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Philipp Lahm picks between Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona, says Argentina were better team in 2006

Roy Nemer
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World Cup winning captain with Germany Philipp Lahm spoke with La Nacion in Argentina about who he thinks is the best Argentine, how he thinks Argentina were better than Germany in 2006 and much more.

The Germany legend has nearly won it all throughout his career. From Champions League to league titles to a World Cup, Lahm was a generational player for his country. Having played Lionel Messi several times throughout his career, including two out of three World Cup tournaments, Lahm gave his opinion on his counterpart captain from the 2014 World Cup. Regarding Lionel Messi, here’s what Lahm had to say:

“For me, he’s an incredible player. Maybe the best that has ever existed. He’s an exceptional player but maybe he’s missing that big title with the Argentina national team.

“For the rest, he’s a fantastic player and unstoppable in one on one situations. I have to be honest: I have had a bad day against him.”

About who is the best between Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona:

“Well, to start, for me, I have always been very enthusiastic about Messi. But Maradona too! I would say that Diego Maradona has truly marked an entire generation. And not only in Argentina but in Europe. For that, I would say the best Argentine, when it comes to football, is Maradona.

“But closely right behind him is Messi. And I have mentioned why: Messi has not yet won an important title with the national team, unlike Maradona.”

About winning the World Cup:

“The best thing for a football player is to be crowned world champion. And for that, I have no doubt. If I have to pick one, the best title of my life is that 2014 World Cup. It was an incredible experience.

“And against Argentina, with whom we had played a lot against in previous years. It’s true that we had eliminated them before but they were playing a really good tournament.”

Lahm also spoke about the 2006 World Cup and about playing Argentina:

“The 2006 World Cup was my first one. I was 22 years old and it was a World Cup at home, in Germany. It was an incredible atmosphere.

“We got to the quarter finals at a disadvantage to play Argentina, who were the better of the two teams, with absolute world stars. I remember that Messi was on the bench at the time; Riquelme played and was later substituted but he was an incredible player. They had Crespo in attack… Truly a top team.

“And with maybe a bit of luck, we got to the semifinals but today I say that it was an absolute surprise to advance and finish third in the tournament.

“In contrast, in 2010 it was completely different. We were a young team playing very well together. We beat England in the Round of 16 and faced Argentina again in the quarter finals. That was one of Germany’s best matches at a World Cup: We played incredibly well as a team and we won in sensational fashion 4-0.”

The Germany also had Martin Demichelis as a team mate with Bayern Munich:

“First of all, I appreciate Martin very much as a player. But also as a person. He was a great team mate and you could absolutely trust him, both on and off the pitch. He was a good player and when he went from center back to midfield, he brought new elements to that position: Technical abilities and quick solutions.”

If there was no Lionel Messi, who would be the best Argentine:

“There are some good Argentine players! Someone who people always talk about is Aguero. He left his mark at Manchester City and now he is leaving the club but he has been a symbol and that is clear.

“I’m curious to see where he plays because I think he has one, two or maybe even three more years competing at the top. He is a very interesting player.

“On the other hand, the Champions League is a great measure and a player who last season and this season has shown what he can do is Angel Di Maria. He went back to playing sensationally with Paris Saint-Germain! Unfortunately, once more, it wasn’t enough.

“But Argentina always produces excellent players because it’s an absolute football nation.”

A reported initial agreement between Sergio Aguero and Barcelona

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There have been, and there will continue to be many rumors regarding Sergio Aguero’s transfer to FC Barcelona. The possibility of joining his friend Lionel Messi next transfer window has been a topic of discussion for several weeks. Although there is nothing 100% certain yet, some Spanish media are reporting that Aguero’s arrival is getting closer.

According to recognized Diario Sport, Aguero has lowered his initial salary demands and current FC Barcelona coach Koeman would have given the “OK” to have the former Independiente man coming in. As FC Barcelona is going through a tough time economically, players will have to lower their wages if they want to play for Messi’s team.

Juventus had also shown big interest in signing the Premier League’s 4th top scorer in history, after Aguero announced he was leaving Manchester City. Nonetheless, “Kun” would have taken the decision of joining FC Barcelona as of June 1, and it would be for a 2-year contract.

Lautaro Martinez furious as Conte takes him off in Inter 3-1 win vs. Roma

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Lautaro Martinez left the pitch in anger, kicking a bottle on his way to the bench in the 32nd minute of the second half. Inter coach Antonio Conte didn’t stand idly by and responded fervently to Martinez in a short but intense argument. The Argentine started the match as a substitute and entered in the 35th minute of the first half for the injured Alexis Sanchez.

It was an unexpected fight as Martinez’s attitude surprised everyone since Inter is two games away from finishing an incredible season, having already won the Serie A. The next game will be against another classic rival, Juventus. Although Inter already has the championship in its hands, they have the possibility of leaving out Juventus from qualifying to the Champions League (Juventus is currently in Europa League position).

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni on Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria

Roy Nemer
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Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni spoke with Marca where he spoke about Lionel Messi, the inclusion of Angel Di Maria and Sergio Aguero in the Argentina team and much more.

This is part two of the interview, if you would like to read the first part, please click here. Scaloni was a former team mate of Lionel Messi’s with the Argentina national team. The both were on the same squad and even took part in Argentina’s famous 2-1 win vs. Mexico at the 2006 World Cup together. In regards to Messi, here’s what Scaloni had to say:

How he thinks Messi will get to the Copa America:

“Good, as always. With us, Leo has shown that he is well, he’s comfortable, with a new generation that he probably doesn’t know. And now he’s just another one (of the boys) and he gets along well with everyone. We have managed to have a team where he can join us.”

If it’s not best to take some of the pressure away from him:

“He also is very aware that football is not just one player alone but that he needs his team mates. Him, Cristiano, Mbappe… The best in the world need their teams. A great player can score you a goal, can win you a match… But to win a championship, you need much more than just the best player in the world.”

About Messi’s current situation with Barcelona and if it could be an issue during the Copa America:

“I believe that it will be taken care of. I have no doubt. He knows very well what he will do. He won’t get to June 30 without knowing where he will play.”

If the Copa America will be the penultimate chance for Messi with Argentina. The last one being the 2022 World Cup in Qatar:

“It will be when he wants it to be. And the day that he doesn’t play with Argentina anymore, we will realize a lot of things. The same thing that happened with Diego (Maradona), that when he stopped playing, we realized what it was to have him on the pitch.”

How the chats are with him as captain:

“Normal, like any other chat.”

If they message often:

“When I really have to. If, for example, we have to talk before we all get together as a group, my group will write to him to let him know how it’s going to be, the travelling… And a little more. We are not very close.

“When we are together, yes, we are very close, we chat. In addition, we have known each other for a long time because he has been my team mate and a team mate of several of the guys on my team.”

On if Scaloni watches all of his matches:

“It’s very difficult not to watch a Messi match. And if it does happen, I talk with my coaching staff.”

How Scaloni is managing the Argentina national team from Mallorca:

“We are a lot of people in the staff, people that know the Argentina national team very well. We watch all the leagues, the performances of the players… Logistically, there are no problems.”

If he has a clear system:

“We know how we want to play and what players we are looking for. I don’t like to talk about a “system of play”. It doesn’t exist. You could defend with four but when the right wing moves forward, you have three. And if you attack with both fullbacks? And if?

“Ancelotti once said that systems are only there when you have to defend and maybe he is right. When you defend, there, yes, there is a system.

“What is clear with the Argentina national team is the way of playing, with quality players… And from there, you have one or two that could explode, as was the case with Nico Gonzalez or Ocampos. That is the idea.”

If Lucas Ocampos surprised him:

“No, I knew him from Sevilla. Now he’s a much more reliable player, he can play on the right, on the left, in the middle, just like has has done several times.”

If he believes in Angel Di Maria:

“Of course! I have a very good relationship with Angel and he always wants to be included. I was always clear with him and had him in consideration. Surely, if he keeps up this level, it will be very difficult for a player of his level to not be in the final list.”

Regarding Sergio Aguero:

“The most complicated thing is not that he doesn’t play. I spoke with him about two or three months ago and I wanted him to train with us but at the time he hadn’t fully recovered and City didn’t want to release him.

“It wasn’t possible. From there, he has recovered. The problem with Kun isn’t as much that he plays a lot or little because at the end of the day, we know what kind of a player he is because yes, we need him to be active to take the final decision.”

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni comments on team, Copa America, more

Roy Nemer
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Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni recently gave an interview where he discussed several topics, from the team, to the Copa America, to his coaching career.

Lionel Scaloni hasn’t been coaching for many years. Having last played a professional football match less than a decade ago, his managerial career is only beginning. Scaloni has however played at a World Cup for Argentina and even managed his country to a third place finish at a Copa America. In a lengthy interview with Marca (which we will be separating into two parts), the 42 year old commented on a number of topics.

Scaloni commented on what we can expect from the team at the Copa America, what he learned from Jorge Sampoli, what Tabarez (coach of Uruguay) once told him and much more. When asked about if the Argentine media is ready for the team finishing second at the upcoming Copa America, here’s what he had to say:

“I believe our country is prepared to know that Argentina will compete but we are not obliged to win. We’ve gotten hit so many times by thinking that we were the best… And then we weren’t the best nor the worst.

“Clearly, we have a competitive gene. Any coach would like to have an Argentine in his team but that doesn’t make us invincible at all.

“And we can go to the numbers. The last World Cup we won was 1986, the last Copa America in 1993. That’s a lot of years without a trophy.

“The only thing we can try to do is bring happiness to the country but not lie, not to come out and say: “We will win for you guys.” No. We will try to put aside what is happening in the country and give them joy.”

When asked about the two extremes when you win and when you lose:

“I believe there was a change somewhere. We were at the Copa America in Brazil, we didn’t win but we finished third and the general opinion was good. And the previous Copa’s we lost on penalties and it looked like it was a catastrophe. The people saw a change and we believe that this is the way.

“People saw a team that went out and played in a concrete way. We call-up players we believe in and if a player deserves to be in the Argentina national team, we call him up. People feel a sense of identity.

“I believe that Argentine’s are realizing, little by little, that there’s only one winner and ultimately, it’s not Argentina that wins it. There’s still missing a lot of things before we go back to our winning ways.”

Regarding his inexperience:

“One day, “The Maestro” Tabarez (coach of Uruguay) grabbed me and told me: You, when they tell you that you don’t have experience, you should tell them: “It’s true, but I have life experiences.”

“I want to say that I have more than 20 years playing at the highest level and that is an advantage. There are young coaches like Pep or Nagelsmann who are great coaches. One never stops learning, you could be 40 years old or 60 years old with 30 years experience.”

What he learned from Sampaoli and Lillo at Sevilla:

“A lot. When I got to Sevilla, it was a team with a completely different mentality. I believe that these players now realize that he only has one way of seeing football: Attack, attack and attack.

“Jorge lives for football. In that sense, I’m a bit lighter. I like to relax more. He, on the contrary, is thinking about football 24 hours a day. And Lillo is an open book. He transmits peace and tranquility.”

If he would coach in Spain one day:

“I played in La Coruna, in Mallorca, in Racing… My wife is Spanish. It’s a country I appreciate a lot. Its treated me marvelously but I’ll go where I’m asked. If you’d have told me three years ago that I would be with the Argentina national team…”

As mentioned, there is a second part to the interview. In the second part, Scaloni comments on Lionel Messi, the World Cup, Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria and more. That part will be posted shortly.

 

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