Argentina Hero Juan Sebastian Veron : Better To Lose To Nigeria Now Than In World Cup

Former Manchester United and Chelsea star Juan Sebastián Verón has commented on Argentina's 4-2 loss to Nigeria in an international friendly that took place in Krasnodar on Tuesday evening.

The president of Estudiantes de La Plata says it is better to lose to the three-time African champions in a non-competitive match than in the 2018 World Cup.

''It is better that these things happen now and not in the World Cup in Russia,'' Veron told La Revolución del Fútbol of 221 Radio de La Plata, according to Argentine News Agency Télam.

''There is time to correct, the March games will be important to finish defining the list.

''You have to be very careful, maybe there are players who perform on their teams, which seem to be a solution but the National Team is something else''.

Speaking on the three-man defense manager Jorge Sampaoli used against Nigeria, Veron said : ''It is not easy to play with the three line as it is intended (coach Jorge) Sampaoli, it requires more midfielders than strikers to play for the wings and today they do not abound. I think Acuña can do it on the left and maybe Mercado on the right, but not much else''.

Veron was a member of the Argentina squads that beat Nigeria 1-0 at the 2002 and 2010 World Cups and he provided the assists for both goals.