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

Roy Nemer
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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
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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.”

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni comments on Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez

Roy Nemer
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36

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni commented on the possibility of Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez playing together at Barcelona.

Lautaro Martinez has been rumored to join Barcelona for a few months and the current coach of the Argentina national team mentioned that it would be good for the team. Speaking in an interview with TNT Sports, here’s what Scaloni had to say:

“The more Argentine’s that play together at the same club, the better it is for us because they would know each other more and it would really benefit us a lot because with the Argentina national team, we don’t have that much time to work with them.

“It would be really positive for Messi and Lautaro to be in the same team. Either way, it won’t be easy because Inter and Barcelona are great teams and are equal in the hierarchy in Europe. But if they play together, it’s much better because they’d accumulate more minutes.”

Lionel Messi scores, assists for Barcelona in win vs. Mallorca

Roy Nemer
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44

Lionel Messi had a goal and two assists for Barcelona in their 4-0 win vs. Mallorca.

Messi continued where he left off for Barcelona before the league break. With Barcelona leading 1-0, Messi assisted Martin Braithwaite on his first Barcelona goal through an assist with his head. He would head the ball towards Braithwaite who would fire it in from close range.

The Argentina captain would also assist the third goal. A lovely pass in to Jordi Alba as the left back would score the third.

Barcelona’s savior would score one of his own. Messi would run across the Mallorca penalty area and would shoot with his right foot into the roof of the net for his goal.

Javier Pastore on Argentina absence: “It hurt to watch 2014 World Cup from home”

Roy Nemer
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28

Javier Pastore spoke about not playing for Argentina at the 2014 World Cup while also commenting on this missed opportunities to win a Copa America.

Pastore, who will be 31 later this month, hasn’t played too many matches with the Argentina national team. Despite bursing onto the scene and taking part in the 2010 World Cup and 2011 Copa America tournament, his international career has been filled with ups and downs.

Speaking in an interview with TyC Sports, the Roma midfielder had this to say about his time with the Argentina national team.

“It was a wonderful moment in my career being in the Argentina national team. I had been called up in 2012 and 2013 but about a year and a half before the World Cup, I stopped being called and it hurt me a lot watching it from home. Even though I hadn’t won a spot. It hurt not being at the level I wanted to be at to be in the Argentina national team.”

The former PSG man also commented on what the Copa America tournaments:

“2014 and 2015 were my best years at the club where I was playing practically every match. I was lucky enough for Tata Martino to call me up and he played me in a lot of matches at the Copa America where a nice connection was made with the boys. After that, I was injured in the final against Chile and from there I just wasn’t able to recover properly.

“It’s sad to see that we didn’t win a single Copa America because one always plays to win and we weren’t able to get the titles. Above all because we played well in many matches and we had more goal scoring opportunities than our opponents. But the penalty kicks are for who kicks better.

“It’s sad to see because we were close, not only for us but also for Leo who always has it in his head.”

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