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Roberto Abbondanzieri speaks about Lionel Messi, 2006 World Cup, 2004 Copa America, more

Roy Nemer
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Roberto Abbondanzieri spoke about Lionel Messi at the 2006 World Cup, his injury against Germany, Marcelo Bielsa and the 2004 Copa America.

The former Boca Juniors and Getafe man was the starting goalkeeper for Argentina at the 2004 Copa America and the 2006 World Cup. Speaking to TyC Sports, Abbodanzieri spoke about it all. Regarding Lionel Messi, here’s what he had to say:

“How could I forget. Yes, he’s the one that took the most shots in the training sessions. We would stay to work a bit more and Leo was always there. I have a good relationship with him even if it’s been a bit of time since we spoke. He’d invite me to all his events. I lost, yes. He shot them very well. He looked more Brazilian than Argentine. The Messi I saw in the training sessions in 2006 was like the one now but without the experience.”

Regarding his injury vs. Germany in the quarter finals of the 2006 World Cup and how there were rumors that he could have continued:

“It was some moment. I went out far. I could have played dumb and stayed close to goal. It was a kick from the right and there was an opening. It was a moment where I was perfect but that took me out of the World Cup. For that, it took me four months to recover.

“It bothers me but it’s there. What stayed with me the most were the faces in the locker room. Honestly, I don’t want there to be any doubts. I spoke with Grondona. I couldn’t anymore. The next day, I left with my family. I went to Getafe to play for fives months. The doubts appeared when they did some tests on me in the stadium and nothing came out of it, like any test that is done instantly.

“There are a thousand versions. I was at Arsenal with Julio and he asked me the same thing.”

About the 2004 Copa America, Abbondanzieri spoke about Brazil’s first goal which came off a free kick where they drew level:

“For the free kick, I put four in the wall because I was afraid that they would shoot to the right of the goal. And there was the goal but I didn’t say anything. It was a very significant goal because it’s not the same going into half time winning than it is drawing.

“After the 2006 World Cup, I was training with Getafe and I got a letter that Bielsa had left me. Very serious, he went as far as writing us letters. He congratulated me for going to Europe, for the World Cup and he told me:

“The truth is that there’s something I have been meaning to tell you for some time: I never understood why you put so many players in the wall.”

“Obviously, there were missing players to head it away. In the letter, he explained everything and I didn’t contest it.

Abbondanzieri has stated that he has watched the goal more as a coach than a goalkeeper:

“Everyone was being man marked, no one was left. A lot was said about the goal at the time but for me and obviously for Bielsa, the first goal was more important. And people perhaps don’t realize that.”

Geronimo Rulli of Montpellier: “I have a strange relationship with Argentina”

Roy Nemer
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Geronimo Rulli spoke with TyC Sports where he commented on his relationship with the Argentina national team and Estudiantes de la Plata.

Rulli, still only 27 years of age, has played a total of two matches for the Argentina national team. Speaking in an interview, the Montpellier goalkeeper stated that his dream is the Argentina team but that he has a strange relationship with it.

“It’s a strange relationship that I have with the Argentina national team. It’s my dream and what I always want, to play, to represent my country. What I know is that if I do things well, I’ll be there. At times, I’d say I’m among the best in the world, best statistics and I’m not called and it annoys me. But as I got older, I learned that it’s what I love the most but I’m not going to go crazy about it.”

Regarding his boyhood club Estudiantes de la Plata:

“It’s my family, the love and the great memory I left at the club. It’s everything. I started when I was 5 years old and where I did all of my preparation. I was barely a year into the top division, I enjoyed it. At la Real (Sociedad), I showed everything I did at Estudiantes and the preparation I had.”

Pablo Zabaleta comments on Argentina’s 3 finals, Lionel Messi, more

Roy Nemer
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Pablo Zabaleta gave an interview with Presion Alta where he spoke about Argentina taking part in three straight finals, the demands on Lionel Messi and the current Argentina national team.

Zabaleta was part of the Argentina team which made the 2014 World Cup final and it continues to weigh heavy on him. Speaking in the interview, here’s what he had to say:

“We put in a lot of effort and there was the frustration of not having won a title. And they would say Messi’s friends. Today, it’s impossible for a footballer to get away from it all. We don’t stop being humans who suffer. After losing three finals, everything weighs more on you and you have to live with it.

“We live in a demanding society. The fact that we played three finals in three years has to be highlighted.”

The former Manchester City man also commented on Lionel Messi’s contributions:

“It’s demanding on Leo (Messi) because he’s the best in the world but no one wins alone. Beyond just that he hasn’t won a senior title, he gave the chance to the AFA to make a lot of money for having the best player in the world.”

Regarding the current team:

“When Russia was over, for many it was the end of a cycle. Now there’s a rebuilding. I see that (Lionel) Scaloni has done well with the group and I believe that he has good support from the new ones and as usual from the greats.”

Juan Pablo Sorin talks about Argentina, Leeds coach Marcelo Bielsa, 2002 World Cup

Roy Nemer
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10

Juan Pablo Sorin gave an interview with Presion Alta where he spoke about the Argentina team at the 2002 World Cup as well as having Marcelo Bielsa as a coach.

Sorin only had nice things to say about the current Leeds manager. Having had him for the 2002 World Cup qualifiers and the World Cup itself, here’s what Sorin had to say:

“I appreciate having had him as a coach because he’s one of those revolutionaries who is always looking for more. He always wants to learn and pass something more onto the player.

“I never went through a defensive plan that made me polish up everything. To anticipate, the aerial duels… After that it was natural movements but when you work on them, you get used to covering for your team mates. From being a left wing back to left back or a sweeper.”

Regarding the disaster that was the 2002 World Cup for Argentina:

“The people don’t want to hear anymore about it because we didn’t score goals and we didn’t make it out of the group. The training sessions were demanding as they always were. We weren’t many which came from South America and we were physically very well.

“The one’s that came from Europe with very long seasons arrived extremely tired. We did our best, tried everything and maybe we reached our football peak a year before.”

Javier Saviola: Lautaro could help Barcelona but not easy to play with Messi

Roy Nemer
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Javier Saviola is the latest to come out and speak about Lautaro Martinez’s potential move to Barcelona.

Saviola knows first hand what it’s like to play alongside Lionel Messi. Having been a team mate of his at Barcelona as well as with the Argentina national team, Saviola knows what it takes to play next to the best player in the world. Speaking in an interview with la Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Honestly, Lautaro is a player that could be useful for Barcelona. However, we know what it means to be next to Suarez, Messi and other stars. What I’m saying is that it’s not easy to play with them.”

The former Argentina man also weighed in on Dybala’s comments of finding it difficult to play with Messi:

“Dybala said it was difficult for him to play with Messi and I support that idea. Because being able to maintain the same rhythm (as Messi’s) requires another level of concentration. It seems easy but it’s not.”

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