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Alejandro “Papu” GOMEZ: “It’s an ugly feeling, not going to the World Cup”

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Alejandro GOMEZ spoke to Argentine sports media TNT Sports LA and confessed his disappointment of not being named in Jorge SAMPAOLI’s 35 player preliminary list for Russia.

Having started against Peru in the World Cup qualifier and also appearing in friendlies, he was excited about the prospect of going to the World Cup.

“It is an ugly feeling, to be so close yet not going to the World Cup. I was very excited because I started against Peru and almost played against Ecuador. Plus I also played several friendlies.”

Papu, as he is popularly known, did think about going to Russia leading in the hours leading to the announcement of the preliminary list:

“The truth is that I felt that I was an important player in the group.”

On what happened between himself and Lucas BIGLIA:

“It seems stupid to talk about an incident involving two Argentine’s on the pitch but thank God nothing happened to Lucas.”

In addition, he recounted everything that crossed his mind when he did not receive news about a call:

“I thought SAMPAOLI was testing on other players during his last tour because he knew me already. I had thousands of things going in my head but about the preliminary list; I thought I had a chance based on what we have done in the last few months.”

World Cup countdown: 50 days, Argentina moment number 27, Pedro TROGLIO

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 27 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup and in 27th place we have Pedro TROGLIO scoring in the 27th minute against the Soviet Union (USSR) at the 1990 FIFA World Cup in a 2-0 win.

Following a surprising 1-0 loss against Cameroon in their opening match at the 1990 FIFA World Cup, the reigning world champions needed a win in the second match in order to have any hope to advance in the tournament. With the match being played at Diego MARADONA’s second home, the Stadio San Paolo, the game itself could not have started any worse than it did.

After only 11 minutes, starting goalkeeper Nery PUMPIDO had to be substituted off for Sergio GOYCOCHEA (who would later go on to become an Argentine hero). But the change in between the sticks brought good fortune for Carlos BILARDO’s team as Pedro TROGLIO would score Argentina’s first goal of the tournament in the 27th minute.

After a lovely juggle of the ball and cross into the area, Pedro TROGLIO jumped and headed the ball into the top of the corner. With the score at 1-0, one of the goal scorers of the 1986 FIFA World Cup final, Jorge BURRUCHAGA slid the ball between the goalkeeper’s legs to double the lead.

The two goals sealed the 2-0 victory and gave Argentina their first 3 points in Italy.

Here was Argentina’s starting XI for the match:

1. Nery PUMPIDO
2. Sergio BATISTA
4. Jose BASUALDO
7. Jorge BURRUCHAGA
8. Claudio CANIGGIA
10. Diego MARADONA
15. Pedro MONZON
16. Julio OLARTICOECHEA
18. Jose SERRIZUELA
20. Juan SIMON
21. Pedro TROGLIO

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.
3up4: 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.

Sergio AGÜERO: “I have been suffering (with knee problems) since 2013”

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Sergio AGÜERO has claimed he is knee problem free while also supporting Gonzalo HIGUAÍN and questioning Alejandro GOMEZ.

After years of injuries, the Argentina National Team might finally see a fresh and fully fit AGÜERO. After undergoing surgery and with risks of him not being able to play, AGÜERO is confident he’ll be ready. Speaking with TyC Sports, here’s what he had to say:

“After five years, my knee feels like new. I have been suffering with knee problems since 2013. I tried to make an effort to play in the Champions League [against Liverpool]. I’ve always had problems but now I feel different, I can bend it and it’s a relief.

“Pep [GUARDIOLA] supported me a lot. I talked with the doctors and I said that if I didn’t have surgery, I could lose [the chance to play] the World Cup.”

The Manchester City man also supported Gonzalo HIGUAÍN after the Juventus hitman was under fire:

“HIGUAÍN has to stay calm, we will support him.”

AGÜERO also mentioned Lucas BIGLIA receiving a hit from fellow Argentine Alejandro GOMEZ and what he would have done had he been in BIGLIA’s place.

“If I were BIGLIA, I’d be angry. I would have waited for him in the tunnel and just let it all out. I would ask him if he had bad intentions or not.”

As we reported earlier on Thursday, AGÜERO is back training with the Argentina National Team.

Sergio AGUERO trains with Argentina team

Sergio AGUERO is back training with the Argentina National Team.

As we mentioned on Wednesday, Argentina coach Jorge SAMPAOLI has reportedly already told five players that they will be in the squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Manchester City’s Sergio AGUERO was among one of those five who were told. However, AGUERO did not train with the group yesterday, instead, he trained separetly.

The news coming out on Thursday, directly from the AFA is that AGUERO trained with the rest of the team today. He is pictured training alongside Javier MASCHERANO.

AGUERO’s recovery has been an issue of concern lately but his comeback appears to be on time and all the signs point that he will be healthy to go come Argentina’s first match at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Argentina legend Diego MARADONA, new chairman of Dinamo Brest!

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Perhaps the most surprising news one could have expected from Diego MARADONA but Belarusian side, Dinamo Brest have appointed him as their club’s chairman!

MARADONA has signed a three-year deal and will take up the role after the World Cup. Diego just recently left his coaching job with UAE side Al Fujairah after the club missed out on promotion from the second division.

Dinamo are based in Brest, city located in the south-west Belarus close to the Polish border. The club is currently lying eight in the Belarusian Premier League. This coming Saturday they will face Bate Borisov in the country’s cup final.

According to a statement on the club’s website:

“Diego MARADONA will supervise areas of the club’s strategic development and also cooperate with its structural departments, including the Academy of Dynamo Brest”.

MARADONA thanked the club for this appointment on his Instagram account, showing off the contract whilst draped with the Belarusian flag draped over it.

MARADONA thanked the club for this appointment on his Instagram account, showing off the contract whilst draped with the Belarusian flag draped over it.

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