Argentina, PSG man Angel DI MARIA: “It hurts not to be in the Argentina team”

By
Roy Nemer
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52
Angel Di Maria Argentina
Angel Di Maria celebrating a goal for Argentina.

Angel DI MARIA has not been called-up to the Argentina team since the 2018 FIFA World Cup and he’s given his thoughts on it.

Speaking in an interview with ESPN, the PSG midfielder has stated that at times he’s been told he looked nervous while playing. Here’s what he had to say:

“It’s been three call-ups where I haven’t been included and I’ve felt it a lot. I watched the matches and it hurts not being there. My wife told me that it was noticeable that, while playing, I was nervous. They are things that only those who wear the shirt know how to live with.”

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52 Comments

  1. thanks for what you offer all this years Angel.
    little or much doesn t matter.
    you offer in the national team and for that you deserve respect.

    you have my respect anyhow even if i am not consider you anymore for the national team.
    your time passed but this is other thing.

    you love our country. you cry for our country. you bleed for our country and your skin get up
    every time you wear the national team jersey and hear the national anthem of our country.

    for all this things i will never speak bad about you and i will defend you every time.
    other thing that i don t count you for the team anymore and other thing to allow people speak bad about you.

  2. Speaking about possible Palacios’ replacemnts don’t forget about Matias Zaracho who was part of previous U-20 team, called up
    before by Scaloni (only injury eliminated him), may play on Palacios position and scored yesterday 2 goals for Racing.

    • zaracho looks promising indeed. I’m just not sure where they can put him though. He seems more comfortable to me as a central attacker and occupies spaces further up than Palacios that usually go to messi/dybala in the NT. I guess just bringing him in the squad and grooming him should be good for now. On a related note, I was pleased to see Soto’s return to the XI on the left and his ball skills looked sharp. Since that backup role is still open I thought that was interesting.

      • Good point about the Messi’s area Zaracho is overlapping. Lucas Robertone from Velez is somewhere on the Zaracho level and both looks interestingly when it comes to versatile set of skills. However Robrtone was playing some time ago also in double pivot role.

        Soto still might be contender for LB NT back up. I just think he was always somwhat better on the ball than in defensive duties.

        • It is worth trying to figure out if he has a spot though. He seems to have a solid connection with Saravia on the right channel and I am always in favor for bringing in player combos that are familiar with each other at club level. With these new injuries, the next round of callups in the center will be interesting, whether its matias or the Velez kids etc.
          However I have a small feeling that the Copa door gets open wider for franco Vasquez now due to experience and his ability to sit deeper and push higher. It is not that much of a popular pick but I won’t be surprised if it happens.

    • Also, Lionel Rivas has joined Talleres and escaped from the rot under Bauza at Rosario. Hopefully he develops at Talleres like Cubas and Pocchetino.
      Gaston Togni has suffered an injury that could keep him away for long. A constant in Defensa’ line up. It means a chance for Alexis Castro or may be Young Alisedo to take their chance. Just like Velez, Defensa also lack quality up front.

    • Zaracho I see him more as a right midfielder, with some freedom to drop deeper and fight for the ball. Not sure a very natural defensive player that we need. I will go for Dominguez in a 433. And I will take both if we play in 442 or 3421:

  3. ADM as Kun as Messi the GOAT are world class players. It would be a big mistake not to mix them with new generation. Yes it’s a new cycle but it doesn’t mean that experience is not required. Regardless of past failures these players are having a great performance in their teams and they should be included for Copa America.

  4. Good riddance. Three world cups, two copas no trophies. Even your wife knows you choke brother. You have to know when to give someone else a chance, and it is long overdue. I’m sure it hurts Maradona who is far more accomplished as a player to not be coaching the team also. These guys with the exception of Messi and Aguero and a few others are like a bad rash that won’t go away. I don’t need to see anymore headless chicken runs, I know what that’s all about. Thanks for your service genuinely, but time to move on.

    • He more like a striker than a midfield player nowadays and it’s really hard for me to remember the last time he completed a proper cross that resulted in a goal !! He is still 10X better than Pavon so I don’t mind him on the bench as a backup .

    • I get the frustration with Di Maria. Ive been there many times over they years.

      With this said, who would have done better than El Fideo all these years?

      Who do you think will be better now for the NT?

      Btw, which “choking instances” are you talking about? Choker is actually a word i’ve rarely read used to describe Di Maria. I’ve heard “unreliable” because of the injuries in the finals. I’ve read “headless chicken” because of butchered passing and dribbling to the corner with no purpose. Choker…? That’s a new one.

      • “With this said, who would have done better than El Fideo all these years?

        Who do you think will be better now for the NT?”

        This question does not have a solid profound answer, EXCEPT if you are good at crystal ball rubbing and psychic prediction. Because all the answers were based on ‘hoping …’

  5. The mental block that some of our veterans experience has to be a factor in the discussion. Having lost so many finals, plus the last WC debacle, our veterans tend to be restrained in their performances for the NT and the problem is likely of psychological nature. That’s probably why more often than not Di Maria’s crosses are mishit or he dribbles aimlessly and ends up losing the ball. Club form does not tell the full picture and does not guarantee NT success. Sure, in theory Fideo might be more talented than Cervi, Vargas, J. Correa or any other young player for that matter but again things are NOT as simple as translating club form to the NT form.

    • Enganche,

      you know I can’t get over here’s only 2 or 3 people (including you and me) who adress the psychological aspect of estimation at all. No offense to anyone but it seems like some people are not enough long following professional sport to take into notice the mentall component of success. Some say: it’s all about mentality. I would not go so far but let’s say to have winner mentality is a half of battle. What is the psychic condition of old guard was visible yet before last WC disaster. Just think about all the lost finals.

      So yes ” again things are not as simple as translating club form to the NT form”.

      And I could say it suits especially to Di Maria case because he was in similar club form before the previous tournaments and how all that ended we know very well. Is this about short memory of people or just they didn’t followed Argentina for some time back.

      To that the rest of aguments for him are not convincing to me:

      Typical arguments sounds like this: “these guys are currently the most skilled and inform players in their positions. Easy choice to make right now”.

      1. As above: Is this something new to see Di Maria in form before big tournament? How that transated into his NT tournaments performances in the past? There was not translation.

      2. How can you say he is best option if you didn’t give fair chances to others on the position. Do you want to say one call up for Pity Martinez is fair trial?. Especially if all enjoyed his playing against Guatemala and Colombia? Only 102 min so far, 1 goal. Franco Cervi got only 142 min so far and everytime looked really good with nice goal to that. De Paul only 136 min so far. J.Correa 90 min so far – 1 goal, Papu Gomez – 223 min, 1 goal. Yet still people may say Di Maria is our best option without giving even few starts for others. It took Icardi 8 games to score his first goal and it’s still not enough to say about his real value for NT.

      3. Then people will say Di Maria is best option because even if most of his driblings, passes and crosses is poor during a game he may finally do once something special to make a difference. So obvious answer is: even mediocree player may do something good every 5 or 10 games what is Di Maria speciality in last 2 years in NT. If you want to tell us Argentina doesn’t deserves more than player who is outstanding every once in a while that means Argentina does not deserves any title. Yes, last WC was very telling. That goal of Di Maria was his the only good moment in Russia.

      • Di Maria, Aguero, and Messi never needed anyone to advocate for them to “let them join the senior team”. Through their own skill and reputation they buffaloed their way in because their talented couldn’t have been ignored. This notion that it’s everyones elses fault because they are not given “chance” is very weak. There are countless examples of players never needing advocacy like that. Furthermore, our coach is awful which makes me desire veterans even more because they are going to have bail Scaloni out due his poor attacking aptitude.

        Y’all don’t really have anything to stand on except arbitrary complaints like “fair chance”, or “had their chances” (according to whom and what’s the arbitrary magical number?).

        Again, I could care less about chances. If the player is inform, best in their position, and is capable of contributing more to the NT, they have my vote.

        The mental thing is a fair complaint in my opinion because it does weigh heavily. Is the solution to say “piss off, youre weak, you’ve had your chance”, HELL NO.

        • “Y’all don’t really have anything to stand on except arbitrary complaints like “fair chance”, or “had their chances” (according to whom and what’s the arbitrary magical number?)”

          So claiming few starts for possible Di Maria’s alternative is just “arbitrary complaints”? So how you want actually get to know something about real value of the other options? Have you any virtuall reality beyond real game to test them? 1-2 games is not fair chance. Was Di Maria scoring since his first game in NT? He debuted 6 october of 2008 while first goal in official match came 23 may 2010. It took some time.

          “Di Maria, Aguero, and Messi never needed anyone to advocate for them to “let them join the senior team”.

          Such “matter of course” call ups are one of the reasons why we were impotent team for last 2 years. Please as little as possible such “taken for granted” call ups. Players needs to fight for their place.

          • > So claiming few starts for possible Di Maria’s alternative is just “arbitrary complaints”?

            There no issue with that statement alone. The problem is when we include the context.

            Copa is right around the corner and Scalonis attacking strategy stinks. We then have to consider 2 players. One that hasn’t been given a chance, currently plays for lower quality club, has shown glimpses of greatness but not elite. And then you take the Veterans, who are in crazy FORM, big game players, superior skill, have done really great overall with the exception of batshit Crazy Samap WC18, it’s pretty obvious why many would support the idea of veterans starting. Were playing in a few months and I personally want to best group starting. I dont give a shit about past performances, I care about Form, Contribution, Experience, Chemistry with current group, etc. and these guys fit the bill.

  6. I think we need the best players, doesn’t matter if they are new or old. Whoever has the best recent performance should be in the team. Of course considering the psychological factor, continuity and leadership, it would be best to have a mixed.

    I hope Argentina is not stupid enough to throw away players just because they are considered old guard.

    • “I hope Argentina is not stupid enough to throw away players just because they are considered old guard.”

      Maradona did that in 2010, and were smashed. some don’t learn from history

  7. In current form no one can better than Di Maria In left wing position. Di Maria deserve it. Vargas, correa,de la Vega these guys are our future ,not now

  8. A call-up to the NT has to be earned every time. Di Maria has done well in recent games at PSG. If I was Scaloni I would pick Papu Gomez for the left flank. He is less flamboyant than Di Maria but loses the ball less often and gives plenty of assists.

  9. Hello friends. I think Di Maria is still highly able and deserve to be included in starting 11 of The Albiceleste. And he will be there in copa America otherwise many hearts of Argentina fans especially Di Maria lovers including me will feel ill. I love you Di Maria, you’re courageous enough, You’re a fighter for your country. Be blessed all.

  10. You can’t be always join in the n/t , new players are coming and ready to replace the old players. That’s life. I think Di Maria time with N/T is over, time to replace with young bloods.

    THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR N/T. Missed by all the fans

    • My bro that is delusion some
      Mundo members has
      Let us come to the main point
      I hearing that di Maria is better
      Than what you guys call farmers
      Which I found disrespect so
      Based what that di Maria is better
      Than those after 97 caps?
      You do the maths.

      • Hey buddy, i want to preface by saying i didn’t say “100x better than Farmers” so don’t lump me in with Mr Romance.

        With this said, right now….right this very second, who do you think will be better than Di Maria for copa? Feel free to list all available options and then pick your top 2 or 3.

        • Friend
          Let me make one thing clearer
          I don’t hate any player from Nt
          I will 100% support Argentina regardless who plays and I know
          Scaloni will pick di Maria and
          will probably starter in copa just
          I’m against those guys keep
          Disrespecting the other players
          In oder to see thier favourite players
          Playing.
          My friend don’t you think players like
          Vargas pity j correa cervi deserve
          More chance .

          • > I’m against those guys keep Disrespecting the other players. In oder to see thier favourite players Playing.

            Yep..me too. You know that statement works too if you’re also defending the veterans and say opposers want to see them gone just to see youngsters while they disrespect veterans.

            > My friend don’t you think players like Vargas pity j correa cervi deserve More chance.

            “Deserving” can be interpreted in many ways. Youre saying they need to be given a chance to develop further . They more playtime to potentially become great for the NT.

            On the flip side, many would say that veterans “deserve” more chances because they have KILLED themselves for this shirt, despite all the shitty opposition and mud slinging they’ve received over the years. As far i’m concerned, anyone that has is inform, done really well…and has bled, sweat, and teared for the NT, “deserves” to play.

          • Vargas pity j correa cervi deserve

            Cervi doesn’t come remotely close..wish folks would stop naming him as a ADM replacement. It’s no brainer for now.

            Vargas and Martinez – i haven’t watched him so mundo will have tell me if he’s as good as Di Maria right now. I doubt it but i’ll listen to local league experts. I’ve ready a ton of mixed opinions but most would say “not as talented but could be in the future”.

            J Correa – I really this guy and he’s only 24. He can be a game changer once in a while but ADM still edges when it comes to big games and critical moments of magic.

            A Correa – I like him more than J correa..really talented, just lacks consistency. He’s only 23 and has a ton of pressure and competitive experience with Atlético and Champions league.

        • “THEY ARE THINGS THAT ONLY THOSE WHO WEAR THE SHIRT KNOW HOW TO LIVE WITH.”

          This is EXACTLY what I am talking about, pressure,,,pressure and more pressure to deliver, knowing that they will be grilled and insulted by the fans and media. It happenned to many past players including Riquelme and Tevez.

          At this moment of time-not 3 years from now-, DiMaria should be part of the team because no one comes close to his performance even with his headless runs once in a while, but one moment of magic can make the difference in a match. if some are looking for a player with 100% or even 80% success rate, they should keep looking because such a player does not exist.

          The Idea of replacing in-form players who had their chances in the NT with players who are in less form hoping that they will produce better results is an experiment we can not afford going into COPA19, which might be the most important COPA in decades. Good luck in throwing out all top form players while we are going into a major FIFA tournament like what was done to Riquelme, Cambiasso and Zannetti in 2010. and use COPA as an experiment ground,instead. Great plans…..NOT

          • My friend ebo
            That is what we keep saying
            Last few years and you know
            What happened I don’t know
            How will they do this summer
            Something they couldn’t do
            Last few tournament.
            Trust me I want them to do well
            I will be first one support Argentina
            No matter who plays but I’m afraid
            For those guys cuse they re mental disturb when comes to play Nt look
            How much they ‘re enjoying
            When they ‘re playing for thier clubs
            The soon they put on Nt shirt
            Different story time and time again.

          • @godin11 My friend

            You said :
            “For those guys cuse they re mental disturb when comes to play Nt look
            How much they ‘re enjoying
            When they ‘re playing for thier clubs
            The soon they put on Nt shirt
            Different story time and time again”

            And DiMaria said :
            “THEY ARE THINGS THAT ONLY THOSE WHO WEAR THE SHIRT KNOW HOW TO LIVE WITH.”

            You both are saying the same things, but what is exactly the problem? It is that the players (Young & Seniors) both suffering from Abuse and insults and unfair blaming game.

          • @ebo

            > The Idea of replacing in-form players who had their chances in the NT with players who are in less form hoping that they will produce better results is an experiment we can not afford going into COPA19, which might be the most important COPA in decades. Good luck in throwing out all top form players while we are going into a major FIFA tournament like what was done to Riquelme….”

            this part cracked me up. its true and it sounds so ludicrous. well put.

        • Hey @choripan

          With all debate about Di Maria aside, I just have to say that your profile pic is super fly lol
          I love it!

          And in regards to Di Maria, I think that he should given one more shot for this years Copa America at least! We don’t have wingers that are at his level.
          His form right now is 🔥! Same with Aguero, Messi, etc.

          So in all fairness I think they should be given one more shot!

          • Yep…these guys are currently the most skilled and inform players in their positions. Easy choice to make right now.

            About the pic..lol. I only use dark wallpaper and this one is perfect. I have it everywhere…my office computers, home laptop, and cell.

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