Franco VAZQUEZ: “I played for Italy but always felt Argentine”

By
Roy Nemer
-
36

Franco VAZQUEZ has been called-up to the Argentina team despite having already played for the Italian team.

Interim coach Lionel SCALONI’s Argentina squad was announced on Friday and one of them was the name of 29 year old Franco VAZQUEZ. Speaking with TyC Sports, here’s what VAZQUEZ had to say:

“I spoke to him and he told me there was a possibility (of being called-up), I thanked him. Two years ago I was called-up to the Italian National Team because my mother is Italian. But thank God I now have this possibility. I have always felt Argentine.”

Despite being called-up, it remains to be seen if VAZQUEZ will be in the team’s long term plans.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

36 Comments

  2. List is out.Why they are calling up Salvio Meza Bustos Pavon.They can not help in winning any trophy.They are worst.I think Argentina league is very average I do not think any one is world class player.Pavon has no dribbling can not pass the ball if he gets surrounded by opponent,Bustos is average just rackless tackles against Insigne he was nothing Meza is worst of all has no power in his foot.They are waste dump them they do not deserve the national jersey.Angel Correa J.correa Erik Lamela are needed.

    • Very negative opinion. Let’s be optimistic for once since we’re about to see many new faces in this squad. Many of the previous dinosaurs have been omitted so that’s already a positive sign. I’m sure Lamela and J. Correa will be given a choice if they perform. Oh and btw Lamela had a slight knock last week and has been out for nearly 10 days. Let Scaloni justify his selection and tactics on the field. Till then let’s refrain from criticizing him.

  4. @gonzalo the one player who exctise me is exequel palacios I watched him couple games for river like game against racing and hurricane but both games what saw about him I liked so I couldn’t charge yet because racing they played 10 men most of the game and hurricane field was disastrous. So please tell me how good this kid is but what i saw him he could be world class midfielder. Anyone who think Argentina don’t have good defenders and midfielders, wingers please watch Argentina superliga,.
    It’s my opinion I believe Argentina superliga is better than much of european leagus except the big 4 european leagus like epl, laliga seria a and the bundaslige. The superliga Is so compatative very hard league but we all know the media will deny Argentina football whichever reason

    • Palacios represented Argentina in U-17 and U-20 teams. As far he impresed me most in his first games of U-20 WC. Especially against England. In River A team showed enough to be noticed but still his talent hide much more. His biggest add to NT shall be his versatility. Against Racing he distinguished himslef a lot defensively. U-17, U-20, River A team, senior NT – his path is so straight and clear destination. Boca and River players are favoured too much but I don’t mind in this case.

  5. Such an interesting list of players after such a long time. Been waiting for ages for some of these players to be called up! I can vouch for palacios’ call up after watching him play in all of Argentina’s U20 wc matches a couple of years ago. Some here may say colambatto was more talented but i had no doubts even at that time that this young river player would go on and represent us in the senior team in future. Mind you this guy is only 19 years old and has immense footballing intelligence. His gameplay is a bit like the young Banega but a more athletic version. Overall i’m very impressed with Scaloni and his team for coming up with this team.

    • This would be miedfield starting eleven:

      ………………..Ascacibar
      …..Lo Celso………………Palacios/Paredes

      I mean one of Palacios/Paredes for me.

      • I don’t know Gonzalo palacios and Celso are too similar, paredes is needed to add an extra dimension to the midfield, besides palacios still has to prove himself in the primera before he gets a starting position, although I’m still glad he’s getting a call up.

      • Couldn’t agree more Gonzalo. Good blend of creativity and grit. These midfielders ( on paper) could easily overrun our opponent midfielders regardless of their class.

      • I feel Gonzalo Montiel who also established himself in River senior team and was teammate of Palacios in U-20 had also chance to be selected this time if not the injury he got last week.

          • IMO Montiel and Leonardo Godoy (Talleres) were best RB recently in the league. Abecasis (Godoy) MacAllister, J.L.Gomez, Victor Salazar (San Lorenzo), Peruzzi, Jara – the others.

      • Oh, spot on. I heard so many comparisons to Hazard but personally for me more like young Tevez/Ortega. Your comparison to Shaqiri seems best though.

        • He’s hard to define as a player, he can score like a forward, he can pass like an engache and he has the speed and athleticism of a Dimaria prime.
          It’s too soon to declare him as the next big thing, but if he has another season like the one he just had then you can bet your bottom dollars that he’ll be moving into a ‘big’ european team.

          • Of course there’s always many factors that may interrupt every career but the only such thing makes me have little doubts now about Vargas is his height. Still he is a bit taller tham Diego or Alejandro Gomez and has enough muscularity to compense the height. Initially when he debuted in Velez I was impressed by his dribling and fastness but recently I realized his main trait is vision and accuracy of passes. That makes him fine material for playmaker hence I would like to see him in more central position than in Velez when he is playing usually in a way peripherial.

            Like the pass (0:42) in last Velez game:
            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wur7QwkdmBg

          • Of course there’s always many factors that may interrupt every career but the only such thing makes me have little doubts now about Vargas is his height. Still he is a bit taller tham Diego or Alejandro Gomez and has enough muscularity to compense the height. Initially when he debuted in Velez I was impressed by his dribling and fastness but recently I realized his main trait is vision and accuracy of passes. That makes him fine material for playmaker hence I would like to see him in more central position than in Velez when he is playing usually in a way peripherial.

            Like the pass (0:42) in last Velez game:
            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wur7QwkdmBg

        • The way he cuts inside from the left and his nimble feet reminds me so much of Shaqiri. I think Ortega is less pacey and is more of a playmaker. Loved Ortega in his prime days. One of the most entertaining footballers in the world.

  7. I don’t think we should play with double striker formation now. Lautaro and Icardi are still not enough long together to expectate from them extraordinary understanding while we have a lot wingers to try.

  8. Wohoo…the list is exciting. Lots of names that were craved for during the Bauza and Sampaoli cycle is finally there along with plenty of young players who will form the back bone of the NT till 2026. These core group should be given a decent run before jumping to conclusions.
    Scaloni is moving in the right direction and who so ever comes in afterwards will be hopefully doing the same.
    The only thing that is slightly bothering is inclusion of Franco Vazquez, I mean don’t we have a better option than selecting a guy who had already played ( I don’t care if it’s a Friendly) for another country double crossing his nation of Birth.?

  9. As Lanzini is injured, and Banega is out of favour, it’s ok to include Vazquez. Also, it’s easy to bench him and give chances for youngsters.
    Vazquez prime time is already passed.

  10. i dont think vasquez will be there in playing xi. the changes will come in OCT. friendly matches especially those 9 players which was included in this national call up.SALVIO and ACUNA are both horrible players. Hope we get more argentine primera as well some liga MX players in our national Team.

    • For me , absolutely nothing wrong with salvio & acuna. Both are very good agile players if played in right position. Salvio as a RB was a coach experiment & he can’t be played . Apart from his injury track record he surely is a good asset & will help bring more pace to midfield. Acuna has age also with him & definitely a contender for long term left midfield role. Always felt he was underutilized in last 18months with NT.

  11. copa America 2019 line up
    Rulli – RB Pazella Otamendi Tagliafico – Vasquez Parades – Messi – Dybala Martinez – Icardi, mark my words Argentina win the copa

  12. F. Vasquez is an upgrade version of biglia, on Short term option for copa he is needed also benega, Otamendi, Aguero and Dimaria also needs in 23rd man squad for copa

      • Correct. Vazquez is an attacking AM. Wrong investment to make for sure considering his age & importantly the Sevilla DNA of inconsistency. Seen him terrific in some la liga matches & miserable in the next match. Vargas or meza is any day a better future investment.

Comments are closed.