players who were giving their lives for this. You fed a lie and passed it off as truth. Now it’s your turn to explain yourselves. Because greatness also means owning up to a mistake. And when you accuse, lie, and publicly hurt people who gave everything for this jersey, apologizing isn’t a favor. It’s an obligation. And there’s something else: how do you go back home after doing all this? How do you look your kids in the eye and talk to them about honesty, respect, dignity? How do you teach them that there are values worth defending, when you had the chance to do exactly that and chose to lie, point fingers, and hide instead? Values aren’t negotiable. A month has passed and we still

The league has introduced a series of changes designed to make matches faster and reduce the amount of time lost to stoppages, with the new approach potentially changing how players manage substitutions, injuries and restarts. Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie are entering another important Serie A campaign with Milan and Juventus respectively, but the American stars will have something new to deal with once they step onto the pitch. The league has introduced a series of changes designed to make matches faster and reduce the amount of time lost to stoppages, with the new approach potentially changing how players manage substitutions, injuries and restarts. The changes arrive after a summer in which similar measures were trialed elsewhere in soccer, including at the 2026 World Cup. Serie A wants more soccer actually being played, while referees have also been given clearer instructions on player behavior and communication with officials. For Pulisic, who is looking to rediscover his best form with Milan after a difficult second half of last season, the changes could create a faster and more demanding environment. The American winger scored 10 Serie A goals before the turn of the year last season but then went through a prolonged scoring drought, making a strong response particularly important. McKennie enters the season after producing the best numbers of his Juventus career, having recorded nine goals and six assists in 52 appearances last campaign. His versatility means he could be particularly exposed to the substitution and injury-management changes, especially given how frequently he operates across different positions. Christian Pulisic #10 and Weston McKennie #8 of the United States celebrate a goal. The two Americans are also among the leading USMNT figures preparing for another major period with the national team. The new Serie A regulations could therefore have an impact beyond their club careers, particularly as players adjust to a quicker tempo and fewer opportunities to slow matches down. Serie A introduces stricter rules on time-wasting The biggest change concerns the amount of time players will have to restart play or leave the field. A substituted player must leave the pitch within 10 seconds after the substitution board is shown, while the countdown begins when the final board is displayed if several substitutions are made simultaneously. Throw-ins and goal kicks are also coming under greater scrutiny. Players will have five seconds to restart play, with a corner awarded to the opposition if a goalkeeper takes longer than five seconds to take a goal kick. The new rules also target situations involving injuries. A player who receives treatment on the field must remain off the pitch for one minute after play resumes, although goalkeepers are exempt from the provision. Former Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri embrace his player Rafael Leao Serie A’s leadership believes these changes can make a significant difference to the spectacle. “Many of the changes introduced will concern situations where play is stopped, with the aim of increasing the effective playing time of matches, making games even more dynamic and spectacular,” Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo said, according to ANSA via CalcioMercato. Only captains can approach the referee Another major change concerns communication with officials. Only the designated captain will be allowed to approach the referee to complain or request explanations, meaning other players will have to stay away from confrontations. Daniele Orsato explained the reasoning behind the measure during the briefing attended by representatives from all 20 Serie A clubs. “The captain will be the figure representing the club on the pitch, and the referee will only refer to them,” Orsato said, according to CalcioMercato. Lautaro Martinez #10 of FC Internazionale Milano speaks with the match officials The refereeing authorities have also addressed the controversial gesture of covering the mouth d
Chelsea are bound to be the busiest Premier League club in what remains of the summer transfer window - at least when it comes to getting players out of the door.
He is replacing a World Cup winner and is his country’s first Premier League keeper, but Villa’s new signing has already dealt with harder challengesIn November 2001, the first Japanese goalkeeper to play English league football conceded a goal within the first minute of his debut. Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi may have struggled for second-tier Portsmouth, conceding 21 times in his 12 league games after being spotted by the then director of football, Harry Redknapp, but he also produced some world-class saves and had glowing things to say about the Royal Mail.Replaced by a 42-year-old Dave Beasant, Kawaguchi nevertheless remains a cult hero on the south coast, as a standing ovation in his final game demonstrated. Despite going on to play 116 times for Japan, he never made the jump to the Premier League. Now though, finally, Japan has a No 1 in the top flight. Continue reading...
Barcelona have not given up on signing Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid despite Los Colchoneros’ stubborn stance from the beginning.The Spanish capital club have been very clear that the Argentin...
Tap a headline to view metadata and excerpt fields in Sportra, then use the article website button to continue on the original publisher page.