Argentina just put seven past Burkina Faso at the U23 level. Seven. Nil. And while the scoreline itself is wild, the reaction online was almost better. I wasn't going to write about a youth friendly, but the jokes wrote themselves and there were a couple of genuinely interesting subplots. So here we are.
First, let's get the obvious out of the way: Burkina Faso are not a bad team. They've produced some serious talent over the years. But this was a U23 side that looked like they'd been shoved on a 30-hour flight with a connection in Addis Ababa and then told to mark Thiago Almada. Jetlag is a real thing, folks.
That goalkeeper deserves a medal (or at least a contract)
Let's talk about the Burkina Faso keeper for a second. The poor guy conceded seven, but honestly, he was one of the best players on the pitch. He made a string of saves that kept the score from hitting double digits. At one point he stopped three shots in a row from point-blank range. If I'm a mid-table club in Argentina or even a lower-tier European side, I'm sending my scouts to wherever he's training and offering him a trial. He's got the reflexes and the frame. The goals weren't his fault; his defense was basically a turnstile.
Some fans on the timeline were joking that he should just stay in Argentina because some club will hire him. Honestly? Not the worst idea. Argentine clubs are always looking for cheap, talented goalkeepers. And after a performance like that—yes, even in a 7-0 loss—his resume got a boost. Scouts watch these tournaments. They'll see the saves, not just the score.
Razack Guira: remember the name
If there was one Burkina Faso player who looked like he belonged on the same pitch as Argentina's U23 stars, it was Razack Guira. The kid was everywhere. He dribbled past two or three players at a time, won tackles, and never stopped running. He's the kind of midfielder that makes you check his age (he's 22, by the way) and wonder why he's not already in Europe. I'd bet good money he gets a move within the next year. He's got that combination of energy and technical ability that clubs love.
Argentina's midfield couldn't handle him at times. Sure, they won 7-0, but Guira was a bright spot. If you're a fan of African football, you know Burkina Faso has a knack for producing these dynamic midfielders. Guira is next in line.
The Croatia jokes were inevitable
I don't know who started it, but the Croatia comparisons were everywhere. "Croatia 🤝 Burkina Faso" and "Burkina Faso U23 with jetlag = Croatia" were the top comments. And honestly? It's a funny dig at Croatia's recent form. Croatia have been up and down lately, and fans love a good pile-on. But let's be fair: Croatia's senior team would not lose 7-0 to Argentina's U23s. Probably. Maybe. Okay, maybe 5-0.
The joke works because Burkina Faso's U23s are actually decent, but they got absolutely steamrolled. It's the kind of result that makes you question everything. Was Argentina that good? Or was Burkina Faso that tired? A bit of both.
What this means for Argentina's U23s
Argentina's youth setup is stacked. We knew that. But putting seven past a solid African side is a statement. The likes of Giuliano Simeone (yes, Diego's son) and Thiago Almada ran the show. Simeone got a goal and an assist, and he's been quietly building a reputation as a hard-working forward. He's not as flashy as some of his teammates, but he's effective. That performance will do his resume no harm either.
The question now is whether these players can step up to the senior team. Some of them will. Others will fade into obscurity. That's the nature of youth football. But for one night, they looked like world-beaters.
