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World Cup countdown: 50 days, Argentina moment number 15, Leopoldo LUQUE

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Argentina 1978
Argentina at the 1978 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 15 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup and in 15th place we have Leopoldo LUQUE scoring in the 15th minute for Argentina vs. Hungary at the 1978 FIFA World Cup.

It was Argentina’s opening match of the 1978 FIFA World Cup and the hosts picked up all three points in a 2-1 win versus Hungary. It was a nightmare start for the Albiceleste when Karoly CSAPO scored early in the 9th minute to give Hungary a 1-0 lead. Leopoldo LUQUE scored in the 14th minute to draw level.

With the match at 1-1, Daniel BERTONI scored the match winner in the 83rd minute to give Cesar Luis MENOTTI’s team the win. Andras TOROCSIK and Tibor NYILASI were both red carded late in the match.

Here was Argentina’s starting XI for the match:

5. Ubaldo FILLOL
2. Osvaldo ARDILES
6. Americo GALLEGO
7. Luis GALVAN
9. Rene HOUSEMAN
10. Mario KEMPES
14. Leopoldo LUQUE
15. Jorge OLGUIN
19. Daniel PASSARELLA
20. Alberto TARANTINI
21. Jose VALENCIA

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.

Lionel MESSI on Argentina: “We will give our all at the World Cup”

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Lionel Messi free kick Argentina
Lionel Messi taking a free kick for Argentina.

Lionel MESSI and Jorge SAMPAOLI took the press following Argentina’s 4-0 win against Haiti.

Shortly after the victory, captain Lionel MESSI stated that the team will give it their all at the World Cup. He went on to thank the fans while coach Jorge SAMPAOLI gave out a hint as to who could be the starting goalkeeper. Here’s what they had to say, starting off with Lionel MESSI.

“We will give our all at the World Cup. The World Cup is our dream, it’s the country’s dream. We have to win the first match, it will give us the calmness to go on and play against the rest. I’m very thankful for everyone, we have always felt the support of them all. We all want the same thing: To get Argentina the most important title there is.

“I want to thank the fans, the qualifiers weren’t easy, when we played versus Peru it was complicated because we made things difficult. We felt the support and they didn’t bitch us out like other times. Today was a day to have fun and say goodbye to the public, we are excited.

Following his comments a few days ago, MESSI went on to re-iterate that they are not favorites going into the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

“We are not candidates (to win the World Cup), we’ve had a complicated process (to get there), today, we are what we are. We have the players and we are fighting hard. We have to win versus Iceland and that will give us calmness for the rest of the group matches. We will have three complicated matches, we should not be thinking beyond those three matches, sometimes in football and at the World Cup, logic doesn’t win and there are surprises.”

Cristian PAVÓN received praise from Lionel MESSI (PAVÓN was also praised by the coach). Here’s what MESSI had to say:

“I found a new partner in PAVÓN.”

Argentina coach Jorge SAMPAOLI spoke about the team and gave a hint as to who could be the starting goalkeeper at the 2018 FIFA World Cup:

“The players came with a lot of predisposition. They didn’t have any time off. We have to correct a few things and take advantage of every situation before the World Cup. Now we have more time to prepare than we did in the qualifiers. The players are adhering to the style of play.

“AGÜERO and PAVÓN came on and did very well. CABALLERO gave off a very important image in the match against Italy. ARMANI just came in and GUZMÁN too. There’s no justification to change the goalkeeper.

“MESSI is training very well. The Spanish league ended and he was here within two days. I see him very enthusiastic. None of the players had the possibility of taking any vacations in order to be here. That means a lot.”

The coach also heaped praise on Cristian PAVÓN:

“We are very hopeful of Cristian PAVÓN and the chemistry he can establish.”

Lionel MESSI hat trick, AGÜERO goal as Argentina win 4-0 vs. Haiti

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Lionel Messi Cristian Pavon Argentina
The Argentina National Team celebrating.

A Lionel MESSI hat trick and a goal by Sergio AGÜERO meant Argentina picked up a comfortable 4-0 win versus Haiti.

Played at La Bombonera, it was a disappointing first half for the most part. While the team managed to move the ball around and linked-up together, they only managed to find a goal through a Lionel MESSI penalty kick. Giovani LO CELSO got to a loose ball in the area and was taken down which resulted in the spot kick. The captain stepped up and while the Hatian goalkeeper got a hand to it, there was too much power behind the shot.

The second half started and once coach Jorge SAMPAOLI made a few substitutes, the goals started flowing more and more. Cristian PAVÓN came on for Ángel DI MARÍA, Sergio AGÜERO for Gonzalo HIGUAÍN and Maxi MEZA for Manuel LANZINI. Right before the changes, HIGUAÍN went passed his man and crossed the ball in to LO CELSO but his headed effort was parried away and landed to MESSI’s feet as MESSI got his second.

Minutes after coming on, PAVÓN had a lovely run on the wing, beat his marker and slid an assist to the world’s best player as MESSI completed his hat trick. About three minutes after that, AGÜERO got on the scoresheet. Maxi MEZA won the ball back and it got to MESSI who played Sergio AGÜERO in beautifuly with a lovely pass as Kun held his defender off and scored to make it 4-0 and complete Argentina’s victory.

Argentina coach Jorge SAMPAOLI made three other changes during the match, Marcos ROJO came on for Federico FAZIO, Éver BANEGA for Giovani LO CELSO and Marcos ACUÑA on for Nicolás TAGLIAFICO.

Eduardo SALVIO to start ahead of Cristian ANSALDI for Argentina vs. Haiti

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A late change as Eduardo SALVIO is set to come in for Cristian ANSALDI for Argentina.

Per reports coming out of Argentina, Eduardo SALVIO of Benfica will start as a right back over Cristian ANSALDI. The idea appears to be that coach Jorge SAMPAOLI wants a more attacking approach. This would be the starting XI:

CABALLERO; SALVIO, OTAMENDI, FAZIO, TAGLIAFICO; MASCHERANO, LO CELSO; LANZINI, MESSI, DI MARIA; HIGUAIN.

As we reported earlier, SAMPAOLI would likely make several changes at half time.

Argentina 2018 FIFA World Cup shirt numbers released

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Argentina 2018 FIFA World Cup shirt numbers
Argentina 2018 FIFA World Cup shirt numbers

The Argentina shirt numbers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup have been released.

As we reported a few days ago, Ole had released the list of numbers which were being rumored and it is now confirmed. Here are the official numbers for Argentina to be used at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

1. Nahuel GUZMÁN
2. Gabriel MERCADO
3. Nicolás TAGLIAFICO
4. Cristian ANSALDI
5. Lucas BIGLIA
6. Federico FAZIO
7. Éver BANEGA
8. Marcos ACUÑA
9. Gonzalo HIGUAÍN
10. Lionel MESSI
11. Ángel DI MARÍA
12. Franco ARMANI
13. Maximiliano MEZA
14. Javier MASCHERANO
15. Manuel LANZINI
16. Marcos ROJO
17. Nicolás OTAMENDI
18. Eduardo SALVIO
19. Sergio AGÜERO
20. Giovani LO CELSO
21. Paulo DYBALA
22. Cristian PAVÓN
23. Wilfredo CABALLERO

Argentina’s shirt numbers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Gonzalo HIGUAÍN, Lionel MESSI, Javier MASCHERANO and Marcos ROJO will all keep the same shirt numbers as they did at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Lucas BIGLIA would change from shirt number six to number five. Ángel DI MARÍA would go from number seven to number 11 this time around.