Gio LO CELSO and DI MARIA score as PSG win Ligue 1, more goal scorers

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April 16, 2018

Giovani Lo Celso Javier Pastore PSG — Giovani Lo Celso celebrates his goal for PSG with Javier Pastore.

Giovani LO CELSO and Angel DI MARIA both scored (twice) in PSG’s impressive 7-1 win over Monaco which won them the league title. Last year saw PSG dethroned of the Ligue 1 crown and they came back with a vengeance. Giovani LO CELSO scored the opening goal of the match after Dani ALVES slid in the ball and LO CELSO passed it into the net.

Angel DI MARIA’s first goal was very reminiscent of the gold medal winning goal he scored for Argentina vs. Nigeria at the 2008 Olympics. One on one with the goalkeeper, DI MARIA chipped the ball over the goalkeeper to make it 3-0 for PSG.

LO CELSO made it 4-0 with a fantastic outside of the foot cross by Javier PASTORE as the former Rosario Central man headed the ball in. Goal number five came from another Javier PASTORE assist, this time a slide ball in to DI MARIA to make it 5-1 and seal the league title.

Congratulations to the Argentinians (Giovani LO CELSO, Angel DI MARIA and Javier PASTORE) on winning Ligue 1 with PSG.

Moving over to Spain, Angel CORREA (who was recently called-up to the Argentina squad) scored for Atletico Madrid in their 3-0 win against Levante. While a second place finish in La Liga is still on the table for CORREA and Diego SIMEONE’s men as well as a Europa League semi-final spot, CORREA’s spot in the Argentina team is far from secured. Now on nine goals for the season, CORREA is far from having a guaranteed spot for Argentina’s World Cup squad.

Over to Russia, former River Plate man Sebastian DRIUSSI scored the only goal for Zenit St. Petersburg in their 1-0 win vs. Anzhi Makachkala.

Giovani LO CELSO and Angel DI MARIA score for PSG

Angel CORREA scores for Atletico Madrid

Sebastian DRIUSSI scored for Zenit St. Petersburg

Poll: Who should be Argentina’s starting goalkeeper for the World Cup?

By

Roy Nemer

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April 15, 2018

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Sergio Romero Willy Caballero Argentina — Willy Caballero coming on for Sergio Romero for Argentina in a friendly match vs. Spain.

There are a few options, some more popular than others but who would you put as Argentina’s starting goalkeeper for the World Cup?

If rumors are to be believed, Argentina National Team coach Jorge SAMPAOLI has five goalkeeper names on his preliminary list of 35 players. Those names are Sergio ROMERO of Manchester United, uncapped Franco ARMANI of River Plate, recently capped Willy CABALLERO of Chelsea and Mexican based duo Nahuel GUZMAN (Tigres) and Agustin MARCHESIN (Club America). No place for youngster Geronimo RULLI who seems to be completely out of the picture.

Sergio ROMERO has been Argentina’s starting goalkeeper for the past five tournaments. Runners up in the 2014 FIFA World Cup as well as the 2015 and 2016 Copa’s America. He was also the first choice in South Africa in 2010 and the 2011 Copa America. While not a regular for his club, he has stepped it up and saved his country when they needed him the most in the past three tournaments.

For the longest time, there were rumors that Franco ARMANI would get capped for Colombia. Having spent seven years at Atletico Nacional, Los Cafeteros were reportedly interested for the longest time in getting him to play for them. His impressive performances have carried over to his now new club, River Plate. While never being selected for an Argentina squad, there are strong rumors that the the 31 year old goalkeeper could make the World Cup team.

Some might say four years too late but Willy CABALLERO finally received his first cap(s) for his country. Part of the 2001 U20 World Cup winning team, CABALLERO really made a name for himself at Malaga in the season leading up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup. With Sergio ROMERO not a first choice starter for his club at the time (oddly enough, still not a first choice starter), many were asking for CABALLERO to be start in Brazil. It wasn’t to be and while he’s now second choice at Chelsea, he finally received his first two caps. The first in the 2-0 win against Italy and the second, one he would probably like to forget, the 6-0 loss to Spain.

A starter for his club Club America, Nahuel GUZMAN has six caps for his country. Four wins, two draws and a defeat, all of them in friendly matches. He’s let in a total of three goals (two versus Mexico and one in the 1-0 defeat to Portugal). He was part of Argentina’s runner-up teams in the 2015 and 2016 Copa’s America.

Another Mexican based shot stopper, Agustin MARCHESIN has represented his country two names, the latest being the 4-2 loss to Nigeria. MARCHESIN, who was not part of the recent squad, stated that the match versus Nigeria should not be used to keep him out of the team.

Those are the main candidates, vote in our poll below and let us know which three goalkeepers you would take for the World Cup!

[poll id=”10″]

Pep GUARDIOLA casts doubt on Sergio AGUERO’s World Cup fitness

By

Roy Nemer

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April 14, 2018

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Sergio Aguero Manchester City — Sergio Aguero with Manchester City, photo via Getty Images.

Manchester City boss Pep GUARDIOLA has casted a doubt over Sergio AGUERO’s fitness for the World Cup.

The former Independiente man’s fitness has been an issue more often than not for his country in recent years. And now, with what is likely the last World Cup of Sergio AGUERO’s career, he might not be fully fit. AGUERO returned after being out for more than a month when he came on as a substitute in the Manchester derby and while he did also play a few days later in the Champions League, it might be a while until we see Kun back in action this season.

It appears as though Ashley YOUNG’s challenge on Sergio has hindered his recovery. Here’s what GUARDIOLA had to say:

“He’s not ready. I don’t know [how long he will be out]. We cannot forget he was one month injured, he made a huge effort because after the action from Ashley YOUNG against United. With the problem with the knee he could not train, he played the last 20 minutes [against Liverpool] and after the game he said, ‘I cannot run, I have a lot of pain, I cannot run’. I don’t know about Swansea [on Sunday week] if he’ll be ready but hopefully for the last games if we need him and especially for the World Cup.”

As we reported on Friday, Argentina National Team coach Jorge SAMPAOLI is banking on Manchester City’s all time top scorer with him to Russia. But with a not fully fit AGUERO and a Gonzalo HIGUAIN who has not had the best of matches lately for his country, will SAMPAOLI change his mind on his starting striker?

Argentina coach SAMPAOLI has 34 of 35 World Cup names, no Mauro ICARDI

By

Roy Nemer

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April 13, 2018

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While the deadline to submit his 35 man squad for Argentina’s World Cup campaign, a report is suggesting that coach Jorge SAMPAOLI already has a large part of that list ready with Mauro ICARDI’s name reportedly not included.

According to TyC Sports, Jorge SAMPAOLI will be travelling to Europe in the next few weeks to speak with a large number of players. He has already started speaking with players based in the domestic league. Independiente duo Fabricio BUSTOS and Maxi MEZA were the first two players to speak with SAMPAOLI and the next day it was the turn of River Plate duo Enzo PEREZ and goalkeeper Franco ARMANI.

As we reported prior to the two friendly matches last month, Franco ARMANI’s name was being rumored as one that could potentially make the Argentina squad for the World Cup. Up next for SAMPAOLI are Lautaro MARTINEZ (of Racing Club) and Boca’s Pablo PEREZ and Cristian PAVON.

In Europe, SAMPAOLI will speak travel to Spain where he will speak with Lionel MESSI, Gabriel MERCADO and Ever BANEGA. In France, it’s Giovani LO CELSO and Angel DI MARIA while in Holland it’s Nicolas TAGLIAFICO. The large part of the list comes in England where he will speak with Sergio ROMERO, Willy CABALLERO, Nicolas OTAMENDI, Ramiro FUNES MORI, Marcos ROJO, Manuel LANZINI, Erik LAMELA and Sergio AGUERO. In Italy, he’ll speak with Federico FAZIO, Lucas BIGLIA, Diego PEROTTI, Paulo DYBALA and Gonzalo HIGUAIN (no Mauro ICARDI). And finally in Portugal, Eduardo SALVIO and Marcos ACUNA.

He will NOT be travelling to Mexico but will speak with two goalkeepers; Nahuel GUZMAN and Agustin MARCHESIN. As is the case with Mexico, he will not travel to Russia but Matias KRANEVITTER, Emiliano RIGONI and Leandro PAREDES all expected to get the call with veteran Javier MASCHERANO joining the Mexico and Russia based players in the call-ups.

This would mean SAMPAOLI has 34 out of his 35 players ready:

Goalkeepers:

Sergio ROMERO (Manchester United)
Franco ARMANI (River Plate)
Wilfredo CABALLERO (Chelsea)
Nahuel GUZMAN (Tigres, Mexico)
Agustín MARCHESIN (Club America)

Defenders:

Fabricio BUSTOS (Independiente)
Gabriel MERCADO (Sevilla)
Nicolás TAGLIAFICO (Ajax)
Nicolás OTAMENDI (Manchester City)
Ramiro FUNES MORI (Everton)
Marcos ROJO (Manchester United)
Federico FAZIO (AS Roma)

Midfielders:

Maxi MEZA (Independiente)
Enzo PEREZ (River Plate)
Pablo PEREZ (Boca Juniors)
Ever Banega (Sevilla)
Giovani LO CELSO (PSG)
Ángel DI MARIA (PSG)
Manuel LANZINI (West Ham United)
Erik LAMELA (Tottenham)
Lucas BIGLIA (Lazio)
Diego PEROTTI (AS Roma)
Eduardo SALVIO (Benfica)
Marcos ACUNA (Sporting Lisbon)
Matías KRANEVITTER (Zenit St. Petersburg)
Emiliano RIGONI (Zenit St. Petersburg)
Leandro PAREDES (Zenit St. Petersburg)
Javier MASCHERANO (Heibei Fortune)

Forwards:

Cristian PAVON (Boca Juniors)
Lautaro MARTINEZ (Racing Club)
Lionel MESSI (FC Barcelona)
Sergio AGUERO (Manchester City)
Paulo DYBALA (Juventus)
Gonzalo HIGUAIN (Juventus)

A new look for Mundo Albiceleste, more changes to come!

By

Roy Nemer

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April 12, 2018

19

Hello everyone,

No, don’t check your eyes or close your tab, this is still Mundo Albiceleste! Some changes have happened and more will continue to happen in the upcoming days!

We are less than three months away from the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. This World Cup marks a special time not only for sports or football fans world wide but especially for us here at Mundo Albiceleste. It will be World Cup number 4 which we will be covering here on Mundo (yes, Mundo is 12 years old)! We’ve come a long way from 2006. To give you an idea, when Mundo first started, Roberto AYALA was still Argentina’s captain!

I’ve been continuing to work a lot behind the scenes as well as trying to update any information that comes my way. I’d like to thank everyone here on staff for helping out, after all, this place is a community and none of this would be possible without you, the readers. We continue to grow here as a family and with that said, you have obviously seen a change in the look of the website. Maybe not a massive change but definitely one that catches your eye.

The look of the website feels different but similar to what we had in the past. This change allows for more flexibility (especially with the World Cup coming up, there are some things I’d like to implement). We have also changed servers which will ensure faster load times for everyone.

As mentioned, the changes have already started and if you notice some bugs (images not loading or anything of the sort), don’t worry, that is completely normal. I’ll also be rolling out a World Cup page which will be complete with match times as well as information on previous World Cup tournaments.

I hope everyone likes the change, it’s been much needed. Please leave your input below, what you like, what you don’t like, what you would like to see done!

Thank you,

Roy