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Last Argentina practice before traveling to play Ecuador in quarter-finals

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The Argentina national team trained this morning for the last time before they travel to Goiânia this evening. On Saturday, Argentina will face Ecuador in the quarter finals of the Copa America.

During Friday morning’s practice at the AFA training facility in Ezeiza, the squad began exercising in the gym at 10:30 (local time). Then, already on field number 2 of the sports complex, the coaching staff set up some tactical moves, which concluded with free-kicks and corner-kicks in attack and defense.

According to the AFA’s official website, a press conference is planned for this evening (4:00 PM local time), where coach Lionel Scaloni plus Nicolás Otamendi will answer questions from the media.

At 4:30 PM, the whole squad will be heading to the Ezeiza airport, which is just 8 minutes away from Argentina’s training center. The estimated arrival to the city of Goiânia is 8:30 PM today and they will all have dinner at 9 PM.

 

Atalanta announce signing of Argentina goalkeeper Juan Musso from Udinese

Roy Nemer
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Juan Musso has signed with Atalanta as the club made it official on Friday.

Atalanta announced the signing of the 27 year old goalkeeper from Udinese. Having joined Udinese from Racing Club in 2018, Musso played over 100 matches for the club and become one of the top goalkeepers in the league.

Presently with the Argentina national team at the Copa America, Musso appears to eb the fourth choice goalkeeper behind Emiliano Martinez, Franco Armani and Agustin Marchesin.

He has signed a four year deal with the club.

 

Atalanta reportedly asked Cristian Romero not to play Argentina quarter final game

Roy Nemer
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Atalanta have reportedly asked Cristian Romero not to play in Argentina’s quarter final game.

Per several reports coming out of Argentina, Cristian Romero’s club Atalanta have contacted the player asking him not to take part in the quarter final match on Saturday. Romero is not yet fully fit and Atalanta don’t want him to risk the injury and potentially aggrevate it.

As we reported a few days ago, should Romero not be fit enough to start the match, it would be Pezzella who would replace him in the back line. However, per the reports, Romero wants to play the quarter final match on Saturday.

This would not be the first time an Argentine has received a player during a tournament from his club asking him not to play. Angel Di Maria infamously received a letter from Real Madrid prior to the final of the 2014 World Cup. They asked Di Maria not to play and reportedly even threatened legal action. 

Argentina Olympic squad announced, Alexis Mac Allister of Brighton included

Roy Nemer
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Argentina U23 coach Fernando Batista has announced his squad for the Olympics which begins later this month.

Fernando Batista has selected his team of 22 players for the tournament as Argentina will be looking to win their third gold medal at the men’s football tournament. As we reported earlier, Lucas Alario is injured and will not be taking part in the tournament.

Batista has included one overage player as goalkeeper Jeremías Ledesma is included. River Plate did not allow Julián Alvarez to make the squad.

It’s a total of 22 players but only 18 would be allowed per match squad. The squad was released through the social media channels. Here are the players that have been selected:

Jeremías Ledesma (Cadiz CF)
Lautaro Morales (Lanus)
Joaquín Blázquez (Talleres de Cordoba)
Hernán De La Fuente (Free agent)
Marcelo Herrera (San Lorenzo)
Nehuén Pérez (Atletico Madrid)
Leonel Mosevich (FC Vizela)
Facundo Medina (Lens)
Francisco Ortega (Velez)
Claudio Bravo (Portland Timbers)
Fausto Vera (Argentinos Juniors)
Santiago Colombatto (Club Leon)
Tomás Belmonte (Lanus)
Martín Payero (Banfield)
Fernando Valenzuela (Famalicao)
Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton)
Thiago Almada (Velez)
Esequiel Barco (Atlanta United)
Agustín Urzi (Banfield)
Pedro De La Vega (Lanus)
Adolfo Gaich (CSKA Moscow)
Ezequiel Ponce (Spartak Moscow)

Copa America knock out changes, no extra time, only in final

Roy Nemer
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Changes have been made to the format of the Copa America knock out stages.

The format will be reverted back to the 2015 and 2016 editions. That means in case of a draw in the quarter finals and semi finals of a Copa America match, the game would go straight to penalties. There would not be extra time if a match were to be tied after 90 minutes.

However, extra time would be available in the final. That means in the final, if a match is tied, it would go to extra time, followed by a penalty shootout if necessary.

This was not the case in 2019 where extra time was available in the semi finals and final but not the quarter finals.

Should Argentina vs. Ecuador be drawn after 90 minutes, that means the match would go to penalties.

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