Argentina coach Jorge SAMPAOLI put out the same ten players on Saturday night as he did earlier in the week.
With the match against Haiti on Tuesday, Jorge SAMPAOLI looks set to have found his starting outfield players but questions remain over the starting goalkeeper. Here were the ten in training:
ANSALDI; OTAMENDI, FAZIO, TAGLIAFICO; LANZINI, MASCHERANO, LO CELSO; MESSI, HIGUAIN, DI MARIA
Eduardo SALVIO was brought in and replaced Manuel LANZINI.
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 18 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup and in 18th place we have Javier MASCHERANO playing in his 18th match for Argentina vs. Netherlands at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Argentina had won the first two matches of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The first was a 2-1 win against the Ivory Coast and the second came in a footballing lesson as they spanked Serbia and Montenegro 6-0 to get all three points. Up next was a match to determine who finishes top of the group against the country which eliminated them at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
While the match ended 0-0, it was a much changed Argentina side. Carlos TEVEZ, Gabriel MILITO, Leandro CUFRE, Lionel MESSI and Nicolas BURDISSO all started for Jose PEKERMAN. For Javier MASCHERANO, it meant that he would play in his 18th match for his country.
Here was Argentina’s starting XI for the match:
1. Roberto ABBONDANZIERI
2. Roberto AYALA
5. Esteban CAMBIASSO
8. Javier MASCHERANO
10. Juan Roman RIQUELME
11. Carlos TEVEZ
15. Gabriel MILITO
17. Leandro CUFRE
18. Maxi RODRIGUEZ
19. Lionel MESSI
21. Nicolas BURDISSO
Cristian Pavón and Franco Armani speaking at a press conference while with the Argentina National Team.
Cristian PAVÓN and Franco ARMANI spoke to the media on Friday.
One of Boca Juniors and the other of River Plate, one several years younger than the other but fighting for one dream, for one country. Following Javier MASCHERANO’s press conference from Thursday, it was PAVÓN and ANSALDI who were selected to speak at a press conference on Friday. Here’s what they had to say:
Cristian PAVÓN:
“I’m in the National Team and I’m enjoying the beauty of it. We have to be calm, to try and enjoy every match that we play and bring out best.”
Cristian PAVÓN on being compared with Argentina legend Claudio CANIGGIA:
“Comparing me with CANIGGIA is an enormous happiness. I really want to keep learning and I’ll work towards that.”
Cristian PAVÓN on Lionel MESSI:
“If I’m put in to play next to MESSI, it will be great. He’s the best in the world. It would be a dream come true. I feel much more comfortable playing on the left.”
Cristian Pavón and Lionel Messi while playing for the Argentina National Team.
Cristian PAVÓN on himself and the team:
“If I had the most assists (with Boca), that’s thanks to my team mates. Hopefully it repeats here. It fills me with joy that my team mates congratulate me for my work. I thank them for being such great human beings.”
Cristian PAVON on the World Cup:
“Hopefully we win the World Cup. It’s what we are all working towards. I try to learn a little more about the players I have to my side.”
Franco ARMANI:
“Now I want to work and give the most from my side. The goal is the World Cup and to try and fight for it. From the day I spoke to him (SAMPAOLI), I’ve tried my best to have the chance I am waiting to get.
Franco ARMANI on the Argentina team:
“The quality of everyone here is on display. I want to enjoy this moment because it’s not something you live every day. Every one of the three goalkeepers here came to work. After that, the coach will decidew who plays. We must add to this healthy competition.”
Franco ARMANI on Sergio ROMERO and the goalkeepers:
“What happened with ROMERO brought us a lot of pain. We put ourselves in his place. I extend my greetings to him and lots of strength. Hopefully he has a quick recovery and he comes out of it stronger. We know what ROMERO is for this National Team. He was the starter, he came to play. Now all three of us have to bring what we can.
The three goalkeepers have to be at a good level. Everyone has their own quality in goal and for that we were all called. I am here today because of my form in the past few years. It’s a process.
Sergio Romero playing for the Argentina National Team.
Franco ARMANI on Lionel MESSI:
“It’s a privilege and an honor to share every training session with Leo (MESSI). Today, I was able to train with him and the truth is that he’s just great. I think he scored every goal against me, haha! We have to enjoy MESSI.”
Franco ARMANI on the team and himself:
“From the outside, I saw a very strong National Team, with a lot of potential. We have to value that we have the best players. Personally, I’m coming here to contribute what I can.
I’m very happy to have taken the decision to play in Argentina. That has given me the chance to be here today. Ever since I got here, my team mates have received me in the best possible way. With simplicity, humility and very hungry to get this 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 19 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup and in 19th place we have Diego MILITO wearing the number 19 shirt on his World Cup debut against Nigeria at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
It was a memorable day for Diego MILITO. While he didn’t start the match for Argentina, the man wearing the number 19 shirt made his World Cup debut. It was a repeat of the 2002 FIFA World Cup for Argentina as they played against Nigeria in their opening match. Once more, the match ended 1-0 in favor of the Albiceleste and once more the goal came off a header.
Gabriel HEINZE scored the lone goal in the win and Diego MILITO came on as a substitute for Gonzalo HIGUAIN.
Here was Argentina’s starting XI for the match:
22. Sergio ROMERO
2. Martin DEMICHELIS
6. Gabriel HEINZE
7. Angel DI MARIA
8. Juan Sebastian VERON
9. Gonzalo HIGUAIN
10. Lionel MESSI
11. Carlos TEVEZ
13. Walter SAMUEL
14. Javier MASCHERANO
17. Jonas GUTIERREZ
Argentina coach Jorge SAMPAOLI has opted to go for a different line-up on Friday with his team.
With Maxi MEZA joining the squad on Friday, coach SAMPAOLI now has all of his 23 players at his disposal. With everyone available, he put up the following ten players in training:
ANSALDI; OTAMENDI, FAZIO, TAGLIAFICO; MASCHERANO, LANZINI, LO CELSO; DI MARIA, MESSI and HIGUAIN
Compared to Thursday’s training session where SAMPAOLI had this:
Federico FAZIO replaced Marcos ROJO, Javier MASCHERANO replaces Lucas BIGLIA, Angel DI MARIA in for Cristian PAVON and Gonzalo HIGUAIN started in place of Sergio AGUERO.
