Argentina have cancelled their October friendly game against the Basque Country.
The FVF, the Basque Country football federation, have announced that Argentina have cancelled their friendly game against them next month. The match was set to take place on October 13 in San Mames, the official stadium of Athletic Bilbao.
It remains to be seen if Argentina will announce an opponent as a replacement.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni spoke at a press conference following his team’s 0-0 draw vs. Chile.
Lionel Scaloni was content with most of what he saw. He spoke about the match, the younger players and the next game which is against Mexico. Here’s what he had to say:
“At times, we did some interesting things. I liked the incorporation of the younger players. We more or less tried to do the same thing as we did at the Copa America.
“I’m happy that the weight of the shirt didn’t show on the new players.
“We did some good things in the first half, we had the clearest chances. We always want to win but the important thing was the function of the team, which at times was good.
“We wanted to give some minutes to the younger players. With the game going on, they usually get substituted much quieter. That was the idea.
“The match was locked and at times, too much. But when it gets like that, you have to play and not give in.
“Some things will chance for the next game. We will surely make two or three changes because we want to continue watching players and also because fatigue does take its toll.
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Argentina and Tottenham midfielder Giovani Lo Celso spoke about the team’s performance following the 0-0 draw vs. Chile.
Giovani Lo Celso, who is lucky to have escaped a serious injury following a bad tackle, thought that Argentina deserved a bit more from the match. Speaking after the game, here’s what he had to say:
“We deserved a bit more. We had a lot of chances to convert but it wasn’t to be. Mine was just a hit, nothing to worry about.
“We had a good game, generally speaking. The first half was where we had the most chances. We created some good opportunities with a lot of people in attack.
“I’d like to congratulate the team for their effort against a tough opponent, we were up to their level.”
Argentina drew 0-0 against Chile in their friendly game in Los Angeles.
A match with much less significance than their previous encounter in July at the Copa America, Lionel Scaloni put out a very experimental side as the two teams played to a stalemate.
Lionel Scaloni’s team may have created the most chances with the first real opportunity falling to Paulo Dybala. The Juventus player received the ball as he passed it to Gio Lo Celso. The Tottenham man played in Lautaro Martinez who pulled it back to Dybala but his effort on goal was saved by goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
Gio Lo Celso had the second chance of the night. A lovely ball crossed it fell to Lo Celso but his volley was also saved by the Chile goalkeeper.
Goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin had a save in the first half for Argentina. Charles Aranguiz’s shot was parried away by Marchesin.
In the second half, Gio Lo Celso was lucky not to be severely injured. Charles Aranguiz escaped what was a red card challenge following a stomp on Lo Celso.
The second half saw Chile get an opportunity. The chance fell to Cesar Pinares but his shot hit the crossbar.
Scaloni’s team will play Mexico on Tuesday in their second friendly game of September.
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Marcos Rojo has stated that he is willing to leave Manchester United if he doesn’t get playing time to get selected for Argentina.
The Argentina and Manchester United defender has come out and stated his intentions on wanting to play for the national team. Speaking with TyC Sports, Rojo commented on his situation with his club as well as Lionel Messi’s comments from the Copa America.
“Scaloni told me that he was happy because I played during pre-season, he saw me doing well and that’s why I was called-up but I have to play. I know that to be in the Argentina national team, you have to continue to play for your club and when you play, you have to do well.
“It costs to leave a club so big but I think of my career and of wanting to be in the Argentina national team. I’ll continue to fight until January and if I’m not picked, I will try to leave (Manchester United) because the World Cup qualifiers are coming as well as the Copa America and I don’t want to watch that again from home.”
Rojo defended Lionel Messi in regards to the comments he made at the Copa America.
“Messi dropped some big bombs. I know that he gets hot about it because he would always show it in the matches but he never let it show. He’s good as a leader, be it on or off the pitch, he showed it.”
