Dario Pipa BENEDETTO has suffered a long term injury.
Argentina and Boca Juniors forward Dario BENEDETTO has suffered an injury while playing for Boca. BENEDETTO suffered an injury during Boca’s 2-1 loss against Racing. With Racing up 1-0, Dario scored a penalty kick to draw his team level. However, BENEDETTO was substituted off in the 37th minute of the second half.
Dario Pipa BENEDETTO out for 6-8 months
Initial reports are stating that he has suffered a ruptured ligament and initial reports have him out for 6 to 8 months. Should that be the case, he would be fully discarded from World Cup contention for Argentina.
This could open the door for Gonzalo HIGUAIN to get back into the Argentina team.
A big congratulations to the Argentina U15 team for winning the South American U15 Cup!
The Argentina youth teams have undergone a new setup with Diego PLACENTE and Pablo AIMAR taking control of them. For the U15 team, Diego PLACENTE’s boys reached the final of the South American Cup and despite being 2-0 to Brazil in the final, the team fought back and scored three unanswered goals for a 3-2 final win!
Argentina’s line-up for the final of the South American U15 Cup.
The Brazilians took the lead through Kaio JORGE 33 minutes into the match. Coach PLACENTE made two substitutions at half time as Franco OROZCO came on for Exequiel ZEBALLOS. The other change being Franco BENITEZ on for Cristian BENITEZ.
Two minutes into the second half, Brazil doubled their lead as Francisco FLORES scored to give Brazil a 2-0 lead.
However, just two minutes later Matias PALACIOS scored to pull one back for the Albiceleste. PLACENTE made another substitution as Gonzalo Ruíz DIAZ came on for David AYALA.
Matias GODOY scored only two minutes after PALACIOS as Argentina drew level.
Two more substitutions followed with Juan Pablo KRILANOVICH on for Matias GODOY. The last substitution followed with Federico VERSACI coming in for Franco BENITEZ.
The comeback for Argentina was finally complete when Bruno AMIONE found the back of the net to give Argentina the 3-2 win! This tournament win marked the first time Argentina have won the South American U15 Cup!
Javier PASTORE is being linked to a move to several clubs across Europe.
Per reports from around Europe, PSG’s Javier PASTORE is wanted by several teams in Europe. Sevilla of Spain, Chelsea and Liverpool of England and both Milan teams from Italy are reportedly intersted in the midfielder.
According to a report by Sport in Spain, Sevilla want to sign PSG’s Javier PASTORE. The midfielder is reportedly keen on the move with playing time being currently limited in France. Sevilla want a loan move with an option to buy but it appears as though PSG wouldn’t want the move to happen.
L’Equipe in France state that both AC Milan and Inter want to sign Javier but there is an £18m release fee should they want to get him in January.
In England, both Liverpool and Chelsea are interested in signing the Argentina international but a move to England looks to be unlikely.
Italy, Belgium and Morocco are among the possible opponents for March’s friendly matches.
It has been a disastrous week in Italian football (and not the best one for Argentina following a 4-2 loss against Nigeria). Possibly the biggest black eye in Italian history after the team’s playoff elimination which meant they would not be at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Many (myself included) think that Argentina are very close to being like Italy and the only (or at least major) reason they are at the World Cup is because the Albiceleste are fortunate to have Lionel MESSI while the Italian team doesn’t have a MESSI.
However, MESSI or not, we might get the chance to see how these two world heavyweights compare because according to several reports, there are big chances that Argentina play Italy in March with the friendly taking place in Basel, Switzerland.
The other possible opponent are Belgium, Argentina’s opponent in the quarter finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The Red Devils, unlike the Azzurri, will be at the World Cup next year.
Third and final (for now) possible opponents are Morocco, who have qualified for the World Cup for the first time since the 1998 edition in France. As it stands, it appears as though it’s going to be one of Italy or Belgium for the first match and Morocco in the second with the match taking place in Casablanca.
No MESSI, no victory for Argentina as they let a two goal lead slip away in 4-2 loss to Nigeria.
After picking up a 1-0 win against Russia, the team was without Lionel MESSI for the match against Nigeria. Despite no Messi, Jorge SAMPAOLI’s men got off to a solid start scoring twice in the first half. A free kick goal by Ever BANEGA was shortly followed by Sergio AGUERO’s second goal in two matches to make it 2-0 with very little left to go in opening 45 minutes. However, a free kick for the Nigerians resulted in a goal after back-up goalkeeper Agustin MARCHESIN was unable to keep it out.
The second half was one to forget. It started with Sergio AGUERO having to be substituted off after fainting in the dressing room (good news is that he is back with the team and feeling better). But it wasn’t the attack that should have worried SAMPAOLI as the midfield and more specifically the 3 man back line crumbled in the second 45 minutes. Three goals meant an Argentina loss and a first loss for Jorge SAMPAOLI as Argentina coach.
A worrying sight for SAMPAOLI is that without Lionel MESSI, this Argentina team looks fairly average.
