BUENOS AIRES (AFP) - World champions Spain were licking their wounds after being on the wrong side of a 4-1 roasting against Argentina.
A Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina rebounded from their World Cup flop, the Barcelona star opening the scoring after just nine minutes and further goals from Gonzalo Higuain three minutes later and Carlos Tevez after 34 minutes gave the South Americans a stunning 3-0 lead at half-time.
The second half was a quieter affair with Fernando Llorente pulling one back for the Spaniards after 83 minutes before Sergio Aguero produced the final touch in injury time.