The team travel from Ezeiza today after having their breakfast and morning training, eventually departed for Montevideo where they were expected to arrive at about 1.15pm local time. During they stay in the Uruguay’s capital, the tea will be putting up at the Sheraton Hotel.
Also staying at the hotel is the Under-20 Japanese rugby team who are in Montevideo for some mini tournament. Obviously, they were equally excited about meeting MESSI as much as the local journalist and fans were.
With three training sessions under the belt, which starting eleven do you prefer?
Argentina coach Jorge SAMPAOLI has now held three big training sessions ahead of the team’s match against Uruguay. The first was on Monday, the second on Tuesday and the third on Wednesday. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, SAMPAOLI himself stated that the starting eleven is not yet confirmed but that there were alternative options for the match.
The first training session, which was held on Monday, was a hybrid 3-4-3/3-4-2-1 formation which consisted of the following:
ROMERO; MERCADO, FAZIO/MASCHERANO, OTAMENDI; DI MARIA, BIGLIA, PIZARRO, ACOSTA; DYBALA, MESSI; ICARDI
The second one, which was held on Tuesday, was the following:
ROMERO; MERCADO, MASCHERANO, OTAMENDI; RIGONI, BIGLIA, PAREDES, DI MARIA; ICARDI, MESSI, DYBALA
The other thing regarding the line-up is that there are rumors stating that Jorge SAMPAOLI has the second line-up should Luis SUAREZ be fit to play (which appears to be the case) for Uruguay. He is planning with that in mind.
The third training session on Wednesday resulted in a different starting line-up. Here was the eleven in training:
ROMERO; MERCADO, FAZIO, OTAMENDI; ACUNA, BIGLIA, PIZARRO, DI MARIA; DYBALA, MESSI, ICARDI
Which of the three formations would you prefer Jorge SAMPAOLI goes with against Uruguay? The first one (on Monday, the second one (on Tuesday) or the third one (Wednesday)? Let us know by voting in the poll below!
[poll id=”3″]
Tottenham Hotspur have completed the signing of Juan FOYTH from Argentine Primera club Estudiantes de la Plata.
After weeks of speculation, the 19 year old has signed a 3 year deal with the North London club. The highly rated defender who has featured for Argentina at Under-17 and Under-20 level will become the third Argentinean in the Spurs squad (Erik LAMELA and Paulo GAZZANIGA being the other two).
Personally I feel it is a great move considering his age and how he would benefit working under someone like Mauricio POCHETTINO who has a terrific record with young players.
Best of luck to FOYTH who has a crucial season ahead of not only impressing his boss at club level but also Jorge SAMPAOLI for a place in the National Team with the World Cup just around the corner.
"It's a club that believes in young players and I'm very pleased to be here"
📹 Full interview – https://t.co/rNiu40CzmS #WelcomeFoyth pic.twitter.com/RGLhnSHS5H
— Tottenham Hotspur (at 🏡) (@SpursOfficial) August 30, 2017
Argentina against Uruguay has produced some memorable matches as of late, especially in the World Cup Qualifiers.
The Albiceleste have had the upper hand in the last couple of World Cup Qualifying matches between these two rivals. If we go back to the 2010 World Cup Qualifiers (which Albiceleste fans would like to try and forget), Argentina have lost only one match against the Charruas.
With the 2010 World Cup Qualifiers under way, the first match between these two teams came in October of 2008. The match ended in a 2-1 win for the home team with Lionel MESSI and Sergio AGUERO the two goalscorers for the sky blue and white (although in this match they were wearing the dark blue shirt). The second match was a dramatic 0-1 win for Argentina, with Mario BOLATTI scoring to secure World Cup Qualification for Diego MARADONA’s men.
Having picked up two wins out of two against Uruguay in the 2010 World Cup Qualifiers, it was onto the 2014 Qualifiers. A big 3-0 win in Argentina with Lionel MESSI putting on a fantastic performance and scoring a memorable free kick goal secured the three points for his nation. It was now three wins out of three against the Uruguayans. The team’s only loss recently in the World Cup Qualifiers against Uruguay came when qualification for 2014 was already sealed and coach Alejandro SABELLA played a second string line-up against a Uruguay team which had to win. The result was a 3-2 loss for Argentina, captain Maxi RODRIGUEZ scoring both goals. That match also marked Mauro ICARDI’s first and only cap for the Argentina National Team.
In the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers, the first match was in Argentina with Lionel MESSI once more saving his team and scoring against Uruguay in their 1-0 win. Paulo DYBALA received two yellow cards as he was sent off for Argentina. Here are the line-ups, highlights and goals from those matches:
| Juan Pablo CARIZZO | Substitutes: |
| Nicolas BURDISSO | Diego MILITO for Sergio AGUERO |
| Martin DEMICHELIS | Cristian LEDESMA for Juan Roman RIQUELME |
| Gabriel HEINZE | Daniel DIAZ for Lionel MESSI |
| Esteban CAMBIASSO | |
| Javier MASCHERANO | Goalscorers: |
| Juan Roman RIQUELME | Lionel MESSI |
| Javier ZANETTI | Sergio AGUERO |
| Lionel MESSI | Diego LUGANO |
| Sergio AGUERO | |
| Carlos TEVEZ | Coach: Alfio BASILE |
| Sergio ROMERO | Substitutes: |
| Nicolas OTAMENDI | Luciano MONZON for Angel DI MARIA |
| Rolando SCHIAVI | Mario BOLATTI for Gonzalo HIGUAIN |
| Martin DEMICHELIS | Carlos TEVEZ for Lionel MESSI |
| Gabriel HEINZE | |
| Javier MASCHERANO | Goalscorer: |
| Jonas GUTIERREZ | Mario BOLATTI |
| Juan Sebastian VERON | |
| Angel DI MARIA | Coach: Diego MARADONA |
| Lionel MESSI | |
| Gonzalo HIGUAIN |
| Sergio ROMERO | Substitutes: |
| Marcos ROJO | Hugo CAMPAGNARO for Marcos ROJO |
| Ezequiel GARAY | Pablo GUINAZU for Sergio AGUERO |
| Federico FERNANDEZ | Hernan BARCOS for Gonzalo HIGUIN |
| Pablo ZABALETA | |
| Angel DI MARIA | Goalscorers: |
| Javier MASCHERANO | Lionel MESSI (two goals) |
| Fernando GAGO | Sergio AGUERO |
| Sergio AGUERO | |
| Lionel MESSI | Coach: Alejandro SABELLA |
| Gonzalo HIGUAIN |
| Sergio ROMERO | Substitutes: |
| Hugo CAMPAGNARO | Leandro SOMOZA for Ever BANEGA |
| Sebastian DOMINGUEZ | Marcos ROJO for Erik LAMELA |
| Federico FERNANDEZ | Mauro ICARDI for Augusto FERNANDEZ |
| Jose Maria BASANTA | |
| Lucas BIGLIA | Goalscorers: |
| Augusto FERNANDEZ | Maxi RODRIGUEZ (two goals) |
| Ever BANEGA | Cristian RODRIGUEZ |
| Erik LAMELA | Luis SUAREZ |
| Rodrigo PALACIO | Edinson CAVANI |
| Maxi RODRIGUEZ | Coach: Alejandro SABELLA |
| Sergio ROMERO | Substitutes: |
| Emmanuel MAS | Lucas ALARIO for Lucas PRATTO |
| Nicolas OTAMENDI | Nicolas GAITAN for Angel DI MARIA |
| Ramiro FUNES MORI | |
| Pablo ZABALETA | Goalscorers: |
| Lucas BIGLIA | Lionel MESSI |
| Javier MASCHERANO | |
| Angel DI MARIA | Coach: Edgardo BAUZA |
| Paulo DYBALA | |
| Lucas PRATTO | |
| Lionel MESSI |
Argentina National Team coach Jorge SAMPAOLI held a press conference in front of the media where he discussed a number of things.
Days before the big match against Uruguay, SAMPAOLI commented on why he called-up Mauro ICARDI and not Gonzalo HIGUAIN, Lionel MESSI playing with Paulo DYBALA, preparation and much more. There’s also the latest line-up from training. Here’s what he had to say:
“The team is not yet confirmed but we have different alternatives to play this very important match. This match against Uruguay, we’ve been working on it for some time.
“The idea to talk with every single player has to do with achieving a union before such an important match. What matters is putting together a number of players that will strengthen the team and join the Argentina attack. The idea is to have the possibility of an Argentina team who imposes itself through a defined attacking characteristic.
“Luis SUAREZ is a very valuable striker. If he plays, he can alter the system. He’s something extra Uruguay have because he’s their best footballer. Playing STUANI is not the same.”
“It’s to do with the analysis of what happened with the national team last time. We need a striker who, as well as goals, has the characteristics of an assist-maker. That’s we why called him up.
“We’re facing a reality in which we are left outside of Russia and, with little time left, we have to take advantage of every virtue in this squad.
“When we talked with Gonzalo, we told him why we didn’t call him up. We told him that we’re hopeful of there being an argument that he can be with us again.”
“It’s very important to know if MESSI and DYBALA complement each other because it would be a disadvantage for the team if they isolate themselves. Leo is looking forward to playing at another World Cup. Coaching the best in the world is very important for me, to see him train, to see him move.”
“BIGLIA arrived in a good shape. He didn’t have enough minutes with his club but I’ve been following his preparations day by day. fortunately we can count on Lucas. He has a big desire to be with us, having him in good condition is an advantage for us.”
There was also the latest line-up from training which had Leandro PAREDES in midfield. Here it is:
ROMERO; MERCADO, MASCHERANO, OTAMENDI; RIGONI, BIGLIA, PAREDES, DI MARIA; ICARDI, MESSI, DYBALA
In contrast, here was yesterday’s line-up from training:
ROMERO; MERCADO, FAZIO/MASCHERANO, OTAMENDI; DI MARIA, BIGLIA, PIZARRO, ACOSTA; DYBALA, MESSI; ICARDI
Here are clips from the training sessions:
[ELIMINATORIAS] Imágenes del primer entrenamiento de la semana de la @Argentina, bajo la conducción de Jorge Sampaoli pic.twitter.com/LJWoDj8Gpd
— Selección Argentina (@Argentina) August 28, 2017
The legend #Messi IG #WeAreMessi pic.twitter.com/TUoL500SYv
— Leo Messi (@WeAreMessi) August 29, 2017
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