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Roberto Ayala talks about Lionel Messi growth with Argentina, Dennis Bergkamp’s goal

Roy Nemer
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8

Roberto Ayala gave an interview where he spoke about Lionel Messi’s evolution in the Argentina national team as well as Dennis Bergkamp’s goal for the Netherlands at the 1998 World Cup against Argentina and much more.

Ayala was Messi’s team mate at the 2006 World Cup as well as the 2007 Copa AMerica. The former Argentina captain spoke about the current captain. Speaking with 90, here’s what Ayala had to say:

“Lio likes to be treated like anyone else. He’s a very closed person who has grown a lot in recent times. Today, he’s a leader on and off the pitch.

“When he first started, we were team mates, he practically didn’t speak. What’s more, he would go out and train because he had to. If not, he would have stayed in his room. Today, he participates in everything: He talks with his team mates, he asks them how they are. Even before the matches, he talks a lot.”

On the goal scored by Dennis Bergkamp vs. Argentina:

“I’ve seen that play many times and I still can’t find my mistake. In the penalty area, I didn’t make a mistake. Yes, there’s the incredible ball control by him, an incredible finish. In that play, there are many good things which Bergkamp did that no one gives any importance to, they just see a supposed error by me. What I do admit is that I was badly positioned when the ball came because had I been properly placed, I would have fought for the ball without problems.”

He was also asked about being part of the Argentina national team coaching staff:

“Being back with the Argentina national team as an assist with Scaloni is very special for me because I’ve been there since 1993, when Alfio Basile first called me up. I feel very comfortable. You have to make an effort to be here because you leave aside many things to be able to have the prestige that can only be given to you by this shirt. There is nothing more beautiful than putting on the sky blue and white shirt.”

Andres D’Alessandro talks about his time with the Argentina national team

Roy Nemer
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3

Andres D’Alessandro has never played at a World Cup and he spoke about it in an interview.

Speaking with TyC Sports, D’Alessandro commented on how he wanted to have played at a World Cup and had Marcelo Bielsa remained as coach, he would have been given the possibility. Here’s what he had to say:

“I would have liked to have played more with the Argentina national team. I never played at a World Cup and that is something I regret during my career. It had to do with things that happened, with coaches that had their players, it had to do with things more than just soccer that happened.

“I know something clearly: Had Marcelo Bielsa continued with the Argentina national team), I would have played at the 2006 World Cup. I would have continued with the Argentina national team for much longer because Marcelo knew how to get to me and the head I had.

“He understood the personality and the character I had, he knew how to get me. In 2006, I played a World Cup qualifier after having lost the Copa America and won the Olympics, I could have shared the pitch and the responsibility with Aimar and Riquelme. I think I had a place.”

D’Alessandro also spoke about not being given a chance for the 2010 World Cup with Maradona as coach:

“I had more of a chance in 2010, I was much more mature, with more games under my belt, many more scars… It was a spectacular year for me, having been the best in America and winning the Libertadores with my club but strange things happened like never having at least been tried for one game.

“During that year, many players had been tried and it was news (that Diego Maradona had called-up more than 100 players to the Argentina national team). It seemed strange not to have been part of any match, it’s something I will tell about in my book.”

Mariano Gonzalez speaks about winning gold with Argentina, Marcelo Bielsa, more

Roy Nemer
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10

Mariano Gonzalez gave an interview with the AFA where he spoke about winning gold with the Argentina national team, playing under Marcelo Bielsa and more.

A veteran of the game, Gonzalez is now 38 years of age playing with Santamarina in Argentina. Winning gold with Argentina at the 2004 Olympics games, Gonzalez spoke of it all in the interview. Here’s what he had to say when asked about it:

“It was a unique experience because our country was without an Olympic gold medal for 52 years. As time passes by, one realizes the importance of it, what it cost to get it. We finished the tournament invincible, without letting in a goal. Truly, we played really well and even that same year we were close to winning the Copa America but lost the final on penalty kicks.”

On why he thinks things went the way they did:

“We were a group which worked long before the start of the tournament, which is something rare to be able to do with a national team. We got to Athens with 7 or 8 months of the group being called up, the coach prioritized that.”

How it was going through it all with Marcelo Bielsa:

“Bielsa had more confidence in me than I did in myself. I think it was a matter of time until I was able to show what I learned with him. He really showed us what he is: Passionate for what he does, a humble guy. I saw him asking for forgiveness from a 17 year old sparring partner for having spoken badly at the time of having to train. He has tremendous values and a beautiful madness to him.”

He was also asked if he was ever part of that madness:

“Yes, clearly. He had things that for us, it was very difficult to understand. The first time he called me up, all of the forwards were together and he asked us who would go back and defend when we had to. I told him I had to stay up and close to the goal and he responded telling me: “You have three goals in the Primera, you have to run.”

Gonzalez played alongside many who had great careers. But if he had to pick one, who would it be?

“I have to say two: Tevez and Mascherano. But the truth is that I share a team with many important guys like Kily Gonzalez, Roberto Ayala, Javier Zanetti. Over time, you end up analyzing things in a different way. Today, I see how a lot of kids leave everything behind in order to win a spot in the main team, how they try hard.

“I was lucky enough to have been able to play in great teams in our country, to have had a career in Europe and to have lived beautiful times with the Argentina national team. I’d say experience makes you value more the things you achieved.”

 

Lucas Biglia talks not understanding Jorge Sampaoli, Argentina, 2014 World Cup, more

Roy Nemer
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22

Lucas Biglia gave an interview with Fox Sports where he spoke about Jorge Sampaoli, the Argentina national team, France and more.

Biglia was part of the Argentina national team which made three finals and was part of the last World Cup squad. Speaking in the interview, here’s what he had to say about the 2014 World Cup final:

I went back and watched the final. It made me want to go get the medal, which I don’t know where its been for the past six years. I kept watching until the end because I wanted to remember what happened after the match. It hit very strongly seeing myself go up the stairs to wear it at a World Cup.

“Within myself, I think that on a professional level, I got second place. But on a personal or on a human level, I won a prize. I don’t know if it’s valued in this sport.”

About that team which made the final:

“The quality, on a human level that I lived with my colleagues, with the coaching staff, the medical staff, the staff, that’s the prize I keep with me. That group marked me. After that it’s analyzed if it was successful or not because those of 1978 and 1986 did well to lift the World Cup.

“Humility is priceless and that group was full of it. Everything was nice but since we didn’t win, it meant nothing. For example, Augusto Fernandez did not play a minute but he was the group one who was positive who got up with a smile and had the group there.”

Regarding why he quit the Argentina national team:

“I quit the Argentina national team because of a bit of everything, there are a lot of things that add up to the final decision. First and foremost, emotions. I gave everything and I always fought until the end and I ended up lifting nothing. You start taking it as everything being a failure.

“In the Argentina national team, I enjoyed it from 2011 until 2015-2016. After that, I suffered a lot and had a bad time. I put aside many things and I always prioritized the shirt over my health or my family. You don’t feel up to it and you’re unfairly criticized.

“I got to the point where I said enough with the punishment, why even suffer like this? I knew that I was giving too much to people who didn’t deserve it and they were not appreciating it. The straw which broke the camel’s back was the frustration of having given everything and not being able to lift anything.”

When asked about Jorge Sampaoli:

“I’m not going to get carried away with all that was said. We were never able to capture Sampaoli’s idea of playing an aggressive game. As much as you have successful players, if it’s not being reflected, you won’t get anywhere. We tried many different styles and we could never adapt. Sampaoli took a thousand planes to try to explain to us. Still, we lost to the champions who were superior to us on a physical level, not a football level.”

About being injured at the last World Cup:

“At the last World Cup, I got there with an injury. I shouldn’t have done it but for me, it was the best thing and it was priceless. I fought with my club because they wouldn’t allow me and at times with my family because I would leave at 8:00 and come back at 10:00 at night.

Angel Di Maria and the 2014 World Cup final:

“They tell him a million things and he keeps going forward. He wanted to play injured and he fought with Real Madrid until an hour before the game.”

Hernan Crespo talks about playing in World Cups with Argentina, Olympics

Roy Nemer
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15

Hernan Crespo gave an interview with Fox Sports where he discussed not winning a World Cup, the Olympics and more.

A veteran of three World Cups with Argentina, Crespo is one of the all time leading scorers for his country. Playing for the top clubs in football, he is now a manager but did discuss the World Cups he participated in. Here’s what he had to say:

“We know the final results. It costs me to watch the three World Cups I played in. I didn’t acheieve the goal I always dreamed about which was being world champion. There are still some things I can’t watch because you have to see the pain.”

Crespo also spoke about his former coach Marcelo Bielsa:

“With Bielsa, we had a great time. Maybe it was difficult to laugh because of the relationship he had with players. Sometimes we realized he had a weakness for Killy, there were some things and we laugh a lot.”

He also commented on winning silver with Argentina at the 1996 Olympics.

“At the time, I had the idea that finishing in second spot just wasn’t worth it. But I matured over time and it seened outrageous. Today, I’m extremely proud of the medal.”

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