Argentina Falls 2-1 to Colombia in Qualifier

Argentina's unbeaten streak in World Cup qualifiers ended with a 2-1 loss to Colombia, as they struggled without injured captain Lionel Messi, managing only one shot on target. Colombia's victory was highlighted by a penalty from James Rodriguez and followed by a controversial VAR decision that Argentina's manager Lionel Scaloni criticized in a heated post-match press conference. Emiliano Martinez, the Aston Villa goalkeeper, reacted angrily by slapping away a camera after the match, which was interpreted by Colombian fans as a display of poor sportsmanship. This match marked Colombia's first win against Argentina at home in 31 years, adding to the significance of their triumph. Despite the defeat, Argentina remains at the top of FIFA's rankings, bolstered by their recent Copa America win. The defeat raised questions about Argentina's performance and resilience in the absence of key players.