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Franco ARMANI set to start for Argentina versus Israel

By
Roy Nemer
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39
Franco Armani River Plate
Franco Armani playing for River Plate.

Despite not being tested versus Haiti, it won’t be Willy CABALLERO who will start for Argentina against Israel but rather Franco ARMANI.

Per a report by TNT Sports, one of the changes to the Argentina team on Saturday versus Israel will be Franco ARMANI. If true, it would appear that coach SAMPAOLI will give a chance to his back-up goalkeeper (at the moment, most in the media are reporting that Willy CABALLERO will start at the World Cup) to play.

Should the River Plate goalkeeper get to play, it would be his first cap for his country. Paulo DYBALA and Cristian PAVON are also set to start the match.

World Cup countdown: 50 days, Argentina moment number 10, Angel DI MARIA

By
Roy Nemer
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0
Lionel Messi Angel Di Maria Argentina
Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria celebrate with Argentina at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

As part of the 50 days, 50 Argentina World Cup moments, we will be counting down the top 50 Argentina moments at a World Cup using the daily number.

We are just 10 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup and in place number 10 we have Angel DI MARIA scoring his tenth goal for Argentina versus Switzerland at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

After picking up three wins out of three in the group stages, Argentina were up against Switzerland in the Round of 16 at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. There weren’t any goals in 90 minutes and the match had to go to extra time. Rodrigo PALACIO won the ball, he passed it to Lionel MESSI who went on a run, passed it out wide to Angel DI MARIA who slotted the ball into the back of the net.

It was Angel DI MARIA’s 10th goal for his country, the biggest of his Argentina career with it being scored in the 118th minute. Switzerland would go on and nearly score themselves as they hit the post after DI MARIA’s goal but Argentina’s goal was the only one of the match as they secured a 1-0 win.

Here was Argentina’s starting XI for the match:
1. Sergio ROMERO
2. Ezequiel GARAY
4. Pablo ZABALETA
5. Fernando GAGO
7. Angel DI MARIA
9. Gonzalo HIGUAIN
10. Lionel MESSI
14. Javier MASCHERANO
16. Marcos ROJO
17. Federico FERNANDEZ
22. Ezequiel LAVEZZI

If you missed it, here are our 50 World Cup moments:
50: Sergio ROMERO gets 50th cap vs. Switzerland at 2014 FIFA World Cup.
49: Roberto AYALA scores in the 49th minute vs. Germany at 2006 FIFA World Cup.
48: Angel DI MARIA’s 48th cap for Argentina vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina at 2014 FIFA World Cup.
47: Mario KEMPES scores Argentina’s 47th goal all time at the 1978 FIFA World Cup vs. Peru.
46: Jorge VALDANO scores in the 46th minute at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
45: Javier ZANETTI scores in the 45th minute vs. England at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
44: Gabriel BATISTUTA scores goal number 44 in his Argentina career at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
43: Gonzalo HIGUAIN receives cap number 43 for Argentina vs. Germany in the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
42: Pedro PASCULLI scores in the 42nd minute for Argentina vs. Uruguay at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
41: Maxi RODRÍGUEZ scores in the 41st minute for Argentina vs. Serbia & Montenegro at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
40: Roberto AYALA plays in his 40th match for Argentina vs. Jamaica at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
39: Pablo ZABALETA plays in his 39th match for Argentina vs. Nigeria at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
38: Javier SAVIOLA scores in the 38th minute for Argentina vs. Ivory Coast at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
37: Maxi RODRIGUEZ plays in his 37th match for Argentina vs. South Korea at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
36: Mauricio PINEDA scores in the 36th minute for Argentina vs. Croatia at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
35: Ezequiel LAVEZZI plays in his 35th match for Argentina vs. Netherlands at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
34: Diego MARADONA scores his 34th goal for Argentina vs. Greece at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
33: Gonzalo HIGUAIN scores in the 33rd minute for Argentina vs. Mexico at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
32: Hernan CRESPO scores his 32nd goal for Argentina vs. Mexico at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
31: Diego MARADONA scoring in Argentina’s 31st FIFA World Cup match vs. Hungary.
30: Argentina loses opening match of 1982 FIFA World Cup vs. Belgium.
29: Argentina are knocked out of the 1982 FIFA World Cup after playing their 29th ever group stage match.
28: Claudio CANIGGIA scores in the 28th minute for Argentina vs. Nigeria at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
27: Pedro TROGLIO scores in the 27th minute for Argentina vs. the Soviet Union at the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
26: Diego MARADONA scores his 26th goal for Argentina vs. Belgium at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
25: Sergio AGUERO plays in his 25th match for Argentina vs. Germany at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
24: Diego MARADONA scores his 24th goal for Argentina vs. England at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
23: Ezequiel GARAY plays in his 23rd match for Argentina vs. Belgium at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
22: Argentina defeat Greece 2-0 on June 22 at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
21: Lucas BIGLIA plays in his 21st match for Argentina vs. Iran at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
20: Rene HOUSEMAN scores in the 20th minute for Argentina vs. East Germany at the 1974 FIFA World Cup.
19: Diego MILITO wears the number 19 shirt for Argentina on his World Cup debut vs. Nigeria at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
18. Javier MASCHERANO plays in his 18th match for Argentina vs. Netherlands at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
17: Claudio LOPEZ scores for Argentina in the 17th minute vs. Netherlands at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
16: Gabriel BATISTUTA scores for Argentina in the 16th minute vs. Romania at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
15: Leopoldo LUQUE scores for Argentina in the 15th minute vs. Hungary at the 1978 FIFA World Cup.
14: Diego SIMEONE wears the number 14 shirt for Argentina vs. Nigeria at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
13: Argentina play in their 13th draw all time at a FIFA World Cup vs. Netherlands at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
12: Guillermo STABILE scores for Argentina in the 12th minute vs. Chile at the 1930 FIFA World Cup.
11: Juan Sebastian VERON plays his last World Cup match for Argentina in nearly eight years vs. Sweden at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Osvaldo ARDILES on Argentina: “It’s MESSI and 10 more”

By
Roy Nemer
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155
Osvaldo Ardiles Diego Maradona
Osvaldo "Ossie" Ardiles and Diego Maradona.

World Cup winner and Tottenham Hotspur legend Osvaldo “Ossie” ARDILES gave his thoughts on the Argentina National Team and the World Cup.

Not holding back on the team, ARDILES was fairly critical of SAMPAOLI’s team selection for the tournament and stated that it was “MESSI and 10 more”. Speaking with Radio Mitre de Córdoba, here’s what he had to say:

“I’m not very happy with the players SAMPAOLI has chosen. For example, ICARDI has to be there. Now comes the most difficult part which is to play the World Cup and the easiest: To get the team. And there doesn’t appear to be a team. It’s MESSI and 10 more. I’m an optimist but I am pessimistic regarding the National Team right now.”

ARDILES also spoke about the use of younger players:

“MASCHERANO used to play in Barcelona and now he’s in China. There’s a big difference. It’s been months that he hasn’t had top level competition and that is felt. I would have went with fresher players, with kids that are hungrier for success, like ICARDI. I’d have given importance to DYBALA… And of course MESSI.”

And he also mentioned that Franco ARMANI should be the starting goalkeeper.

“The goalkeeper always has to play. ROMERO and CABALLERO are players who wear the number 12 shirt, they play very little… ARMANI is the player at the moment.”

Latest from Sunday’s Argentina training session

By
Roy Nemer
-
78
Marcos Rojo Argentina training
Players of the Argentina National Team during training.

Still in Barcelona, the Argentina National Team trained on Sunday morning and Jorge SAMPAOLI separated the team into two groups.

Per a report by TyC Sports, the first group consisted of 15 players (mostly the defensive minded ones) with the second group strictly being attacking minded players. Here were the two groups:

Group 1:
Nahuel GUZMÁN, Franco ARMANI, Willy CABALLERO, Cristian ANSALDI, Eduardo SALVIO, Gabriel MERCADO, Federico FAZIO, Marcos ROJO, Nicolás OTAMENDI, Nicolás TAGLIAFICO, Marcos ACUÑA, Lucas BIGLIA, Javier MASCHERANO, Giovani LO CELSO and Éver BANEGA.

Group 2:
Lionel MESSI, Paulo DYBALA, Cristian PAVÓN, Ángel DI MARÍA, Sergio AGÜERO, Manuel LANZINI, Gonzalo HIGUAÍN and Maxi MEZA.

The first group worked on defensive exercises while the second on offensive exercises.

In the middle of it all, Lionel MESSI scored a free kick against goalkeeper Willy CABALLERO in training. This came after Friday’s report that MESSI stayed after training where he took free kicks against Nahuel GUZMAN. MESSI reportedly scored 18 out of the 20 free kicks he took.

World Cup countdown: 50 days, Argentina moment number 11, Juan Sebastian VERON

By
Roy Nemer
-
0
Argentina 2002 World Cup
Argentina at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

As part of the 50 days, 50 Argentina World Cup moments, we will be counting down the top 50 Argentina moments at a World Cup using the daily number.

We are just 11 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup and in place number 11 we have Juan Sebastian VERON playing in his last World Cup match for Argentina in close to eight years.

It was a disastrous FIFA World Cup for Argentina. After getting three points in their opening match versus Nigeria, they lost 1-0 to England and needed a win against Sweden to make it to the Round of 16 at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. With the team not playing well, coach Marcelo BIELSA substituted Juan Sebastian VERON on for Matias ALMEYDA.

The team needed to win and went for it with VERON, Hernan CRESPO and Kily GONZALEZ all getting substituted on. With the team trailing 1-0, they were awarded a penalty after Ariel ORTEGA was taken down inside the penalty area. ORTEGA stepped up to take the penalty himself but his shot was saved. However, CRESPO scored the rebound to make it 1-1 as the match ended in a draw.

Here was Argentina’s starting XI for the match:
12. Pablo CAVALLERO
3. Juan Pablo SORIN
4. Mauricio POCHETTINO
5. Matias ALMEYDA
6. Walter SAMUEL
7. Claudio LOPEZ
8. Javier ZANETTI
9. Gabriel BATISTUTA
10. Ariel ORTEGA
16. Pablo AIMAR
22. Jose CHAMOT

If you missed it, here are our 50 World Cup moments:
50: Sergio ROMERO gets 50th cap vs. Switzerland at 2014 FIFA World Cup.
49: Roberto AYALA scores in the 49th minute vs. Germany at 2006 FIFA World Cup.
48: Angel DI MARIA’s 48th cap for Argentina vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina at 2014 FIFA World Cup.
47: Mario KEMPES scores Argentina’s 47th goal all time at the 1978 FIFA World Cup vs. Peru.
46: Jorge VALDANO scores in the 46th minute at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
45: Javier ZANETTI scores in the 45th minute vs. England at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
44: Gabriel BATISTUTA scores goal number 44 in his Argentina career at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
43: Gonzalo HIGUAIN receives cap number 43 for Argentina vs. Germany in the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
42: Pedro PASCULLI scores in the 42nd minute for Argentina vs. Uruguay at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
41: Maxi RODRÍGUEZ scores in the 41st minute for Argentina vs. Serbia & Montenegro at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
40: Roberto AYALA plays in his 40th match for Argentina vs. Jamaica at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
39: Pablo ZABALETA plays in his 39th match for Argentina vs. Nigeria at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
38: Javier SAVIOLA scores in the 38th minute for Argentina vs. Ivory Coast at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
37: Maxi RODRIGUEZ plays in his 37th match for Argentina vs. South Korea at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
36: Mauricio PINEDA scores in the 36th minute for Argentina vs. Croatia at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
35: Ezequiel LAVEZZI plays in his 35th match for Argentina vs. Netherlands at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
34: Diego MARADONA scores his 34th goal for Argentina vs. Greece at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
33: Gonzalo HIGUAIN scores in the 33rd minute for Argentina vs. Mexico at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
32: Hernan CRESPO scores his 32nd goal for Argentina vs. Mexico at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
31: Diego MARADONA scoring in Argentina’s 31st FIFA World Cup match vs. Hungary.
30: Argentina loses opening match of 1982 FIFA World Cup vs. Belgium.
29: Argentina are knocked out of the 1982 FIFA World Cup after playing their 29th ever group stage match.
28: Claudio CANIGGIA scores in the 28th minute for Argentina vs. Nigeria at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
27: Pedro TROGLIO scores in the 27th minute for Argentina vs. the Soviet Union at the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
26: Diego MARADONA scores his 26th goal for Argentina vs. Belgium at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
25: Sergio AGUERO plays in his 25th match for Argentina vs. Germany at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
24: Diego MARADONA scores his 24th goal for Argentina vs. England at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
23: Ezequiel GARAY plays in his 23rd match for Argentina vs. Belgium at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
22: Argentina defeat Greece 2-0 on June 22 at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
21: Lucas BIGLIA plays in his 21st match for Argentina vs. Iran at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
20: Rene HOUSEMAN scores in the 20th minute for Argentina vs. East Germany at the 1974 FIFA World Cup.
19: Diego MILITO wears the number 19 shirt for Argentina on his World Cup debut vs. Nigeria at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
18. Javier MASCHERANO plays in his 18th match for Argentina vs. Netherlands at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
17: Claudio LOPEZ scores for Argentina in the 17th minute vs. Netherlands at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
16: Gabriel BATISTUTA scores for Argentina in the 16th minute vs. Romania at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
15: Leopoldo LUQUE scores for Argentina in the 15th minute vs. Hungary at the 1978 FIFA World Cup.
14: Diego SIMEONE wears the number 14 shirt for Argentina vs. Nigeria at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
13: Argentina play in their 13th draw all time at a FIFA World Cup vs. Netherlands at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
12: Guillermo STABILE scores for Argentina in the 12th minute vs. Chile at the 1930 FIFA World Cup.

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