The news hasn’t stopped coming in since word broke out that the match between the teams would be suspended. Per a few reports, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin NETANYAHU has apparently called Argentina president Mauricio MACRI about trying to get the match back on.
It doesn’t end there. Fox Sports in Argentina are reporting that the AFA are already working on trying to find an opponent for Saturday and four countries have been mentioned. San Marino, Malta, Moldova and Liechtenstein are the countries being rumored.
Nothing is confirmed yet but we will keep you updated on it all.
Argentina’s friendly match versus Israel is reportedly canceled..
Per reports coming out of the media in Argentina, the game between Argentina and Israel has been canceled. At the moment, there are rumors that the players and the coach did not want to play the match but those are just rumors at the moment.
We will keep you updated on the situation as it develops.
Passionate and fanatical are those from State of Kerala in India. As it has been the case in every four years before the World Cup, the work and preparation that these fans put into are simply mind-boggling.
And to top it all off, they have even composed a song that specially dedicated to the national team. A song fuse with Indian musical and Argentina, how about that!
This is the sort of thing that I’m always amazed when it comes the passion that people from all over the world have Argentina. It great to hear about everyone is mobilizing from organizing parades in Dhaka and Kerala to match day gathering in Hong Kong.
Surely, one of the best reason why Mundo Albiceleste (or back then known as Vamos Argentina) was created during the 2006 World Cup.
The rumored line-up for Argentina’s friendly match against Israel on Saturday is already out and up front we would have Sergio AGÜERO and Lionel MESSI.
With the 4-0 friendly match against Haiti behind them, coach Jorge SAMPAOLI is working towards the last friendly match before the start of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Per a report by La Nacion, SAMPAOLI put together a group of players doing exercises where they were pressuring the opposition (up against a sparring team). Among that group of players were Marcos ROJO, Lucas BIGLIA and Sergio AGUERO. And up front, Lionel MESSI.
It would appear as though the coach has the eleven in his mind but there is one real doubt. The starting goalkeeper. While Willy CABALLERO played in his fourth consecutive match for Argentina, he is facing competition from River Plate’s Franco ARMANI. The following is the rumored eleven for the match against Israel.
Argentina’s rumored line-up versus Israel. Photo via La Nacion.
Per the report, when attacking, the two full backs TAGLIAFICO and MERCADO would move forward up until the invisible line where BIGLIA is standing and the other midfielders (LANZINI, MEZA and DI MARIA) would move up right behind AGUERO and MESSI. This would sort of explain the 2-3-3-2 formation which SAMPAOLI mentioned in one of his press conferences.
Per contractual reasons, should MESSI take part in the match, the AFA would get an additional 300,000 dollars to bring their total up to 1.4 million dollars for the friendly match. Federico FAZIO flew from Barcelona to Sevilla with SAMPAOLI’s permission to witness the birth of his child. He will fly back to Barcelona at night.
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 9 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup and in 9th place we have legendary Argentina number 9 Gabriel BATISTUTA getting his last yellow card playing for Argentina vs. England at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
In Argentina’s second match at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, they played England. It was the first time these two teams met at a FIFA World Cup since Argentina eliminated England in 1998 in the Round of 16 on penalty kicks.
The rivalry mostly became famous for the match back in 1986 when Diego MARADONA scored two memorable goals. The team had picked up a 1-0 win against Nigeria in their opener of the tournament and were looking to secure a spot in the Round of 16 with a win.
However, a David BECKHAM penalty was enough for England to pick up a 1-0 win and put Argentina on the brink of elimination.
Here was Argentina’s starting XI for the match:
12. Pablo CAVALLERO
3. Juan Pablo SORIN
4. Mauricio POCHETTINO
6. Walter SAMUEL
7. Claudio LOPEZ
8. Javier ZANETTI
9. Gabriel BATISTUTA
10. Ariel ORTEGA
11. Juan Sebastian VERON
13. Diego PLACENTE
14. Diego SIMEONE
