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World Cup countdown: 50 days, Argentina moment number 20, Rene HOUSEMAN

As part of the 50 days, 50 Argentina World Cup moments, we will be counting down the top 50 Argentina moments at a World Cup using the daily number.

We are just 20 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup and in 20th place we have Rene HOUSEMAN scoring in the 20th minute at the 1974 FIFA World Cup versus East Germany.

It was Argentina’s third match in the second group stages of the 1974 FIFA World Cup and the finalists of the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930 were up against East Germany. The team had already gone through a 4-0 thrashing against the hands of the Netherlands where the Dutch put on a football clinic.

Following the 4-0 loss game a 2-1 defeat to Brazil and the Albiceleste were up against it versus the Germans. Joachim STREICH had put the Germans ahead in the 14th minute but HOUSEMAN quickly pulled one back just six minutes later. However, coach VLADISLAO CAP’s team was eliminated after having picked up only one point in the second round.

Here was Argentina’s starting XI for the match:
12. Ubaldo FILLOL
2. Ruben AYALA
3. Carlos BABINGTON
5. Angel BARGAS
6. Miguel BRINDISI
7. Jorge CARRASCOSA
10. Ramon HEREDIA
13. Mario KEMPES
18. Roberto TELCH
20. Enrique WOLFF

If you missed it, here are our 50 World Cup moments:
50: Sergio ROMERO gets 50th cap vs. Switzerland at 2014 FIFA World Cup.
49: Roberto AYALA scores in the 49th minute vs. Germany at 2006 FIFA World Cup.
48: Angel DI MARIA’s 48th cap for Argentina vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina at 2014 FIFA World Cup.
47: Mario KEMPES scores Argentina’s 47th goal all time at the 1978 FIFA World Cup vs. Peru.
46: Jorge VALDANO scores in the 46th minute at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
45: Javier ZANETTI scores in the 45th minute vs. England at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
44: Gabriel BATISTUTA scores goal number 44 in his Argentina career at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
43: Gonzalo HIGUAIN receives cap number 43 for Argentina vs. Germany in the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
42: Pedro PASCULLI scores in the 42nd minute for Argentina vs. Uruguay at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
41: Maxi RODRÍGUEZ scores in the 41st minute for Argentina vs. Serbia & Montenegro at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
40: Roberto AYALA plays in his 40th match for Argentina vs. Jamaica at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
39: Pablo ZABALETA plays in his 39th match for Argentina vs. Nigeria at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
38: Javier SAVIOLA scores in the 38th minute for Argentina vs. Ivory Coast at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
37: Maxi RODRIGUEZ plays in his 37th match for Argentina vs. South Korea at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
36: Mauricio PINEDA scores in the 36th minute for Argentina vs. Croatia at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
35: Ezequiel LAVEZZI plays in his 35th match for Argentina vs. Netherlands at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
34: Diego MARADONA scores his 34th goal for Argentina vs. Greece at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
33: Gonzalo HIGUAIN scores in the 33rd minute for Argentina vs. Mexico at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
32: Hernan CRESPO scores his 32nd goal for Argentina vs. Mexico at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
31: Diego MARADONA scoring in Argentina’s 31st FIFA World Cup match vs. Hungary.
30: Argentina loses opening match of 1982 FIFA World Cup vs. Belgium.
29: Argentina are knocked out of the 1982 FIFA World Cup after playing their 29th ever group stage match.
28: Claudio CANIGGIA scores in the 28th minute for Argentina vs. Nigeria at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
27: Pedro TROGLIO scores in the 27th minute for Argentina vs. the Soviet Union at the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
26: Diego MARADONA scores his 26th goal for Argentina vs. Belgium at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
25: Sergio AGUERO plays in his 25th match for Argentina vs. Germany at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
24: Diego MARADONA scores his 24th goal for Argentina vs. England at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
23: Ezequiel GARAY plays in his 23rd match for Argentina vs. Belgium at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
22: Argentina defeat Greece 2-0 on June 22 at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
21: Lucas BIGLIA plays in his 21st match for Argentina vs. Iran at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Jorge SAMPAOLI tries out an Argentina line-up in training

Argentina National Team coach Jorge SAMPAOLI put out ten players in training with Lionel MESSI, Sergio AGUERO and Cristian PAVON playing up front.

Franco ARMANI has now joined the Argentina National Team and coach Jorge SAMPAOLI has everyone at his disposal bar Maxi MEZA of Independiente who will join up with the team following his club match later tonight. With nearly everyone at his disposal, the coach tried this 4-3-3 in training:

TAGLIAFICO, ROJO, OTAMENDI, ANSALDI; LANZINI, BIGLIA, LO CELSO; MESSI, PAVON; AGUERO

He then made a few changes with Eduardo SALVIO coming in for Cristian ANSALDI, Marcos ACUNA for Nicolas TAGLIAFICO, Javier MASCHERANO for Lucas BIGLIA and Paulo DYBALA for Sergio AGUERO.

The starting goalkeeper is still not confirmed.

 

Gabriel MERCADO’s injury still a concern for Argentina

Per a report by TyC Sports, the fitness of Gabriel MERCADO remains an issue for Jorge SAMPAOLI and Argentina.

With Sergio ROMERO leaving the Argentina team and not participating in the World Cup due to a knee injury, it appears as though coach Jorge SAMPAOLI does not want to take any risks regarding player who are unfit. The concern at the moment is Gabriel MERCADO’s back injury.

Since joining up with the team, MERCADO has yet to train normally with the rest of the squad. The coaching staff are expecting to have him ready by next Friday (June 1) and if not, don’t rule out another chance in the final list of 23 for the World Cup. The final list of 23 has to be submitted to FIFA by June 4, which would leave the staff three days following next Friday to make any changes.

In the cases of Sergio AGÜERO and Lucas BIGLIA, there doesn’t appear to be any problems.

World Cup countdown: 50 days, Argentina moment number 21, Lucas BIGLIA

As part of the 50 days, 50 Argentina World Cup moments, we will be counting down the top 50 Argentina moments at a World Cup using the daily number.

We are just 21 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup and in 21st place we have Lucas BIGLIA playing in his 21st match for Argentina vs. Iran at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Lucas BIGLIA earned his 21st cap for Argentina on June 21st in a 1-0 match by a goal scored by Lionel MESSI in the 91st minute. A nerve wracking match for Alejandro SABELLA’s men who had started off their 2014 campaign with a 2-1 win against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The team was looking to build on that victory against Iran in a match many thought would see the Albiceleste score many goals. It was anything but that. Iran had several chances themselves and had it not been for goalkeeper Sergio ROMERO, the final score would have been very different.

Finally, Lionel MESSI received the ball outside of the area, wrapped his left foot around it and curled it into the corner of the net. It was pure poetry from MESSI. Iran hearts were completely broken through a moment of absolute genius by Argentina’s captain.

Lucas BIGLIA was actually standing behind the goal when MESSI struck the ball and he can be seen huggging MESSI and celebrating with the rest of the team. He came on as a substitute shortly after the goal.

Here was Argentina’s starting XI for the match:

1. Sergio ROMERO
2. Ezequiel GARAY
4. Pablo ZABALETA
5. Fernando GAGO
7. Angel DI MARIA
9. Gonzalo HIGUAIN
10. Lionel MESSI
14. Javier MASCHERANO
16. Marcos ROJO
17. Federico FERNANDEZ
20. Sergio AGUERO

If you missed it, here are our 50 World Cup moments:
50: Sergio ROMERO gets 50th cap vs. Switzerland at 2014 FIFA World Cup.
49: Roberto AYALA scores in the 49th minute vs. Germany at 2006 FIFA World Cup.
48: Angel DI MARIA’s 48th cap for Argentina vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina at 2014 FIFA World Cup.
47: Mario KEMPES scores Argentina’s 47th goal all time at the 1978 FIFA World Cup vs. Peru.
46: Jorge VALDANO scores in the 46th minute at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
45: Javier ZANETTI scores in the 45th minute vs. England at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
44: Gabriel BATISTUTA scores goal number 44 in his Argentina career at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
43: Gonzalo HIGUAIN receives cap number 43 for Argentina vs. Germany in the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
42: Pedro PASCULLI scores in the 42nd minute for Argentina vs. Uruguay at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
41: Maxi RODRÍGUEZ scores in the 41st minute for Argentina vs. Serbia & Montenegro at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
40: Roberto AYALA plays in his 40th match for Argentina vs. Jamaica at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
39: Pablo ZABALETA plays in his 39th match for Argentina vs. Nigeria at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
38: Javier SAVIOLA scores in the 38th minute for Argentina vs. Ivory Coast at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
37: Maxi RODRIGUEZ plays in his 37th match for Argentina vs. South Korea at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
36: Mauricio PINEDA scores in the 36th minute for Argentina vs. Croatia at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
35: Ezequiel LAVEZZI plays in his 35th match for Argentina vs. Netherlands at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
34: Diego MARADONA scores his 34th goal for Argentina vs. Greece at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
33: Gonzalo HIGUAIN scores in the 33rd minute for Argentina vs. Mexico at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
32: Hernan CRESPO scores his 32nd goal for Argentina vs. Mexico at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
31: Diego MARADONA scoring in Argentina’s 31st FIFA World Cup match vs. Hungary.
30: Argentina loses opening match of 1982 FIFA World Cup vs. Belgium.
29: Argentina are knocked out of the 1982 FIFA World Cup after playing their 29th ever group stage match.
28: Claudio CANIGGIA scores in the 28th minute for Argentina vs. Nigeria at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
27: Pedro TROGLIO scores in the 27th minute for Argentina vs. the Soviet Union at the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
26: Diego MARADONA scores his 26th goal for Argentina vs. Belgium at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
25: Sergio AGUERO plays in his 25th match for Argentina vs. Germany at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
24: Diego MARADONA scores his 24th goal for Argentina vs. England at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
23: Ezequiel GARAY plays in his 23rd match for Argentina vs. Belgium at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
22: Argentina defeat Greece 2-0 on June 22 at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Javier MASCHERANO: “A World Cup is not simple”

Argentina talisman Javier MASCHERANO spoke at a press conference on Wednesday.

The assistant captain of the team spoke about his role in the team, the World Cup and much more. Here’s what he had to say:

“ROMERO’s injury is very sensitive, not only on a footballing level but on a human level. He’s been our starting goalkeeper for the past 10 years. These are things in football which could happen. We have to wish GUZMAN the best and move forward.

“We have suffered but there’s optimism from the day the coach took over that he has the trust of the 23 players. Many times football is capricious and incomprehensible. We are aware that a World Cup is not simple but we have to go and compete.

“It’s clear that for me, this is my last chance. Hopefully we can be at the top. The most important thing is to show that Argentina is competitive. I never would have imagined the career I’ve had with Argentina. I know what I can bring and I know what I am missing. My only concern in the past 15 years has been to be at the top.

“We can’t be guided by thoughts that are coming from the outside. We know that there are things we have to improve but that doesn’t have to play against us. With the National Team, you have to constantly go through a test. I’m going to do my best and the coach will decide.

“It’s clear that Argentina have often been in unfavorable conditions against top opponents but it’s been able to bring us forward. It’s a competitive gene which the team has.

“Argentina is always competitive. The Argentine player always has something extra and it’s for that reason he is wanted by many (teams) around the world. The preparation has started early in order to reach the World Cup in the best way possible.

“Everyone who comes to help us is welcome. Pablo (AIMAR) can not only be important for us in the tactical department but also on the human side. It’s essential to build a good group with a good atmosphere. The coach is going to need all 23 players, not just the 11 (starters).

“I’m a soldier. I’m available for when the coach needs me. That’s my role today. I’ve competed my entire life and my job is to make the coach’s job as difficult as possible.

“Argentina’s idea will be to play through possession, to have a structure and to avoid transitions. That’s what 80% of the teams do to hurt you.”

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