LATEST NEWS: Enzo Fernandez receives harsh ratings as the £107m Chelsea midfielder’s struggles are exposed.
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez featured for Argentina in their World Cup qualifier, where they suffered a 2-1 loss to Colombia. Wolves defender Yerson Mosquera scored the opener for Colombia with a header in the 25th minute. Argentina equalized through Nicolas Gonzalez shortly after the break, capitalizing on a mistake from James Rodriguez, who had initially given away possession. Rodriguez later redeemed himself by scoring the winning penalty after a VAR review confirmed a foul.
Post-match, Rodriguez commented, “It’s a great win against an Argentina team that has won everything. The weather was tough, very hot, but we played an excellent match. It’s a well-deserved victory.”
Fernandez played until the 85th minute, marking his seventh international appearance this year. Despite the loss, Argentina remains at the top of the South American standings with 18 points, but Colombia’s win narrows the gap to just two points. Meanwhile, Brazil also suffered a defeat to Paraguay, placing them fifth with only ten points.
Here’s how the Argentinian media rated Fernandez’s performance:
TyC noted: “He was attentive to the midfielders pushing up but struggled to connect play with Argentina’s attackers and on the wings. His performance improved when Alexis Mac Allister was introduced.”
La Pagina Millionaria
The outlet described his game as “weak,” stating: “Lionel Scaloni moved him away from his usual midfield role, and he didn’t look comfortable. Fernandez lacked the spark to control the game and contributed little defensively.”
Rating: 5
Planeta Boca Juniors (PBJ)
PBJ observed: “The Chelsea star played much of the match, seeking space in midfield but struggled under Colombia’s pressure. He found it hard to assert himself as a decisive player.”
Rating: 6
Bola Vip
Bola Vip said: “He made some good passes overall but wasn’t effective when it came to ball recovery.”
Rating: 6
Ole
Ole highlighted a critical moment: “He lost an aerial battle to Mosquera, leading to Colombia’s first goal. However, he did make a crucial block to prevent Julian Alvarez from scoring. Despite a couple of defensive interventions, he had minimal impact at the back.”
Rating: 5
La Nacion
La Nacion commented: “He showed tactical commitment and overall played well, but lacked decisiveness in the final third. His performance improved once Mac Allister came on, making him more comfortable, yet he still fell short defensively.”
Rating: 5
Fernandez’s mixed reviews reflect a challenging performance in a match where he struggled to make a significant impact, underscoring his ongoing adjustment to the demands of both club and international football.