Home Blog Page 1204

Argentina train for last time ahead of Round of 16 clash, Cristian PAVON or Gonzalo HIGUAIN

27

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 Argentina press conference

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.

Cristian PAVON or Gonzalo HIGUAIN to start for Argentina in Round of 16

83

An Argentina rumored line-up is already out and it appears as though up front, it’ll be between Cristian PAVON or Gonzalo HIGUAIN.

Argentina coach Jorge SAMPAOLI held a training session on Thursday and only Enzo PEREZ trained different due to a muscular problem. According to TyC Sports, SAMPAOLI could put out the same eleven against France which started against Nigeria with the exception being Cristian PAVON.

Per the report, there’s a small chance that PAVON would come in for Gonzalo HIGUAIN with Lionel MESSI playing the false number 9 role. Here’s the rumored eleven:

ARMANI, TAGLIAFICO, ROJO, OTAMENDI, MERCADO; DI MARIA, BANEGA, MASCHERANO, Enzo; PAVON or HIGUAIN, MESSI

Argentina players on yellow cards at the FIFA World Cup

With Argentina having qualified for the Round of 16, all eyes have turned on the next match and the players who are on yellow cards.

While not looking too far ahead, no match at the FIFA World Cup is a guarantee. But should Argentina find themselves in the quarter finals, there are six players who were cautioned in the group stage and if they receive a second yellow, would miss the potential quarter final match agaisnt either Uruguay or Portugal.

Nicolas OTAMENDI, Gabriel MERCADO, Marcos ACUNA, Ever BANEGA, Javier MASCHERANO and Lionel MESSI are all on yellow cards. The first three having been cautioned against Croatia and the latter three against Nigeria.

All yellow cards are erased as of the quarter finals meaning a yellow in the Round of 16 for any one of those players and they would miss the quarter finals should Argentina progress.

Argentina press conference as Lionel MESSI, ROJO, SAMPAOLI all talk

In what was a memorable match, the two Argentina goalscorers on the day Lionel MESSI and Marcos ROJO as well as coach Jorge SAMPAOLI gave their thoughts on the match and the World Cup.

The hero of the hour Marcos ROJO was up first. Here’s what he had to say:

“After the match against Croatia, we were more united than ever. This goal is for my family and for this group that deserves it. Vamos Argentina!”

Lionel MESSI stated that he was confident they would win and went on to thank the fans.

“We were confident that we would win this match. It’s marvelous to win this way. It’s deserved joy. I knew that God was with us and he wouldn’t leave us out.

“I thank everyone who is out here for all of the sacrifices they’ve made, and also those back in Argentina who have always supported us. This shirt comes before everything else.

“It was a very even match, where we controlled the ball in the first half. After the penalty, we played faster, more nervous, looking for the goal that would take us to the second round. Luckily, we found it.

“It was a very big mess for us all because we had just gone through some complicated days because of the previous matches. Thankfully we’re still on target.”

Coach Jorge SAMPAOLI spoke about how the match against France will be difficult and just like MESSI, thanked the fans who made the trip.

“These players played with heart and with a lot of rebellion. This will strengthen us for the future. With MESSI, we share a dream of doing something important in Russia.

“I thank everyone because they have made us feel like we were in Argentina. It made us very happy, on the pitch and like yesterday at the hotel. The regularity and consistency that the team had will allow us to play our next final. We’re going to play against a team that are candidates (to win the World Cup), it will be a very demanding match.

“We will play against a team that has a lot of great players individually. We will work on the collective part so that MESSI can have a great match like he did today.”

Become a Mundo Albiceleste Member

Support the site, win prizes, and be part of the Albiceleste family!

$2.99 / month or save 16% with $29.99 / year

  • Participate to win a different retro Argentina shirt every month!
  • Play weekly trivia to win a 2022 World Cup ball signed by Julián Álvarez, among other prizes!
  • Write opinion pieces for the site
Subscribe Now