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Nicolás TAGLIAFICO on Argentina World Cup call-up: “I’m still dreaming”

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Ajax man Nicolás TAGLIAFICO stated that he’s still dreaming in regards to his World Cup call-up for Argentina.

Speaking to the media, here’s what TAGLIAFICO had to say:

“It still hasn’t hit me, for me, I’m still dreaming. I want to keep both feet on the ground and do my best. If you’re here, it’s because you are doing things well and could be at the top. My switch over to Europe made me see things totally differently. I have to see MESSI as another team mate and not think that I am next to the best player in the world.

“The dynamics of football in Europe helped me in adapting to the National Team.”

On Sunday, in a video posted by the Argentina National Team Twitter account, TAGLIAFICO said the following:

“To be with a national team like Argentina, where the best play, is an honor. Argentina are always candidates but there’s also countries that have had the same ideology of playing for some time. Teams that have been working the same way, like Germany and also Brazil are very difficult at a World Cup and obviously Spain. At a World Cup, there are always surprises.”

It’s been a roller coaster of a ride for Nicolás having recently made the move to Europe joining Ajax and suddenly finding himself not only with the national team but also as a starter in the World Cup.

It has been a long time, since the days of Juan Pablo SORIN, where Argentina haven’t had a natural left back on the team. Marcos ROJO has been filling that position for a few years and has done a respectable job for the most part but hopefully Nicolás can cement that left back spot and make it his own.

Video: Marcos ACUÑA with pain in his left foot, but good news for Argentina

Marcos ACUÑA felt some pain in his left foot but it wasn’t all bad for Argentina coach Jorge SAMPAOLI.

The Argentina National Team, presently training at Huracan’s stadium in front of a full crowd, saw Nicolás OTAMENDI train separately from the rest of the group. However, there was more news. Marcos ACUÑA left with pain in his left foot after sending in a cross. No full news yet on whether it is just a minor knock or anything more than that.

Here is the video of the cross and ACUÑA limping.

In terms of good news, per the above tweet, Gabriel MERCADO, Sergio AGUERO and Lucas BIGLIA are all improving and getting better.

Nicolás OTAMENDI to train separately from Argentina team

A tweet by the official Argentina account has stated that Nicolás OTAMENDI will train separately from the rest of the team due to a slight groin problem.

With Argentina coach Jorge SAMPAOLI holding a training session on Saturday evening, the official Argentina account has sent out a tweet saying that due to a slight problem in the groin area, OTAMENDI will train away from the group on Sunday.

It doesn’t appear to be anything serious but the team appears to not want to take any necessary risks.

Argentina training session from Saturday night

Argentina coach Jorge SAMPAOLI put out the same ten players on Saturday night as he did earlier in the week.

With the match against Haiti on Tuesday, Jorge SAMPAOLI looks set to have found his starting outfield players but questions remain over the starting goalkeeper. Here were the ten in training:

ANSALDI; OTAMENDI, FAZIO, TAGLIAFICO; LANZINI, MASCHERANO, LO CELSO; MESSI, HIGUAIN, DI MARIA

Eduardo SALVIO was brought in and replaced Manuel LANZINI.

This is the same ten players which were tried on Friday. As mentioned, still no word on who will be the starting goalkeeper.

World Cup countdown: 50 days, Argentina moment number 18, Javier MASCHERANO

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 18 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup and in 18th place we have Javier MASCHERANO playing in his 18th match for Argentina vs. Netherlands at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Argentina had won the first two matches of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The first was a 2-1 win against the Ivory Coast and the second came in a footballing lesson as they spanked Serbia and Montenegro 6-0 to get all three points. Up next was a match to determine who finishes top of the group against the country which eliminated them at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

While the match ended 0-0, it was a much changed Argentina side. Carlos TEVEZ, Gabriel MILITO, Leandro CUFRE, Lionel MESSI and Nicolas BURDISSO all started for Jose PEKERMAN. For Javier MASCHERANO, it meant that he would play in his 18th match for his country.

Here was Argentina’s starting XI for the match:
1. Roberto ABBONDANZIERI
2. Roberto AYALA
5. Esteban CAMBIASSO
8. Javier MASCHERANO
10. Juan Roman RIQUELME
11. Carlos TEVEZ
15. Gabriel MILITO
17. Leandro CUFRE
18. Maxi RODRIGUEZ
19. Lionel MESSI
21. Nicolas BURDISSO

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.
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.
27: Pedro TROGLIO scores in the 27th minute for Argentina vs. the Soviet Union at the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
26: Diego MARADONA scores his 26th goal for Argentina vs. Belgium at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
25: Sergio AGUERO plays in his 25th match for Argentina vs. Germany at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
24: Diego MARADONA scores his 24th goal for Argentina vs. England at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
23: Ezequiel GARAY plays in his 23rd match for Argentina vs. Belgium at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
22: Argentina defeat Greece 2-0 on June 22 at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
21: Lucas BIGLIA plays in his 21st match for Argentina vs. Iran at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
20: Rene HOUSEMAN scores in the 20th minute for Argentina vs. East Germany at the 1974 FIFA World Cup.
19: Diego MILITO wears the number 19 shirt for Argentina on his World Cup debut vs. Nigeria at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.