ICARDI played his first back for the Argentina National Team in four years after starting against Uruguay in a 0-0 draw. He then subsequently went on to play two more matches, a 1-1 draw against Venezuela and in the 3-1 win against Ecuador. He has played a total of four matches for his country, scoring zero goals.
Mauro Icardi: Argentina International Caps – Senior Level
There are reportedly four players fighting for two spots in Argentina’s World Cup squad.
As May 14 (the day where Argentina coach Jorge SAMPAOLI will announce his preliminary list of 35 players) draws nearer and nearer, there are reports that Rodrigo BATTAGLIA, Alejandro GOMEZ, Cristian ANSALDI and Fabricio BUSTOS are all fighting for two positions on the team.
According to TyC Sports, one of Rodrigo BATTAGLIA of Sporting Clube de Portugal and Alejandro GOMEZ of Atalanta are expected to make the preliminary list of 35 players. The other two is between Cristian ANSALDI of Torino and Fabricio BUSTOS of Independiente.
Rodrigo BATTAGLIA has never been called-up to the senior Argentina squad while Alejandro GOMEZ and Fabricio BUSTOS both played for their country under current coach Jorge SAMPAOLI. Cristian ANSALDI was recently called-up to the squad as an emergency replacement to the injury Marcos ACUÑA, although the former Zenit St. Petersburg man didn’t play a single minute.
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 35 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup and in 35th place we have Ezequiel LAVEZZI playing his 35th match for Argentina vs. Netherlands at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
An unforgettable match for every Argentina fan. A World Cup semi-final for the Albiceleste. The first time the team had made the semi-finals since the Diego MARADONA days at the 1990 FIFA World Cup. While the match might not have been the most entertaining, it had the drama of penalty kicks.
Ezequiel LAVEZZI will never forget his 35th match for his country. It ended with him on the substitutes bench, praying, as his team mates were taking part in a penalty shootout. If Javier MASCHERANO was the hero during the 90 minutes (Well, 120 minutes), Sergio ROMERO was the star after that.
Ron VLAAR stepped up first and Sergio ROMERO went to his left and saved. Up first for Argentina was Lionel MESSI. He made no mistake scoring his chance. Arjen ROBBEN went second for the Netherlands and a great shot to ROMERO’s left side went in. Ezequiel GARAY stepped up with a thumping shot and made no mistake. Wesley SNEIJDER went high to Sergio ROMERO’s right but the Argentina number 1 became a national hero saving the shot. Sergio AGUERO’s right footed shot just squeezed in. Dirk KUYT shot which went in meant Maxi RODRIGUEZ had to score his and Argentina were in the final. And he did just that.
The team celebrated, hugs, kisses, tears, shirts waving, chants, everything. Argentina made the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Here was Argentina’s starting XI for the match:
1. Sergio ROMERO
2. Ezequiel GARAY
4. Pablo ZABALETA
6. Lucas BIGLIA
8. Enzo PEREZ
9. Gonzalo HIGUAIN
10. Lionel MESSI
14. Javier MASCHERANO
15. Martin DEMICHELIS
16. Marcos ROJO
22. Ezequiel LAVEZZI
Ezequiel Lavezzi: Argentina International Caps – Senior Level
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Opponent
Competition
Date
Result
1
Chile
Friendly
April 18, 2007
Final 0-0 Draw
2
Norway
Friendly
April 22, 2007
Final 2-1 Norway
3
Scotland
Friendly
November 19, 2008
Final 1-0 Argentina
4
Russia
Friendly
August 12, 2009
Final 3-2 Argentina
5
Paraguay
2010 World Cup Qualifiers
September 9, 2009
Final 1-0 Paraguay
6
Spain
Friendly
November 14, 2009
Final 2-1 Spain
–
Catalonia
Unofficial Friendly
December 22, 2009
Final 4-2 Catalonia
7
Republic of Ireland
Friendly
August 11, 2010
Final 1-0 Argentina
8
Japan
Friendly
October 8, 2010
Final 1-0 Japan
9
Brazil
Friendly
November 17, 2010
Final 1-0 Argentina
10
Portugal
Friendly
February 9, 2011
Final 2-1 Argentina
11
United States
Friendly
March 26, 2011
Final 1-1 Draw
12
Albania
Friendly
June 20, 2011
Final 4-0 Argentina
13
Bolivia
2011 Copa America
July 1, 2011
Final 1-1 Draw
14
Colombia
2011 Copa America
July 6, 2011
Final 0-0 Draw
15
Costa Rica
2011 Copa America
July 11, 2011
Final 3-0 Argentina
16
Bolivia
2014 World Cup Qualifiers
November 11, 2011
Final 1-1 Draw
17
Ecuador
2014 World Cup Qualifiers
June 2, 2012
Final 4-0 Argentina
18
Brazil
Friendly
June 9, 2012
Final 4-3 Argentina
19
Paraguay
2014 World Cup Qualifiers
September 7, 2012
Final 3-1 Argentina
20
Peru
2014 World Cup Qualifiers
September 11, 2012
Final 1-1 Draw
21
Sweden
Friendly
February 6, 2013
Final 3-2 Argentina
22
Venezuela
2014 World Cup Qualifiers
March 22, 2013
Final 3-0 Argentina
23
Colombia
2014 World Cup Qualifiers
June 7, 2013
Final 0-0 Draw
24
Guatemala
Friendly
June 14, 2013
Final 4-0 Argentina
25
Italy
Friendly
August 14, 2013
Final 2-1 Argentina
26
Paraguay
2014 World Cup Qualifiers
September 10, 2013
Final 5-2 Argentina
27
Peru
2014 World Cup Qualifiers
October 11, 2013
Final 3-1 Argentina
28
Ecuador
Friendly
November 15, 2013
Final 0-0 Draw
29
Trinidad and Tobago
Friendly
June 4, 2014
Final 3-0 Argentina
30
Slovenia
Friendly
June 7, 2014
Final 2-0 Argentina
31
Iran
2014 FIFA World Cup
June 21, 2014
Final 1-0 Argentina
32
Nigeria
2014 FIFA World Cup
June 25, 2014
Final 3-2 Argentina
33
Switzerland
2014 FIFA World Cup
July 1, 2014
Final 1-0 Argentina
34
Belgium
2014 FIFA World Cup
July 5, 2014
Final 1-0 Argentina
35
Netherlands
2014 FIFA World Cup
July 9, 2014
Final 0-0 (4-2 P) Argentina
36
Germany
2014 FIFA World Cup
July 13, 2014
Final 1-0 Germany
37
El Salvador
Friendly
March 28, 2015
Final 2-0 Argentina
38
Ecuador
Friendly
March 31, 2015
Final 2-1 Argentina
39
Bolivia
Friendly
June 6, 2015
Final 5-0 Argentina
40
Colombia
2015 Copa America
June 27, 2015
Final 0-0 (5-4 P) Argentina
41
Chile
2015 Copa America
July 4, 2015
Final 0-0 (4-1 P) Chile
42
Bolivia
Friendly
September 4, 2015
Final 7-0 Argentina
43
Mexico
Friendly
September 8, 2015
Final 2-2 Draw
44
Ecuador
2018 World Cup Qualifiers
October 8, 2015
Final 2-0 Ecuador
45
Paraguay
2018 World Cup Qualifiers
October 13, 2015
Final 0-0 Draw
46
Brazil
2018 World Cup Qualifiers
November 13, 2015
Final 1-1 Draw
47
Colombia
2018 World Cup Qualifiers
November 17, 2015
Final 1-0 Argentina
48
Chile
2018 World Cup Qualifiers
March 24, 2016
Final 2-1 Argentina
49
Bolivia
2016 Copa America
June 14, 2016
Final 3-0 Argentina
50
United States
2016 Copa America
June 21, 2016
Final 4-0 Argentina
Here’s the penalty shootouts with the second video showing the reactions of both managers during the penalty kicks.
Another trophy being won by an Argentine (or in this case, two) as Paulo DYBALA and Gonzalo HIGUAIN lifted the Coppa Italia trophy while Lionel MESSI continues to score.
Following another clasico goal against Real Madrid on the weekend, Lionel MESSI added to his highlight reel of sensational goals. This time in a 5-1 win against Villarreal. A lovely one-two with the legendary Andres INIESTA meant that Lionel made it 3-0 for the Liga winners.
Off to Italy, Paulo DYBALA started the match and came off for Gonzalo HIGUAIN in the 83rd minute after putting in a great performance for Juventus in their 4-0 win against AC Milan. Lucas BIGLIA, who sustained an injury last month, was an unused substitute. Here’s a lovely piece of skill by DYBALA which nearly resulted in a goal.
Pablo PEREZ scored the first goal for Boca on their way to winning the Argentine Superliga.
A 2-2 draw against Gimnasia was all Boca needed to seal back to back league titles, with goals coming from Pablo PEREZ and Ramon ABILA. PEREZ scored early in the 12 minute with ABILA netting Boca’s second in the 57th minute.
Emmanuel MAS, Pablo PEREZ (rumored to make Argentina’s preliminary 35 man World Cup squad), Carlos TEVEZ and Cristian PAVON all started for the league champions. PAVON even had a beautiful nutmeg during the match.
