Expected Argentina eleven versus Haiti

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May 29, 2018

Gonzalo Higuain Lionel Messi Angel Di Maria — Gonzalo Higuain, Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria with the Argentina National Team.

All signs report that coach Jorge SAMPAOLI has his starting eleven for the match against Haiti.

Willy CABALLERO is set to get his third cap for his country when he starts versus Haiti at La Bombonera. Up front will be Gonzalo HIGUAIN who gets the nod ahead of Sergio AGÜERO who is just returning from injury. Here’s the expected eleven:

CABALLERO; ANSALDI, MERCADO, FAZIO, TAGLIAFICO; MASCHERANO, LO CELSO; LANZINI, MESSI, DI MARÍA; HIGUAÍN

It’s being reported that coach SAMPAOLI will make six changes during the match, many, if not all coming at half time. The rules and regulations for the friendly match stipulate that coaches cannot make more than six substitutes.

World Cup countdown: 50 days, Argentina moment number 16, Gabriel BATISTUTA

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Roy Nemer

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May 29, 2018

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Gabriel Batistuta Argentina — Gabriel Batistuta playing for Argentina at the 1994 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 20 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup and in 16th place we have Gabriel BATISTUTA scoring in the 16th minute for Argentina versus Romania at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

Arguably one of the strongest Argentina teams ever assembled at a FIFA World Cup, Alfio BASILE’s men had just taken a massive blow after it was announced that Diego MARADONA would msis the tournament. Argentina’s star man for a decade had just been ejected from the team and during a World Cup no less.

However, the team still made it out of the group stages and had to play against Romania in the Round of 16 of the World Cup. Romania had taken an early 1-0 with DUMITRESCU scoring in the 11th minute. Argentina were awarded a penalty kick and Gabriel BATISTUTA stepped up just as he did versus Greece in the group stages and scored to make it 1-1 but only for a few minutes. In the 18th minute, DUMITRESCU scored for a second time in the match to make it 2-1 for the Romanians.

Superstar HAGI netted a third to make it 3-1 in the second half. Abel BALBO pulled one back for Argentina but it wasn’t enough as they lost 3-2 and were eliminated.

Here was Argentina’s starting XI for the match:
12. Luis ISLAS
3. Jose CHAMOS
4. Roberto SENSINI
5. Fernando REDONDO
6. Oscar RUGGERI
8. Jose BASUALDO
9. Gabriel BATISTUTA
13. Fernando CACERES
14. Diego SIMEONE
17. Ariel ORTEGA
19. Abel BALBO

Paulo DYBALA on playing for Argentina at a World Cup: “A dream come true”

By

Roy Nemer

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May 28, 2018

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Paulo Dybala Argentina — Paulo Dybala playing for the Argentina National Team.

Paulo DYBALA has stated that it’s all a dream come true and he would like to help Lionel MESSI and Argentina in winning the FIFA World Cup.

Speaking in an interview with Cadena 3, the Juventus star stated his desire in wanting to win the FIFA World Cup.

“The desire to help him (MESSI) achieve something that would be great for everyone is very big. We try to help him from wherever we are. We have the best player in the history of football on our side and the dream is very big. It’s everyone’s dream to be world champion.

“To train and to have the possibility of seeing MESSI every day is something incredible, because you learn a lot from his quality. Being world champion is everyone’s dream. It won’t be easy but we have the best player in history and we will do everything possible to get that done.”

The Argentina team - Forwards Lionel Messi Paulo Dybala — The Argentina team – Will we get to see Lionel Messi and Paulo Dybala play together at the World Cup?

DYBALA also made it clear that he has no problems playing anywhere up front as he has played in all the attacking positions.

“I have played every where up front, be it at Instituto, Palermo or Juve. I don’t feel uncomfortable playing as a playmaker up front.”

While he is included in Argentina coach Jorge SAMPAOLI’s World Cup squad, there were times where it was a doubt. Here’s what he had to say about the possibility of not being called to the World Cup:

“I always spoke to my family who tried to be calm with me. I always thought I’d be here and that the coach would call me up. Playing in a World Cup is one of the biggest desires you could have as a football player.

“Everything happened very quickly. It started in 2011 at Instituto and to think that in six years I would be in one of the most important clubs in the world and playing in a World Cup is something incredible and a dream come true. It represents a big number of kids who have fought for this dream and I am thankful that I got the chance.”

Willy CABALLERO, Gonzalo HIGUAÍN set to start for Argentina vs. Haiti

By

Roy Nemer

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May 28, 2018

79

Gonzalo Higuain Argentina — Gonzalo Higuain training with the Argentina National Team.

Willy CABALLERO is set to start for Argentina as is Gonzalo HIGUAÍN against Haiti on Tuesday.

In the first of two friendly matches before the start of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Argentina will host Haiti at La Bombonera on Tuesday night. Per a report by Ole, coach Jorge SAMPAOLI will go with this eleven:

CABALLERO; TAGLIAFICO, FAZIO, MERCADO or OTAMENDI, ANSALDI; LO CELSO, MASCHERANO; DI MARIA, MESSI, LANZINI; HIGUAIN

While not confirmed, this does appear to the line-up which is being reported in the media.

Lionel MESSI on Argentina: “We are not the best”

By

Roy Nemer

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May 28, 2018

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Lionel Messi Argentina — Lionel Messi with the Argentina National Team.

With the World Cup less than a month away, Argentina captain Lionel Messi spoke about the team’s chances and stated that they are not the best.

In an interview with Pasión por el Fútbol, the world’s best player commented on the three opponent’s in the group and said the team needs work. Here’s what he had to say:

“There’s a big challenge coming up for me personally as well as the group. For the country in general, their dream is the same as ours. It’s a beautiful responsibility to be able to represent the entire country at the World Cup.

“We have time to work and we need it. We have to go in there with calmness and send out a message that we will be the best in the world because that is not the case. We are not the best in the world, let’s be realistic. And with that humility, we have to go look for that dream.

“We have players to be able to dream. It’s important to start off with a win to build confidence. We don’t have an easy group.”

Lionel MESSI on Argentina’s chances at the 2018 FIFA World Cup:

“We have to take it match by match. Starting off with a win is important because it’ll then make us calmer. It’s not an easy group. Iceland showed in the Euro’s that they can go up against anyone.

“Croatia has a very good midfield and if you let them, they’ll control the ball all match long. They have Spain’s style. And it always costs us when we play Nigeria.”

Lionel MESSI on his future:

“It becomes more and more clear that Barcelona will be my only team in Europe. After that, I have always said that I wanr to play football in Argentina but I don’t know if it will happen. I have it in mind.

“I’d like to live it, be it for six months or a few matches but I don’t know. One never knows. My dream was to play for Newell’s as a kid, going to the matches with my dad, my brothers, my friends… After that; circumstances in life took me elsewhere but I still have that in mind.”

It’s clear that Lionel MESSI has his eyes set on capturing the World Cup. Very mature comments by the captain.