Home Blog Page 1098

Gonzalo Higuain hat trick on this day for Argentina at World Cup

Roy Nemer
-
26

Gonzalo Higuain scored a hat trick for Argentina on this day in their 4-1 win vs. South Korea at the World Cup.

It was Argentina’s second match in Group B and just like the opening win vs. Nigeria, the two time world champions got off to an early lead. Diego Maradona’s team were awarded a free kick and it was Lionel Messi who took it and the number 10’s cross into the penalty area landed onto Park Chu-Young as the South Korean deflected it into his own net.

Higuain would score his first ever goal at the World Cup before half time. Maxi Rodriguez would send a cross in which was flicked back by Nicolas Burdisso. The ball landed onto Higuain who would score from close range.

Martin Demichelis would make a mistake at the back and Lee Chung-Yong would take advantage to pull one back for the South Koreans before half time.

Lionel Messi would be the architect of the third goal. A lovely run from midfield as he’d play a pass to Aguero who would play it back to Messi but his shot would hit the post and land onto the feet of Higuain who would score a tap in.

The fourth goal was a lovely counter attack. Lionel Messi took a quick free kick and passed it onto Aguero. The then Atletico Madrid man ran towards the South Korean back line and the ball would eventually find Lionel who, while surrounded by several red shirts, would dink it over them onto Aguero. A flick cross into the penalty area reached Higuain who would head it into the back of the net for his third.

That third goal for Higuain was the first hat trick scored by an Argentina player at a World Cup since Gabriel Batistuta did it against Jamaica at the 1998 World Cup.

Here was the starting eleven for that match:

Sergio Romero, Gabriel Heinze, Walter Samuel, Martin Demichelis, Jonas Gutierrez, Angel Di Maria, Javier Mascherano, Maxi Rodriguez, Carlos Tevez, Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain

Nicolas Burdisso would come on for Walter Samuel, Sergio Aguero for Carlos Tevez and Mario Bolatti for Gonzalo Higuain.

Lionel Messi reaches 699 career goals in FC Barcelona win vs. Leganes

Roy Nemer
-
19

Lionel Messi reached 699 career goals after he netted one for Barcelona in their 2-0 win vs. Leganes.

Messi scored Barcelona’s second goal, a well placed penalty kick at the first match back at the Camp Nou since La Liga resumed. The Argentina and Barcelona captain earned his team a penalty following a run only Messi could do. The number 10 received the ball in midfield and dribbled his way through the Leganes team before being taken down in the penalty area.

He has scored 629 goals in 720 games for Barcelona and 70 goals in 138 matches for Argentina.

Argentina masterclass on this day in 2006 at World Cup

Roy Nemer
-
14

Argentina put on a masterclass of a performance on this day in 2006 when they won 6-0 vs. Serbia & Montenegro at the World Cup.

The best team goal scored at that World Cup and arguably of any World Cup, Jose Pekerman’s team completely put behind them their 2002 demons and played some of the best football you will ever see.

Maxi Rodriguez scored twice and in between them Esteban Cambiasso was at the end of a 24 pass goal, all this in the first half. The second half saw Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez making their World Cups debuts.

Messi would assist Hernan Crespo for his goal off a quick Riquelme free kick. Carlos Tevez would dribble into the Serbia & Montenegro penalty area and slot one in for Argentina’s fifth of the match.

Lionel Messi would score his first ever World Cup goal, assisted by Carlos Tevez. A right footed finish would seal the win as Argentina would score 6 in one match.

This was the starting eleven:

Roberto Abbondanzieri, Juan Pablo Sorin, Gabriel Heinze, Roberto Ayala, Nicolas Burdisso, Luis Gonzalez, Javier Mascherano, Maxi Rodriguez, Juan Roman Riquelme, Hernan Crespo, Javier Saviola

 

On this day in 2014, Lionel Messi and Argentina light up the Maracana at World Cup

Roy Nemer
-
16

On this day in 2014, Lionel Messi scored for Argentina in their 2-1 win vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina at the World Cup.

Argentina were looking to put behind them their humiliating exit four years earlier when they lost 4-0 to Germany in the quarter finals. Lionel Messi didn’t manage a single goal on African soil and the team was poorly managed in comparison to Alejandro Sabella’s squad in Brazil.

In Argentina’s opening group game, it was against Bosnia-Heezegovina and the two time South American champions had a star studded attack. Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria formed the fantastic four with the likes of Ezequiel Lavezzi, Maxi Rodriguez and Rodrigo Palacio as choices off the bench.

Alejandro Sabella went with a five man back line to start the match, one which surprised many Argentina fans. Hugo Campagnaro started the match to complete the back five. Here was the starting eleven:

Marcos Rojo; Federico Fernandez, Hugo Campagnaro, Ezequiel Garay, Pablo Zabaleta; Angel Di Maria, Javier Mascherano, Maxi Rodriguez; Sergio Aguero, Lionel Messi

It would take just three minutes for Alejandro Sabella’s team to take the lead. Sergio Aguero would get fouled and Lionel Messi would take the free kick. The ball would land onto Kolasinac and it would go into the net as an own goal. Argentina would go into half time with a 1-0 lead.

Gonzalo Higuain would come on for Maxi Rodriguez and Fernando Gago for Hugo Campagnaro at half time.

Lionel Messi would finally score his first World Cup goal in nearly 8 years to the day. Messi would play a one-two with Gonzalo Higuain and the ball would get back to the Argentina captain. Two Bosnia-Herzegovina players would tumble on top of each other, Messi’s left footed shot would hit the post and go in. His bad luck from four years earlier had been erased.

The Maracana exploded. Lionel Messi had arrived. Argentina had arrived. The fans became more into the match, Angel Di Maria was doing his flicks and tricks and Argentina played with more confidence.

Lucas Biglia would come on for Sergio Aguero.

Romero would let one goal near the end of the match but Argentina were able to maintain their advantage and get the 2-1 win.

Nicolas Tagliafico comments on Argentina team in 2018, Ajax, more

Roy Nemer
-
13

Nicolas Tagliafico spoke about the Argentina national team at the 2018 World Cup while also discussing his time with Ajax.

Tagliafico has been one of the world’s best left backs and has been linked with a to Barcelona and Chelsea. Speaking in an interview with 94.7 FM, here’s what the 27 year old had to say about the team at the 2018 World Cup:

“The Argentina national team is always a candidate but I don’t know if we would have been champions. We didn’t come fully prepared, we were missing some details to correct. There were tactical doubts and football doubts in the team. There were a lot of changes and there was negativity outside of the group.

“I tried to enjoy every moment, including the bad ones. It’s a memory I will have with me my entire life even if it wasn’t how we wanted it to go.”

About his time with Ajax:

“We placed the bar very high in the last Champions League. The club was back in Europe and now they looked at us differently. At Ajax, I learned a lot about their customs, their school is one of offensive football. They’re looking to score goals, not to defend.”

1...1,0971,0981,099...1,657Page 1,098 of 1,657