Fabricio Gabriel Alvarez completed a second half hattrick as Matiaz Fernandez and Mariano Morana scored braces to condemn their opponents to a gruelling defeat at the Futbol Salou Stadium in Spain.

The tone was set right from the start when Northern Ireland’s Declan McDonnell scored an own goal within the first minute.

Argentine captain Pablo Matias Ezequiel Molina Lopez bagged a penalty and Hernando German Romussi added another to put the world number seven ranked team in pole position.

Fernandez, Cristian Nicolas Billordio and Morana rounded off the resounding half with a 6-0 lead.

Argentina started the second half where they left off with Fernandez and Alvarez scoring soon after the break.

Ryan Walker managed to get Northern Ireland on the scoresheet, but it mattered little as Morana grabbed another goal and Alvarez scored two more to complete the emphatic victory.

Meanwhile, in Group B, Brazil and Ireland started their campaigns with victories over Thailand and Germany respectively.

Heitor Luiz Ramires Camposano recorded two crucial goals to give Brazil a 2-0 lead after half-time.

Thailand’s Bannasak Nuepho managed to reduce the deficit, but Angelo Matheus dos Santos Mota confirmed the 3-1 triumph.

Ireland completed a 2-0 win over the Germans after Dillon Sheridon scored his opening goal for the tournament and Jörn Henrik Lorenzen had the misfortune of putting the ball in his own net.

Tomorrow, Group C is scheduled to get underway with Iran playing the United States.

Later in the day The Netherlands are set to play Venezuela and England are due to face Canada in the first round of fixtures in Group A.