Vicente del Bosque chose to start with a line up including up to five 'squad players' in Buenos Aires and watched a fired up Argentina storm to victory.
Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Carlos Tevez had the hosts 3-0 up at half-time, proving perhaps that repairing damaged pride in front of your own fans after a disappointing World Cup was a stronger motivating factor than impressing your boss for a starting place.
"Defeats hurt, but at the same time they should be beneficial for the team," Del Bosque told reporters.
"These contrasting games are important," he added. "We have to know how to play against weaker teams and the great teams in the same way."
"We can't play the same players every day," Del Bosque said. "We have to remember it's the start of the season. I'm thinking of the clubs but above all else the players.
"There are league and Champions League matches just round the corner."
Argentina fans may have been disappointed, but club managers such as Liverpool's Roy Hodgson and Barcelona's Pep Guardiola will have been a little happier.
