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Australia, Qatar out of 2021 Copa America

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Australia and Qatar are out of the 2021 Copa America as it looks like there will be no invited teams to the tournament.

Qatar was the first team to withdraw from the Copa America as Australia have now joined them. The second round of AFC World Cup qualifying has been postponed until June because of COVID means that both teams cannot participate in the Copa America.

The 2022 World Cup hosts announced on Tuesday that they would not be competing in the this year’s tournament which will be held in Argentina and Colombia. Australia later followed them and confirmed that they wouldn’t be participating.

Argentina, draw in Group A, would have had Australia in their group along with Bolivia, Uruguay, Chile and Paraguay.

Fabrizio Angileri could make Argentina team for World Cup qualifiers

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Fabrizio Angileri could be called-up to the Argentina national team for next month’s World Cup qualifiers.

Angileri is rumored to be one of the surprise players to make the Argentina team in March. Argentina play Uruguay and Brazil in two World Cup qualifying matches next month and with injuries to Nicolas Gonzalez, Marcos Acuña, Lucas Ocampos and Angel Di Maria, Scaloni is looking at possible replacements.

Per a report by TyC Sports, Argentina national team manager Lionel Scaloni is looking at the River Plate left back to incorporate into the team. According to the report, Angileri could be used as a left back or even in a more advanced forward position. Still only 26 years old, he has yet to represent the Argentina national team.

The player briefly commented on his possible call-up. Speaking in an interview with TNT Sports, here’s what he had to say about the rumors of him being called up to the squad:

“No one from the Argentina national team has communicated with me but it would be a dream to go.”

Lionel Messi scores twice for Barcelona, leads Pichichi race

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Lionel Messi scored twice for FC Barcelona in their 3-0 win vs. Elche as he leads the Pichichi race.

Messi is the league’s top scorer this season after having scored Barcelona’s opening two goals. With the first half finishing 0-0, Messi gave Barcelona the 1-0 lead through a lovely goal. He would receive the ball and dribble passed a few Elche players before playing a one-two with Braithwaite who would back heel it to Messi as he woukd drag the ball forward and score.

The Argentine wasn’t done just yet. De Jong would make a great run towards the Elche back line as he would pass the ball to Messi. The captain would dribble inside the penalty area and with several opportunities to score, would continue dribbling before ultimately chipping it into the net for Barcelona’s second goal of the match.

He has now scored 18 goals in the league this season.

Joaquin Correa scores for Lazio in 4-1 loss vs. Bayern Munich

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Joaquin Correa scored for Lazio in their 4-1 loss vs. Bayern Munich.

Correa managed his third goal of the Champions League this season with his goal vs. Bayern. It was Bayern leading 4-0 as Corra received the ball on the edge of the penalty area and dribble his way in before a low shot beat Manuel Neuer to get Lazio in the tie.

The other match in the Champions League saw Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid lose 1-0 in what was supposed to be their home tie but the match was played in Romania due to COVID restrictions.

Champions League preview: Joaquin Correa and Lazio host Bayern Munich

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A total of eight Argentine players could take part in this week’s Champions League coaches.

Diego Simeone has a difficult fixture when they play Chelsea in Romania due to COVID restrictions. Angel Correa is the only Argentine on that team as back up goalkeeper Willy Caballero won’t be starting for Chelsea.

Lazio have the most Argentine representatives with three as Joaquin Correa, Gonzalo Escalante and newly signed Mateo Musacchio host Champions League winners Bayern Munich.

On Wednesday, Jose Palomino and Cristian Romero will try to shut down Real Madrid as they will look to build off last season’s competition where they made it to the quarter finals.

Sergio Aguero will try to get some minutes as Manchester City travel to Germany to play Borussia Monchengladbach.

Here are the matches for this week:

Tuesday:

Atletico Madrid (Angel Correa) vs. Chelsea (Willy Caballero)

Lazio (Joaquin Correa, Gonzalo Escalante, Mateo Musacchio) vs. Bayern Munich


Wednesday:
Atalanta (Jose Palomino, Cristian Romero) vs. Real Madrid

Borussia Monchengladbach vs. Manchester City (Sergio Aguero)