World Cup countdown: 50 days, Argentina moment number 46, Jorge VALDANO

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April 29, 2018

Jorge Valdano Argentina — Jorge Valdano playing for Argentina vs. South Korea during the 1986 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 46 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup and in 46th place we have Jorge VALDANO who scored in the 46th minute at the 1986 FIFA World Cup versus South Korea.

After the disastrous start which saw Argentina lose 1-0 against Belgium in 1982, the team knew they had to do better to kick off the 1986 tournament. It took them just six minutes to score in the opening match against South Korea in 1986 in Mexico. Twelve minutes later, Oscar RUGGERI scored to double the lead for Carlos BILARDO’s men.

At the 46th minute, Jorge VALDANO all but secured the three points for Argentina when he scored his second of the match. A great cross in by Diego MARADONA found VALDANO’s head which found the goal.

Here was Argentina’s starting XI for the match:

18. Nery PUMPIDO
2. Sergio BATISTA
5. Jose BROWN
7. Jorge BURRUCHAGA
8. Nestor CLAUSEN
10. Diego MARADONA
11. Jorge VALDANO
13. Oscar GARRE
14. Ricardo GIUSTI
17. Pedro PASCULLI
19. Oscar RUGGERI

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.

Gonzalo HIGUAIN gives Juventus victory as ICARDI scores for Inter

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Roy Nemer

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April 29, 2018

9

Gonzalo Higuain Juventus — Gonzalo Higuain celebrates his Sedrie A goal for Juventus vs. Inter

Both Gonzalo HIGUAIN and Mauro ICARDI scored for their respective clubs but it was HIGUAIN’s goal which gave his team the win.

One of the biggest (if not the biggest) match of the European football calendar came on Saturday as Inter hosted Juventus. With the Serie A title race being extremely close, Juventus needed all three points to maintain their lead at the top while Inter needed all three points to try and get a Champions League spot.

Paulo DYBALA started the match on the bench for Juventus while the two opposite number 9’s started. Douglas COSTA gave Juventus a 1-0 lead and shortly after Matias VECINO got himself red carded for Inter which meant they would play with a man down for the remainder of the match. Captain ICARDI showed his maturity and he selflessly ran and pressed the Juventus back line alone and eventually scored in the 51st minute with a fantastic header.

Gonzalo HIGUAIN had a fantastic opportunity to put his team ahead and after being one on one and rounding the goalkeeper, he hit the side netting. Shortly after, Andrea BARZAGLI scored an own goal which gave Inter a 2-1 lead. Mauro ICARDI was substituted off late in the match and was visibily frustrated with the decision. In came Paulo DYBALA and after he was brought into the game, Juventus equalised with a Milan SKRINIAR own goal.

At 2-2, the match was set for a winner and a winner there was as Gonzalo HIGUAIN redeemed himself for his earlier miss and just like Mauro ICARDI, he headed the ball in for the winner.

April 28, 1995: Argentina win U20 World Cup vs. Brazil in style

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Roy Nemer

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April 28, 2018

31

Argentina 1995 U20 World Cup Qatar — Argentina celebrating winning the U20 World Cup in 1996 in Qatar.

April 28 is a day which will forever be remembered as the day the Argentina U20 team lifted their second U20 World Cup in 1995 in Qatar.

No doubt the biggest name to emerge from that Argentina team was that of Juan Pablo SORIN, the then Argentinos Juniors player would go on to captain the senior team 11 years later at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Drawn in Group C alongside the Netherlands Portugal and Honduras, Argentina’s José PEKERMAN would finish in second place behind Portugal. Their opening match came against the Netherlands where an Andre GARRONE goal in the 90th minute sealed a dramatic three points.

The team fell to Porgugal in their second match 1-0 before bouncing back in a 4-2 win against Honduras with Ariel IBAGAZA scoring early in the 6th minute and Sebastian PENA scoring a hat trick.

Off to the quarter finals the team went and up next were African side Camerron. A 2-0 win with goals from Francisco GUERREO and Walter COYETTE sealed Argentina’s progression into the semi-finals against a Spanish side which boosted a young RAUL, Fernando MORIENTES, Ivan de la PENA and Michel SALGADO.

However Argentina just kept getting stronger throughout the tournament as they put three past big name Spain. Leonardo BIAGINI scoring the first, COYETTE back at it again with the second and Raul CHAPARRO killing off the match with the third.

A final against Brazil awaited PEKERMAN’s young boys but Brazil or not, nothing was going to stop Argentina from lifting their second U20 world title. Leonardo BIAGINI scored in the 25th minute and Francisco GUERRERO in the 89th meant that Jose PEKERMAN’s illustrious career as Argentina manager was off to a great start.

Two fantastic team goals with two very distinct finishes. The first a calmly slotted ball and the second a great chip over the goalkeeper. Two goals worthy of any final at any level. Argentina were crowned champions in style.

Here was Argentina’s squad for the 1995 tournament in Qatar:
1. Joaquín IRIGOYTIA
2. Sebastián PENA
3. Federico DOMINGUEZ
4. Gustavo LOMBARDI
5. Mariano JUAN
6. Juan Pablo SORIN
7. Francisco GUERRERO
8. Guillermo LARROSA
9. Carlos ARANGIO
10. Ariel IBAGAZA
11. Leonardo BIAGINI
12. Gastón PEZZUTI
13. Diego CROSA
14. Cristian DIAZ
15. Andrés GARRONE
16. Julio BAYON
17. Walter COYETTE
18. Cristian CHAPARRO

World Cup countdown: 50 days, Argentina moment number 47, Mario KEMPES

By

Roy Nemer

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April 28, 2018

6

Mario Kempes Argentina Peru — Mario Kempes scores for Argentina vs. Peru at the 1978 FIFA World Cup. (AFP)

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 47 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup and in 47th place we have Mario KEMPES who scored Argentina’s 47th goal at a FIFA World Cup. The goal was the first one scored in Argentina’s infamous 6-0 win against Peru at the 1978 World Cup.

Having participated in 1930, 1934, 1958, 1962, 1966 and 1974, Argentina’s 47th goal all time at a FIFA World Cup came at home against Peru on Wednesday, June 21, 1978. It was Mario KEMPES’ third goal of the tournament, a World Cup Argentina would ultimately go on to win. A 6-0 win against Peru in the final second group stage match catapulted the home nation into the final of the 1978 World Cup.

Mario KEMPES scored twice in the game against Peru, as did Leopoldo LUQUE with the other two goals being scored by Alberto TARANTINI and René HOUSEMAN.

Here was Argentina’s starting XI for that match:

4. Daniel BERTONI
5. Ubaldo FILLOL
6. Americo GALLEGO
7. Luis GALVAN
10. Mario KEMPES
12. Omar LARROSA
14. Leopoldo LUQUE
15. Jorge OLGUIN
16. Oscar ORTIZ
19. Daniel PASSARELLA
20. Alberto TARANTINI

There, KEMPES would prove to be the hero once more as he scored twice with Daniel BERTONI scoring the insurance goal in a 3-1 win extra time win against the Netherlands. KEMPES ended as the tournament’s top scorer with 6 goals.

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.

Argentina to play Haiti in May friendly match

By

Roy Nemer

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April 27, 2018

20

Argentina will play a friendly match against Haiti in May.

A change of plans for Jorge SAMPAOLI’s Argentina National Team as they prepare for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. As we reported in the past, the team was set to play Nicaragua in a farewell match in Argentina. However, per a report from TyC Sports, they will now play Haiti instead of Nicaragua.

While everything was set for the team to play Nicaragua on May 29, however, due to the current crisis going on in the country, the Nicaraguan FA had to pull out. Instead, the farewell match for the team before they fly out to Barcelona to prepare for the World Cup will be Haiti.

In May of 2010, Argentina (lead by previous coach Diego MARADONA) played a friendly match against Haiti which resulted in a 4-0 win. This match is still set to be played at La Bombonera and is simply used as a game to say goodbye to the fans prior to the World Cup. In 2010, Argentina’s opponent was Canada while in 2014 it was Slovenia.