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River Plate to play in Libertadores with injured outfield player as goalkeeper

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After the massive Covid outbreak in the squad last Saturday, and the elimination from the Copa de la Liga at the hands of Boca on Sunday, River will today face Independiente de Santa Fe in the Copa Libertadores. With 20 positive cases of Covid in total (5 confirmed yesterday) and two players injured, River’s coach, Marcelo Gallardo, will hardly reach to line up 11 players.

Experienced midfielder Enzo Pérez, who is injured, will play goalkeeper, as the four goalkeepers in the Libertadores’ list are all with Coronavirus.

River’s positive Covid cases during the last 4 days:

Goalkeepers: Franco Armani, Germán Lux, Enrique Bologna, and Franco Petroli.

Defenders: Paulo Díaz, Robert Rojas, Gonzalo Montiel, and Alex Vigo.

Midfielders: Leonardo Ponzio, Bruno Zuculini, Tomás Castro Ponce, Santiago Simón, Nicolás de la Cruz, and Agustín Palavecino.

Forwards: Rafael Santos Borré, Matías Suárez, Federico Girotti, Benjamín Rollheiser, Lucas Beltrán, and Fabian Londoño Bedoya.

In addition, Javier Pinola and Enzo Pérez are both injured. Nonetheless, both told Marcelo Gallardo that they want to be part of the team in today’s game.

Even though the situation is unique, River had the chance, before the Copa Libertadores started, to have 50 players included in the Copa’s list. CONMEBOL gave this possibility to all the clubs playing international competitions due to the current pandemic situation. At that moment, Marcelo Gallardo stated that he “wouldn’t like to make youths play under so much pressure, in strange conditions,” and decided to include just 32 players in the list.

In line with how unique the game will be, another extraordinary thing that happens just as often when playing amateur football with friends: The are no rules that say the goalkeeper cannot be changed with outfield players during the match. This means that we may see more than one outfield player playing as goalkeeper, constantly rotating.

Emiliano Buendia of Norwich talks Argentina team, Lionel Messi, Riquelme

Roy Nemer
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Emiliano Buendia has been called-up to the Argentina national team for the first time in his career after representing two different national teams at youth level.

Buendia played in Europe at a young age and never played for a senior club in Argentina. Speaking in an interview with Cómo te va, the 24 year old commented on how he knew he made the Argentina team, a conversation with Lionel Messi, playing in Europe at a young age, players he watched and Diego Maradona.

Despite playing for Spain at youth level, Buendia did represent Argentina at an U20 World Cup. However, he has never played for the senior Argentina national team. Here’s what he had to say regarding his call-up:

“What I am living is a dream. I got the call from Aimar to tell me that I was going to be in the Argentina national team.”

Regarding his upcoming debut:

“I’m very anxious and I expect to do my best, to meet the best of the Argentina national team. Putting on the Argentina kit is something great. One always imagines it and dreams about it and now I have the opportunity to make it a reality.”

The Argentina also spoke about a conversation he had with Lionel Messi while playing with Getafe:

“I played twice against Messi at the Camp Nou. I spoke to him during half time because I was playing with the Spanish U19 team and he asked me if I was going to play with Spain or with Argentina. He surprised me a lot and I told him that I was Argentine and I wanted to play with him.”

In regards to playing in Europe at a young age:

“I left to play in Europe at 11 years old, I was playing at the Cadetes de San Martin and I went to Europe. I spent a few years at Real Madrid, I missed my family a lot but it was clear that I wanted to play football.

“A lot of times when things weren’t going well, I would think about going back to Argentina but I went through a lot of things as a kid and my dream was to play football. So at the age of 14, I left Real Madrid to join Getafe. It was a mew challenge and I skipped the youth teams. At 17 I was able to debut with the senior team in the Copa del Rey.”

About Argentine football and the Premier League:

“I always try to follow the football in Argentina, I’m a fan of River and I try to follow them but for now I’m very well in Europe and I’m not thinking about going back to Argentina. The Premier League is something special, the atmosphere on the pitch is incredible, they support you the entire time and with a lot of respect. It’s something special.”

A midfielder himself, Buendia spoke about the players he watched growing up:

“I always admired and watched a lot of how Riquelme played, he was an incredible number 10. As a River fan, I watched Aimar, D’Alessandro, Saviola, I watched a bit of everything.”

In addition, Buendia commented about Diego Maradona:

“One always listens to the parents or the family members that saw Maradona. I think the entire world knows what he transmitted on the pitch and off it and the special thing is that he was for our football. It’s beautiful watching him on video, I can’t imagine how he was on a pitch.”

Argentina likely to be announced as sole hosts for Copa America

Roy Nemer
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Argentina are likely to be announced as the only hosts for the Copa America.

When the Copa America kicks off in June and ends in July, it will very likely only be played on Argentine soil. Per several reports coming out of South America, Conmebol are set to announce that Colombia will no longer be co-hosting the tournament.

Civil unrest in the country has meant that Conmebol are looking at other solutions. At one point, an option was to hold the tournament in Argentina along with another country, with Paraguay and Chile being options.

The tournament will take place from 13 June until 10 July. Independiente’s stadium, as well as Boca’s iconic La Bombonera stadium are rumored to be added as venues.

Emiliano Buendia on Argentina call: “Dreams come true”

Roy Nemer
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Emiliano Buendia has expressed his joy of being called-up to the Argentina national team through an Instagram post.

Buendia has found himself in the Argentina squad for the first time in his career. The Argentine was named as the Best Player in the Championship as he helped Norwich City reach promotion to the Premier League for next season. He finished the season with 14 goals and 16 assists.

Having came up through the Real Madrid youth system and later on moving to Getafe, Buendia represented both Argentina and Spain at youth level. However, he would go on and play for Argentina at the 2015 U20 World Cup.

Norwich City have even put out a Tweet asking what has Emi Buendia done this season to get an Argentina call-up, with a video.

Boca Juniors win thrilling Superclasico on penalties vs. River Plate

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It was Boca Juniors who got the 4-2 win on penalties vs, River Plate at La Bombona after finishing 1-1 after 90 minutes. Boca advanced to the semifinals of the Copa de la Liga Profesional with the shootout win. The team coached by Gallardo played with an XI consisting mostly of substitutes due to a massive Covid outbreak which struck 15 players inside the squad.

Carlos Tevez opened the score for Boca with a header in the 11th minute, after what looked like a clear foul that was not called by the referee. Boca’s idol had pushed River’s center back Jonathan Maidana right before giving Boca the lead.

River drew level in the 68th minute with a great header from the young but experienced striker Julian Alvarez, which came after great cross from Fabrizio Angileri on the left.

With the score at 1-1 after 90 minutes, the Superclasico went to a penalty shootout. Two great saves from Boca’s goalkeeper Agustin Rossi led the hosts to the semifinals, where they will face Racing Club in the next round. Boca also snapped a three-game losing streak.

Riquelme’s statement:

After the win, Boca’s vice president and legend, Juan Roman Riquelme, talked with TNT Sports and had some controversial things to say:

“The victory is deserved; River did not even have a kick on goal.

“I have no doubt that we have the best team in the country.”

He even spoke about the possibility of Edinson Cavani joining the squad next year:

“I think next year he will be with us, God willing. In December he told me that he wanted to come. The only thing we can offer him differently is that our stadium moves when it is full. But today we are not playing with people so we can’t offer him that now. He’s a star.”

Alan Díaz great debut

Because all four of River’s goalkeepers tested positive for COVID yesterday, 21-year-old Alan Diaz, who had never played a single minute in the Reserves, made his debut in Sunday’s match. The inexperienced goalkeeper did a great job and was one of the stars of the match. One highlight was a save in a decisive moment, a difficult shot from Carlos Tevez. He also saved one of the penalties in the shootout, when Cardona tried to score with a Panenka.

Carlos Izquierdoz and Hector Martinez solid defensively

Boca’s center back “Cali” Izquerdoz and River’s center back Hector Martinez were crucial in their respective defensive structures. Both played at a high level, with constant interceptions and clearances.

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