Cristian PAVON is in Argentina’s starting eleven.
Argentina coach Jorge SAMPAOLI has decided to start Cristian PAVON up front with Lionel MESSI and Angel DI MARIA. Aside from that, it’s an unchaged eleven from the team which defeated Nigeria. Here’s Argentina’s starting line-up:
ARMANI; TAGLIAFICO, ROJO, OTAMENDI, MERCADO; BANEGA, MASCHERANO, Enzo PEREZ; DI MARIA, MESSI, PAVON
No Gonzalo HIGUAIN or Sergio AGUERO as SAMPAOLI has decided to go with the winger.
Argentina coach Jorge SAMPAOLI as well as Ever BANEGA held a press conference on Friday ahead of the Round of 16 match.
It was the birthday boy Ever BANEGA who today turns 30 and coach Jorge SAMPAOLI who represented the team at the press conference. SAMPAOLI spoke about the line-up, Lionel MESSI, the team and more. Here’s what he had to say:
“I haven’t confirmed the starting line-up to the players. We are very confident in our capabilities and the preparation we’ve had. It’s a team that will play the match with a lot of heart.
“We train different things for the match. I told MESSI that we were going to use a plan which we had already trained, a more offensive one. We are in the process of imposing an Argentinean style of play.
“If we defend without the ball, the capabilities of our players will be less than the rival. We will try to dominate the match by having possession of the ball.”
The coach also spoke about France who will want to neutralize Lionel MESSI.
“France has a plan to neutralize Leo (MESSI) and we have a plan to better that. They will try to live off our lack of precision during the game. They will try to force errors.
“France’s great strength is the speed in which they transition. Defensively, they are very solid when they recover the ball and attack quickly. After that, they get a lot of goals within three or four touches.”
Jorge SAMPAOLI praised MESSI and stated that we will see a fighting Argentina as he used a phrase made famous by Diego SIMEONE.
“We have to be at his (Lionel MESSI’s) level at all times. MESSI sees things that only a genius can see.
“Argentina will play with a knife in between their teeth. I dream of seeing an Argentina with a lot of passion but above all with a lot of football. In this group, the feeling for the shirt is very strong. That makes this team very dangerous for anyone.”
And finally, SAMPAOLI spoke about himself:
“The analysis of the match will have to do with the results. I’ll be an excelent coach if we win and if we lose, I’ll be a very bad one. I’ve come to a place I wanted to come. I am very happy to be here and fight every day.”
Birthday boy Ever BANEGA had this to say in regards to his assist to Lionel MESSI’s goal against Nigeria:
“With respect to the pass to MESSI’s goal, all I had to do was raise my head to cross the ball. He did all the rest. It’s always a pleasure to play next to Leo MESSI. We know how he is as a player.”
As for the team, BANEGA hopes the team can get better:
“Hopefully we can continue to get better. I always try and bring my best. I’ve played a lot of years in Europe and I’ve gained a lot of experience. It was difficult for us but luckily we were able to win.”
Here’s Ever BANEGA’s assist to Lionel MESSI’s goal from a different angle.
This is just beautiful. Pure art.pic.twitter.com/NG1MlyFZOC
— Rohan (@Rohandinho_) June 29, 2018
With the knockout stages starting, the Argentina team have started practicing penalty kicks.
The Argentina National Team have went to penalty kicks at least once in each of their last four tournaments. A loss against Uruguay at the 2011 Copa America, a win against the Netherlands at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, a win against Colombia and a loss to Chile at the 2015 Copa America and a loss to Chile at the 2016 Copa America.
A big change for the team is that Sergio ROMERO, a penalty kick expert would not be the goalkeeper but instead Franco ARMANI (unless Jorge SAMPAOLI decides to change that). At the end of the training session on Friday, the team practiced kicks. Here’s a video courtesy of TyC Sports.
The Argentina team trained for the last time ahead of their Round of 16 clash against France on Saturday.
Argentina coach Jorge SAMPAOLI reportedly trained with 12 players on Friday and not just 11 for the match. It was a repeat 11 of the one’s who started against Nigeria but the 12th player was Cristian PAVON. There are increasing reports that PAVON could start on that right side with MESSI as the false nine.
Here’s the twelve which were used in training:
ARMANI; TAGLIAFICO, ROJO, OTAMENDI, MERCADO; BANEGA, MASCHERANO, Enzo PEREZ; PAVON or HIGUAIN, MESSI, DI MARIA
Enzo PEREZ has fully recovered from his muscular fatigue.
Giovani LO CELSO and Federico FAZIO spoke at a press conference on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s match.
The two players have yet to take part in a single minute at the 2018 FIFA World Cup but are there to help the team. LO CELSO, who plays in France, had this to say about the match:
“I try to contribute from my end where ever I play. Obviously I want to play, just like any other player but I try to add to the team day by day.
“We know we are up against a big rival. They have very good players, they were undefeated in the group stages. But we have our guys and I believe it’ll be a big match.
“In the group stages, we played different types of teams. France, with the space and speed that they have, can create something big but we are a respectED national team. We will have to take the necessary precautions and take advantage of what we have. Now, every match is a final.”
Federico FAZIO stated that winning is important and just as much as having a winning mentality.
“The winning mentality is important in any aspect and what you have to do is continue with that mentality, become used to winning and go in as if every match was the last.
“We are a very united team both on and off the pitch. We knew that the win would come by working the way we worked.”
When asked if Argentina are now favorites to lift the trophy, FAZIO had this to say:
“We don’t think about that, we think about getting as close as possible. We have to think about the next match, to work in the best way possible to get to the quarter finals and think only about what’s coming, which is what makes us get closer and what makes us grow as a team.”
Neither of the two men feature in the rumored eleven which we posted earlier for Saturday’s game.
Support the site, win prizes, and be part of the Albiceleste family!
