Some news that will surely concern Argentina coach Jorge SAMPAOLI as Gabriel MERCADO has suffered an injury.
During Sevilla’s match against Real Betis on Saturday, defender Gabriel MERCADO left the match due to a muscle problem in his back. Sevilla have announced that the Argentina international will undergo tests to determine the severity of the injury.
With just 33 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup, it could be a tight race for MERCADO to arrive fit.
Hernan CRESPO has come out and stated that it is possible that Mauro ICARDI is currently not in the Argentina team because ICARDI isn’t friends with Lionel MESSI.
Some big words coming from Argentina legend Hernan CRESPO in regards to Inter captain and number 9 Mauro ICARDI. Speaking with La Gazzetta dello Sport, CRESPO had this to say:
“If I were Inter, I’d never, ever sell ICARDI. What sign would it give to the fans if their most representative, most talented player, the captain of the team, was sold? I don’t know of teams who reinforce by selling their best player. If anything, it’s important to build on the top player, finding a group that can support him and let him perform to his best.
“Inside the penalty area, Icardi has no equal on a global scale. When a cross arrives, he is deadly. If you want to build moves with central passing, then Gonzalo HIGUAIN or Sergio AGUERO are more suited, but if you do like Inter with tons of crosses flung into the box, where are you going to get anyone better than ICARDI?
“He has such quick thinking and then executes it, he is physically like a bull, shoots well with his right or left foot, gets almost everything in the air.
“After Cristiano RONALDO and MESSI, who are on another planet, there are many strikers challenging for the third step on that podium and I put ICARDI in there.
“As far as I can see, it’s because he is no friend of MESSI, or am I wrong? My beloved Seleccion is now built around a magic circle, understand? ICARDI is not in that circle and therefore, unfortunately, won’t go to the World Cup in Russia.
“I believe this is a terrible mistake. Argentina really need a striker like him.”
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 33 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup and in 33rd place we have Gonzalo HIGUAIN scoring in the 33rd minute against Mexico at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
It was a repeat of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match as Argentina were once more pitted against Mexico in the secound round of football’s most prestigious tournament. This one however did not need a Maxi RODRIGUEZ goal in extra time.
Instead, we were treated to a 3-1 Argentina win, two very different goals by Carlos TEVEZ and sandwiched in between them is Gonzalo HIGUAIN dribbling around the goalkeeper to score.
Carlos TEVEZ opened the scoring in minute number 26 after MESSI sent in a side footed pass and TEVEZ (who has to be said, was standing offside) headed the ball in from close range. Despite the Mexican players protesting to the officials, there was no controversy on the second goal.
Gonzalo HIGUAIN received a gift from the opposition (not unlike the one he received in the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup), the big difference being that HIGUAIN kept his composure, held off his marker, dribbled around the goalkeeper and scored.
The third goal was an absolute rocket of a shot by TEVEZ. A screamer from outside the area made it 3-0 for Argentina to seal their qualification into the quarter finals.
Here was Argentina’s starting XI for the match:
22. Sergio ROMERO
2. Martin DEMICHELIS
4. Nicolas BURDISSO
6. Gabriel HEINZE
7. Angel DI MARIA
9. Gonzalo HIGUAIN
10. Lionel MESSI
11. Carlos TEVEZ
14. Javier MASCHERANO
15. Nicolas OTAMENDI
20. Maxi RODRIGUEZ
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.
The Icelandic national team have announced the list of 23 players that will travel to Russia for the World Cup. The Strákarnir Okkar otherwise known as the “Our Boys” in English will make their debut against Argentina on the 16th of June at the Otkritie Arena in Moscow.
Los 23 de #Islandia, el primer rival de la #SeleccionArgentina el 16/6, para el #Mundial2018 pic.twitter.com/4qf0MqBaf0
— Hernán Claus (@hernanclaus) May 11, 2018
In addition to 23 players, 12 other players have also been selected as the reserve and will be on standby.
By the way, the Football Association of Iceland has also produced this interesting video to announced the squad for Russia on their YouTube channel. Do have a look at it.
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 34 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup and in 34th place we have Diego MARADONA scoring his 34th goal for Argentina vs. Greece at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
When the Argentina National Team took to the pitch on June 21, 1994 against Greece, it was a memorable day for a two different reasons. The first being that Gabriel BATISTUTA scored his first career World Cup hattrick against Greece in a 4-0 win. The second is that it also marked Diego MARADONA’s last ever goal for his country (his 34th in total).
The first goal coming off a great run by Gabriel BATISTUTA who slid the ball underneath the goalkeeper. The second was a downright deadly strike by BATISTUTA. Edge of the area turn and a powerful strike by Batigol. A lovely build up from MARADONA, SIMEONE, REDONDO (those are some names right there), CHAMOT who passed it to Bati and well, the strike was never in doubt.
Diego MARADONA’s last goal (which was Argentina’s third of the match) was one which cannot be put into words. It’s one of those goals you have to watch to understand. To comprehend the passing, the movement, the touches on the ball and the finish by MARADONA.
Gabriel BATISTUTA finished it all off with a typical Bati penalty. That is to say unstoppable.
Here was Argentina’s starting XI for the match:
12. Luis ISLAS
3. Jose CHAMOT
4. Roberto SENSINI
5. Fernando REDONDO
6. Oscar RUGGERI
7. Claudio CANIGGIA
9. Gabriel BATISTUTA
10. Diego MARADONA
13. Fernando CACERES
14. Diego SIMEONE
19. Abel BALBO
| # | Opponent | Competition | Date | Result |
| 1 | Scotland | Friendly | June 2, 1979 | Final 3-1 Argentina |
| 2 | FIFA World XI | Friendly | June 25, 1979 | Final 2-1 Argentina |
| 3 | Bolivia | 1979 Copa America | August 8, 1979 | Final 3-0 Argentina |
| 4 | Eire/Northern Ireland | Friendly | April 30, 1980 | Final 1-0 Argentina |
| 5 | Austria | Friendly | May 21, 1980 | Final 5-1 Argentina |
| 6 | Austria | Friendly | May 21, 1980 | Final 5-1 Argentina |
| 11 | Brazil | 1980 Mundialito | January 4, 1981 | Final 1-1 Draw |
| 12 | Hungary | 1982 FIFA World Cup | June 18, 1982 | Final 4-1 Argentina |
| 13 | Hungary | 1982 FIFA World Cup | June 18, 1982 | Final 4-1 Argentina |
| 14 | Paraguay | Friendly | May 9, 1985 | Final 1-1 Draw |
| 15 | Chile | Friendly | May 14, 1985 | Final 2-0 Argentina |
| 16 | Venezuela | 1986 World Cup Qualifiers | May 26, 1985 | Final 3-2 Argentina |
| 17 | Venezuela | 1986 World Cup Qualifiers | May 26, 1985 | Final 3-2 Argentina |
| 18 | Venezuela | 1986 World Cup Qualifiers | May 26, 1985 | Final 3-2 Argentina |
| 19 | Mexico | Friendly | November 14, 1985 | Final 1-1 Draw |
| 20 | Israel | Friendly | May 4, 1986 | Final 7-2 Argentina |
| 21 | Israel | Friendly | May 4, 1986 | Final 7-2 Argentina |
| 22 | Italy | 1986 FIFA World Cup | June 5, 1986 | Final 1-1 Draw |
| 23 | England | 1986 FIFA World Cup | June 22, 1986 | Final 2-1 Argentina |
| 24 | England | 1986 FIFA World Cup | June 22, 1986 | Final 2-1 Argentina |
| 25 | Belgium | 1986 FIFA World Cup | June 25, 1986 | Final 2-0 Argentina |
| 26 | Belgium | 1986 FIFA World Cup | June 25, 1986 | Final 2-0 Argentina |
| 27 | Italy | Friendly | June 10, 1987 | Final 3-1 Italy |
| 28 | Peru | 1987 Copa America | June 27, 1987 | Final 1-1 Draw |
| 29 | Ecuador | 1987 Copa America | July 2, 1987 | Final 3-0 Argentina |
| 30 | Ecuador | 1987 Copa America | July 2, 1987 | Final 3-0 Argentina |
| 31 | USSR | Four Nations Tournament | March 31, 1988 | Final 4-2 USSR |
| 32 | Israel | Friendly | May 22, 1990 | Final 2-1 Argentina |
| 33 | Morocco | Friendly | April 20, 1994 | Final 3-1 Argentina |
| 34 | Greece | 1994 FIFA World Cup | June 21, 1994 | Final 4-0 Argentinaa |
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.
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