Argentina’s line-up from training in Manchester

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March 21, 2018

With the players all in Manchester, the first Argentina line-up from training is out and it’s different from what we have seen in the past.

Argentina National Team coach Jorge SAMPAOLI has opted to go with a four man back line in training session, which is different from the usual three man at the back that we have seen from him. There’s been a variation of players tested in training. Here was the first line-up tested out:

ROMERO; MERCADO, FAZIO, OTAMENDI, TAGLIAFICO; BIGLIA, PAREDES; MEZA, MESSI, DI MARIA; HIGUAIN

However, per TyC Sports, Chelsea’s Willy CABALLERO could get his first ever cap for Argentina at the home of his former club, Manchester City’s Etihad stadium when the team play Italy on Friday. Fabricio BUSTOS and Manuel LANZINI could also start. Here is TyC Sports’ probable eleven against Italy:

CABALLERO; BUSTOS, OTAMENDI, FAZIO or ROJO, TAGLIAFICO; BIGLIA, BANEGA or PAREDES; LANZINI, MESSI, DI MARIA; HIGUAIN

Going with the line-up above, Marcos ROJO could play in his natural position for Argentina as he would partner Nicolas OTAMENDI in the heart of the back line. But his spot is up for grabs as Federico FAZIO could also start alongside OTAMENDI instead of ROJO. Nicolas TAGLIAFICO of Ajax would start as left back.

In midfield, it appears to be between Ever BANEGA and Leandro PAREDES to play beside Lucas BIGLIA. Manuel LANZINI would get the start on the right side of midfield. What does remain the same is that Lionel MESSI, Angel DI MARIA and Gonzalo HIGUAIN (who formed part of the original fabulous four with Sergio AGUERO back in Alejandro SABELLA’s days) start.

This is still not confirmed and far from it. Coach SAMPAOLI is still holding training sessions and we could have a better idea of the eleven which will start against Italy by Thursday. Make sure to keep checking for updates!

Which line-up would you like to see start against Italy? The first one with Sergio ROMERO as the goalkeeper or the second one with Willy CABALLERO as the goalkeeper?

Argentina World Cup away shirt released

By

Roy Nemer

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March 20, 2018

18

The Argentina World Cup away shirt has been released by FIFA with Lionel MESSI wearing the jersey.

With the home kit released a few months ago and the Argentina National Team already playing two matches with the sky blue and white World Cup shirt, the away shirt has been rumored to be different and the rumors are true. We had reported a few times about how Argentina’s secondary World Cup shirt would be black and Adidas confirmed that on Tuesday when they released pictures of Lionel MESSI wearing the World Cup away shirt and shorts for Argentina.

Lionel Messi wearing the World Cup away kit of Argentina.

This would mark the first time that the Argentina National Team would have a black kit as the secondary shirt. It’s usually a blue or dark blue kit but not a black one. We also see the black Adidas shorts for the World Cup kit.

Historically, those who are superstitious saw (or see) the secondary blue colored shirt as bad luck. This dates back to the final of the 1990 World Cup when the team lost 1-0 in the final. The second match came in 2002 in the last group stage match where Marcelo BIELSA’s team drew 1-1 in a must win game against Sweden which saw Gabriel BATISTUTA play his last ever match for the Albiceleste as they crashed out of the World Cup. The third time was definitely not a charm and it came in 2006, once more an elimination by Germany in the Quarter Finals of the World Cup in Berlin. Most recently of course came the heart break of the 2014 World Cup final.

What do you think about the shirt? Vote in our poll below!

[poll id=”9″]

We might see the team wearing this shirt in one of the upcoming friendly matches against Italy and Spain.

Argentina squad lands in Manchester

By

Roy Nemer

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March 20, 2018

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Argentina squad Ramiro Funes Mori Gonzalo Higuain

The Argentina squad has landed in Manchester, England.

Lionel MESSI was the latest and last person to land in Manchester, England to meet up with his Argentina National Team mates ahead of the team’s friendly match against Italy at the Etihad stadium. MESSI landed on Tuesday afternoon as he was greeted by coach Jorge SAMPAOLI and AFA president Claudio TAPIA at Manchester City’s ground.

Pablo AIMAR is also in Manchester with the team as he is with the coaching staff. There were rumors that AIMAR would be working closely with the senior team as he works with the U17 team (and Diego PLACENTE with the U15 team). The idea is that both AIMAR and PLACENTE would work with SAMPAOLI with hopes that there would be some similarities between the youth teams and the senior team.

Pablo Aimar with the Argentina coaching staf.

We reported last year that AIMAR was close to joining the senior team staff.

The team plays Italy on Friday in Manchester, England before playing Spain on Tuesday in Madrid.

Eduardo SALVIO out of Argentina squad

By

Roy Nemer

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March 20, 2018

12

Eduardo SALVIO has been pulled from the Argentina team.

The Benfica man who recently underwent knee surgery has been dropped from the Argentina squad on Monday as he has yet to fully recover. This explains the call-up of Angel CORREA late last week.

Argentina National Team coach Jorge SAMPAOLI reportedly held chats in the past with Angel CORREA about the possibility of the Atletico Madrid man playing as a right wing back.

With the team already in Manchester, England training, it’ll be interesting to see what SAMPAOLI tries out in training.

Angel CORREA makes Argentina squad

By

Roy Nemer

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March 16, 2018

147

Angel CORREA has been called-up to the Argentina National Team.

Atletico Madrid’s Angel CORREA deservedly makes the Argentina squad, a week after the initial list came out. The former San Lorenzo man’s last match with Argentina came March 2017 in a 2-0 defeat against Bolivia.

This is the first time that he makes the team under coach Jorge SAMPAOLI. He has impressed this season being a star man for Diego SIMEONE’s Atletico Madrid team and even recently scoring in the Europa League.