Home Blog Page 1075

Erik Lamela wins Premier League goal of the season

Roy Nemer
-
4

Erik Lamela’s rabona goal has won him the Goal of the Season in the Premier League.

It was Lamela’s only goal of the Premier League season but he made sure it was a memorable one. A North London derby against rivals Arsenal had the 29 year old start the match on the bench. After being substituted on, Lamela would score the first goal of the match to give Tottenham the 1-0 lead.

A rabona goal, twisting his left foot behind his right and striking the ball was enough to win his the award. Congratulations to Lamela on the goal.

 

Cristian Romero comments on Argentina national team debut

Roy Nemer
-
65

Cristiano Romero made his Argentina debut in the team’s 1-1 draw vs. Chile on Thursday. Romero received high praise for coach Lionel Scaloni as the 23 year old defender had a stellar game.

Speaking to the media after the match, here’s what Romero had to say:

“I think the team played a good game and continues to grow, which is important. I didn’t know many of my team mates but they made me feel like one more on the team.

“I am very thankful to the coaching staff for this opportunity. I’m very happy to have made my debut in the Argentina national team shirt. Thank you to all of my team mates that gave me confidence from the first day I got here.

“This call-up gave at the best time of my career. This has to be the way to continue to grow. I’m happy with the way the group received me, for how they made me feel on the pitch and every day.”

Lionel Messi, Lionel Scaloni comment on Argentina draw, Diego Maradona, Cristian Romero

Roy Nemer
-
76

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni and captain Lionel Messi both spoke to the media following the team’s 1-1 draw vs. Chile on Thursday.

Lionel Scaloni praised the young players, in particular Cristian Romero while Lionel Messi, who scored the only goal for the host team, commented on the situation and Diego Maradona. Speaking to the media, here’s what Messi had to say:

“It had been a long time that we weren’t together, it’s not easy coming back but I think at times we played a good game. I’m happy about the result, beyond that we couldn’t win. Little by little, we have to get stronger again.”

Prior to the match, the entire Argentina eleven wore tribute shirts in honor of Diego Maradona. While they wanted to wear the shirt for the match, FIFA would not allow it. However, Messi spoke about Diego Maradona following the match:

“It was a very special match because it was the first one without Diego. We know that the national team meant to him and we know that he was present. In addition, it was special for the situation in the country and in the world, it’s a very difficult situation for everyone.”

Coach Lionel Scaloni also spoke to the media. Here’s what he had to say about his team:

“The World Cup qualifiers are complicated, the opponents are difficult. I’m left with the feeling that we were the team that always tried to win. Under no circumstances does this result change what we are going to do in Colombia.”

In regards to the players who made their debut:

“I’m satisfied with the fact that the debut didn’t weigh down on any of the boys. That makes me happy, it’s a good sign. The positive aspect is that the team always showed face, they tried to attack, they practically created no chances. In the second half, we went deeper, with a different team. The negative is that they drew off a dead ball situation.”

Regarding Nahuel Molina and Cristian Romero:

“We saw that with Nahuel Molina we could attack a little more on the right side. Julian Alvarez came on and did well, he’s another option we have.

“Romero didn’t surprise us. I wasn’t wrong when I said that the national team has a great center back. We are happy, he played as if he had played 100 matches with the team. In the end, the best play in the national team.”

Lionel Messi scores as Argentina draw 1-1 vs. Chile in World Cup qualifier

Roy Nemer
-
56

It was an emotional match for Lionel Scaloni’s team as they wore the national team shirt with a picture of Diego Maradona on the front, in honor of the late great player. Neither team was able to get the three points as two goals in the first half would cancel each other out.

Lautaro Martinez, who had little service in the first half, won Argentina a penalty. A lovely pass in by Angel Di Maria found the Inter man as he was tripped inside the penalty area.

The referee would go to VAR and would award Lionel Scaloni’s team the penalty. Up stepped Lionel Messi as he looked towards goalkeeper Claudio Bravo’s right but shot the opposite side into the bottom corner of the net to give Argentina the 1-0 lead.

Chile would draw level off a set piece. A free kick inside the penalty area would find a completely unmarked Medel who would score. Argentina would nearly take the lead once more off a Lionel Messi free kick but his effort was saved.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni made two changes at half time bringing in Lisandro Martinez for Quarta Martinez and Angel Correa for Lucas Ocampos. Quarta Martinez had picked up a yellow in the first half while Ocampos generally had a poor showing.

It was Chile starting the second half on the front foot and it wasn’t until Argentina’s third change where they began to play better. Julian Alvarez would get his national team debut as he came on for veteran Angel Di Maria.

Lionel Messi came close to scoring a second goal as his free kick hit the crossbar. A fourth substitute in Nahuel Molina for Juan Foyth followed with Scaloni going for a fifth as Exequiel Palacios was in for Leandro Paredes.

Argentina came closest to score near the end with a low Messi shot which was saved by Bravo but the Albiceleste’s couldn’t take advantage of the rebound. Messi had another effort which was saved by Bravo in the end.

 

 

Argentina vs. Chile match preview, Diego Maradona shirt, Post-Game discussion

-
147

Argentina host Chile this Thursday at 8 p.m. (ET)at the Estadio Único of Santiago del Estero for Matchday 7 of the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers.

After the suspensions of Matchdays 5 and 6 in March of this year, the endless wait to watch the Argentina national team is over. It will be Argentina’s first appearance after Diego Maradona’s death (November 25th, 2020) and the first game since the Albiceleste’s 2-0 victory vs. Peru on November 17th, 2020.

Hence, Argentina is preparing a special tribute for the legend: The national team will enter the pitch wearing a special shirt honoring Maradona. AFA wanted Argentina to play with this shirt throughout the whole game, but FIFA rejected the request. However, per a report by Doble Amarilla, the government of Santiago del Estero will unveil a 5-meter statue of the genius.

With 10 points, Argentina is currently positioned 2nd in the standings, while Chile is 6th with 4 points. The top 4 teams qualify to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, while the 5th will play a play-off with another confederation’s team. Up to now, there have been played just four matchdays out of 18.

Argentina previous games:
1-0 vs. Ecuador (Home)
2-1 vs. Bolivia (Away)
1-1 vs. Paraguay (Home)
2-0 vs. Peru (Away)

Chile previous games:
1-2 vs. Uruguay (Away)
2-2 vs. Colombia (Home)
2-0 vs. Peru (Home)
1-2 vs. Venezuela (Away)

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni will not count on Franco Armani and Gonzalo Montiel since both player’s PCR continue to test positive even though they’re no longer contagious. In addition to the two players, Nicolás Otamendi will not be able to play as he is suspended due to accumulation of yellow cards.

In Chile, the Uruguayan Martín Lasarte will make his debut coaching “La Roja”. On the other hand, Arturo Vidal tested positive for Covid-19 last Monday and has been hospitalized, so he will not be playing today. From Mundo Albiceleste we wish him the best of lucks in his recovery, and we hope to him soon on the pitch.

Argentina’s confirmed lineup:
Emiliano Martínez; Juan Foyth, Cristian Romero, Lucas Martínez Quarta, Nicolás Tagliafico; Leandro Paredes, Lucas Ocampos, Rodrigo De Paul; Lionel Messi, Ángel Di María, and Lautaro Martínez.

Chile’s possible lineup:
Claudio Bravo; Mauricio Isla, Gary Medel, Guillermo Maripán, Eugenio Mena; Erick Pulgar, Tomás Alarcón, Charles Aránguiz; Luis Jiménez; Alexis Sánchez, and Eduardo Vargas.

Argentina against Chile has become a big rivalry in South American football after the two Copa America finals in 2015 and 2016, won by Chile. These two teams will see place against each other once more in 11 days, on June 14th (as CONMEBOL just modified the schedule New Argentina fixture dates for Copa America announced | Mundo Albiceleste), for Matchday 1 of Copa America Brazil 2021.

Make sure to join us on our Youtube channel following the match where we will have a live post-game discussion! Join the chat to leave your thoughts on the match!

1...1,0741,0751,076...1,738Page 1,075 of 1,738