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An injury for Gonzalo HIGUAIN forces him off

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February 18, 2018

An injury for Gonzalo HIGUAIN forces him off

An injury for Gonzalo HIGUAIN has forced him off for Juventus.

A big scare for the current Serie A champions as Gonzalo HIGUAIN limped off early with a suspected ankle injury. It’s getting to the point in the European club season where the matches and coming thick and fast and players’ fitness levels become a concern. For Juventus, their number 9 has gotten hit.

HIGUAIN was substituted off in the 15th minute in the Turin derby. The extent of the injury remains unknown. However, with the Old Lady having just come off a 2-2 draw in the Champions League against Tottenham and the Argentina National Team playing next month, the blow for HIGUAIN is a big one.

This is Gonzalo Higuain’s injury. pic.twitter.com/jHI2rBTBcW

— COYSWeb (@COYSWeb) February 18, 2018

Jorge SAMPAOLI has strongly been rumored to call Pipita up to the team for the matches against Spain and Italy in March. It would mark the first time HIGUAIN has been in the Argentina squad since the June friendly matches against Brazil and Singapore.

Regarding Argentina, a regular under Jorge SAMPAOLI’s reign, Eduardo SALVIO was recently operated on. While the severity of HIGUAIN’s injury remains unknown, we hope he won’t require surgery.

Willy CABALLERO or Franco ARMANI to Argentina squad

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Roy Nemer

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February 16, 2018

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Willy CABALLERO or Franco ARMANI to Argentina squad

One of Willy CABALLERO or Franco ARMANI is expected to make the Argentina squad for next month’s matches.

The third place goalkeeping position is still up for grabs, with Argentina coach Jorge SAMPAOLI still undecided between Chelsea man Willy CABALLERO and River Plate’s Franco ARMANI, according to TyC Sports. One of the two will make the squad for the matches against Italy and Spain next month.

Willy CABALLERO

In Willy CABALLERO’s case, he has never been capped for the Argentina National Team. Although the former Manchester City goalkeeper did win an U20 World Cup with his country back in 2001 with that legendary squad. He was in excellent form heading into the 2014 World Cup and was knocking on the door of the National Team but then coach Alejandro SABELLA opted to go with a trio of Sergio ROMERO, Agustin ORION and Mariano ANDUJAR in Brazil.

Franco ARMANI

For Franco ARMANI, he’s a Copa Libertadores winner having won it back in 2016 and also has a Recopa Sudamericana medal from 2017 hanging in his cabinet. Agustin MARCHESIN and Geronimo RULLI’s spots in the Argentina National Team just got that much more difficult to maintain.

If you missed int, former Banfield player and Itay capped Ezequiel SCHELOTTO could receive a call-up to the Argentina squad as well for next month.

Oscar USTARI: “We have the best in the world”

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Roy Nemer

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February 15, 2018

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Oscar USTARI: “We have the best in the world”

Argentina international Oscar USTARI gave his thoughts on Lionel MESSI, Argentina and more.

The 2008 Olympic gold medalist with Argentina gave an interview with La Oral Deportiva. USTARI was one of the brightest prospects and one which was touted as the future long term goalkeeper of the Argentina National Team. Here’s what he had to say:

“We have the best in the world, you always have to give Argentina a chance. MESSI was always very noble with me. My son asks me for a photo with MESSI every day. Those of us who had the luck of playing with MESSI are priviledged. At first, MESSI was a little rebellious, he would get angry if things wouldn’t go on as planned.”

“It’s the last World Cup for a lot of these guys. The goalkeeping (position) is well covered. It’s not a coincidence that ROMERO‘s been there for a while now.”

“I don’t know SAMPAOLI but I wish him the best. We all wish that things go well for Argentina because we need it. People have to be a little more patient because there are things that they don’t know about and that take time.”

USTARI was part of the 23 man squad which Jose PEKERMAN picked for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. A young goalkeeper at the time, USTARI was the starting goalkeeper for his country at the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing however an injury during the tournament forced him out with Sergio ROMERO ultimately playing the last few matches when the team won gold.

Now 31 and at Atlas, USTARI represented his country twice at senior level with both matches ending in losses. The first was a 2-1 friendly match loss to Norway in 2007 shortly after the Copa America and the second against Brazil in 2012 in a match which consisted only of domestic based players.

Ezequiel SCHELOTTO could receive Argentina call-up

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Roy Nemer

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February 14, 2018

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Ezequiel SCHELOTTO could receive Argentina call-up

Ezequiel SCHELOTTO could be called-up to the Argentina National Team.

Currently with Brighton & Hove Albion, the Italy international full-back has a chance of being called-up to the Argentina National Team, according to a report by TyC Sports. Despite being capped for the Italians, SCHELOTTO is still eligible to play for the country of his birth.

According to the report, Argentina coach Jorge SAMPAOLI is looking at SCHELOTTO as an alternative to Gabriel MERCADO in the right back position. With West Ham’s Pablo ZABALETA no longer in the international picture for Argentina, MERCADO has since taken over that position. But the Premier League player has a chance of making the Argentina squad for next month’s friendly matches against Spain and ironically enough, Italy.

Ezequiel SCHELOTTO capped for Italy

SCHELOTTO’s sole cap for the Italian National Team came in 2012 in a friendly match against England. Under FIFA guidelines and rules, if a player does not represent a country in an official match (official FIFA tournament or World Cup qualifier), the player is still eligible to represent another country (should he hold citizenship). With SCHELOTTO’s only match for the Italy coming in a friendly, he could still represent Argentina.

It wouldn’t be the first time (and with Argentina’s history, likely not the last) that a winger would play in full-back with Diego MARADONA slotting former Newcastle United man Jonas GUTIERREZ in that position at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The twist in all of this (should it somehow happen) is that SCHELOTTO could perceivably receive his first Argentina cap against Italy.

Champions League Review 1: HIGUAIN, AGUERO score

Roy Nemer

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February 14, 2018

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Champions League Review 1: HIGUAIN, AGUERO score

In this week’s Champions League review 1, it’s Gonzalo HIGUAIN with a rollercoaster night while Sergio AGUERO was all smiles.

Two goals by Gonzalo HIGUAIN for Juventus were enough to get them a 2-2 draw against Tottenham. It took Juventus only two minutes for them to take the lead. The second coming shortly after in the 9th minute. HIGUAIN’s first goal was very reminiscent of the one he scored for Argentina against Belgium at the 2014 FIFA World Cup where the team won 1-0 to advance to the quarter finals.

Pipita spun his body around and left the goalkeeper for dead with no time to react as he the ball went into the back of the net. The second goal was a penalty kick as HIGUAIN put one past Hugo LLORIS to double the lead.

With Harry KANE scoring to make it 2-1, Juventus were awarded a second penalty kick right at half time and once more it was the number 9 who stepped up to take it. Not the best of kicks, HIGUAIN sent the ball right down the middle but this time it didn’t go in.

The second half saw POCHETTINO’s men stepping up and drawing level as the match ended 2-2 with the second leg left to play at Wembley.

In Switzerland, Manchester City ran riot in a 4-0 win away to FC Basel. Three of the goals coming in the first half, AGUERO fired one from outside the area in the 23rd minute to make it 3-0 for Pep GUARDIOLA’s men. German GUNDOGAN added the fourth in the second half.

Sergio AGUERO came off a four goal performance from the weekend against Leicester City and now added one against Basel to bring his tally up to five goals for the week.

In Madrid, Giovani LO CELSO was the sole Argentinian who not only started but represented the Ligue 1 champions in their 3-1 loss to Real Madrid. LO CELSO didn’t have the best of matches and received a lot of blame after his foul lead to a Real Madrid penalty. Both Angel DI MARIA and Javier PASTORE remained unused substitutes.

An injury for Gonzalo HIGUAIN forces him off