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Interim Argentina coach Lionel SCALONI press conference

Roy Nemer
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28

Interim Argentina coach Lionel SCALONI held a press conference on Thursday night ahead Argentina’s friendly match on Thursday.

This will be SCALONI’s first match in charge of the senior side after having just won the U20 COTIF tournament. Speaking at a press conference in Los Angeles, here’s what SCALONI had to say:

“We based our call-ups on what we believe was best at the moment. We try to bring the best. Today, football is easy for no one. We come with new players and two days of training. Surely the match will be difficult.

“It’s a new stage. There’s an interim coach and all the players want to show their talent to stay. It depends on them. For them, it’s an important moment because after a World Cup comes a new stage and everyone wants to be included.”

Lionel SCALONI spoke about the players and who will be the captain of the team.

“The captain will be ROMERO but he’s not in the best shape to play. Therefore the armband will go to Nicolas TAGLIAFICO.”

SCALONI also spoke about the players and how he is only the interim Argentina coach.

“There are players we believe will have a great future. They just have to show it. Hopefully those who make their debut will be able to put on the shirt and not have to take it off until they retire.

“For me, it’s a great dream and responsibility to be in this position. Everyone knows that I am the interim coach. I have no doubts about it. It’s clear that we have something important with the U20 team in January.”

Unconfirmed Argentina eleven against Guatemala, Cristian PAVON, SIMEONE to start

Roy Nemer
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14

There are many reports circulating that interim Argentina coach Lionel SCALONI has decided on a starting eleven for the match against Guatemala.

There were a few line-ups from training sessions which were recently announced but it finally looks like SCALONI has his eleven players in mind to start the match. Per reports, here’s how Argentina will start against Guatemala.

RULLI; SARAVIA, PEZZELLA, FUNES MORI, TAGLIAFICO; LO CELSO, PAREDES, PALACIOS; PAVON, SIMEONE, MARTINEZ

As we reported, Nicolas TAGLIAFICO of Ajax is set to captain the team. It would mean that five of the eleven would receive their first cap for Argentina. Those five being RULLI, SARAVIA, PALACIOS, SIMEONE and MARTINEZ.

Mauro ICARDI trains normally with Argentina team mates, could play vs. Colombia

Roy Nemer
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29

Mauro ICARDI trained normally on Thursday and could feature on Tuesday night vs. Colombia.

Interim Argentina coach Lionel SCALONI received a boost on Thursday as Inter captain Mauro ICARDI trained with the rest of the Argentina team. As we’ve reported several times this week, ICARDI has been carrying a knock and was (remains) doubtful for the match on Friday against Guatemala.

The official Argentina account confirmed the news regarding ICARDI on Thursday. However, with ICARDI training normally, it would still appear that Fiorentina’s Giovanni SIMEONE will start against Guatemala but ICARDI would likely get some playing time in the two matches.

Giovanni SIMEONE of Fiorentina on Argentina call-up: “I’ll give it my all”

Roy Nemer
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8

Giovanni SIMEONE is set to follow in his father’s footsteps and make his debut for the Argentina National Team when they play Guatemala on Friday.

Initial rumors had Mauro ICARDI and Lautaro MARTINEZ as the two starting forwards for Lionel SCALONI. When news broke out that Lautaro MARTINEZ has had to leave the team due to injury and Mauro ICARDI not fit enough to start, one name came up to replace them both. That name being Giovanni SIMEONE of Fiorentina.

Speaking on the AFA’s official Youtube channel, here’s what SIMEONE had to say about his call-up to the Argentina team:

“I’m very happy. When Lionel (SCALONI) called me, I got very emotional for getting this chance and I’ll give it my all.”

SIMEONE, who finished last season with 14 goals, is set to start up front for Argentina alongside Cristian PAVON and Gonzalo MARTINEZ.

Argentina Throwback Thursday: Juan Roman RIQUELME against Peru

Roy Nemer
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2

In this week’s edition of the Argentina Throwback Thursday, we have Juan Roman RIQUELME scoring and assisting against Peru at the 2007 Copa America. It was the quarter finals of the tournament and Argentina were up against Peru. The Albiceleste started the match with the following eleven:

Roberto ABBONDANZIERI
Javier ZANETTI
Roberto AYALA
Gabriel MILITO
Gabriel HEINZE
Javier MASCHERANO
Esteban CAMBIASSO
Juan Sebastian VERON
Juan Roman RIQUELME
Lionel MESSI
Diego MILITO

Regular number 9 Hernan CRESPO injured himself in the group stages and was ultimately replaced by MILITO. After the end of the first half, Juan Roman RIQUELME took over.

A shot from the edge of the area with his left foot beat Peruvian goalkeeper Leao BUTRON to give Argentina the lead. The second goal was nothing short of a genius. RIQUELME went into his passing repertoir and produced a ball which sliced through three Peruvian players before Lionel MESSI scored to double Argentina’s lead.

Javier MASCHERANO managed to make it 3-0 with his second of the tournament before RIQUELME, of course, netted once more this time off a brilliant counter attack by Carlos TEVEZ.

RIQUELME turned on the style the entire tournament and probably even more so against Mexico in the semi finals. But that performance against Peru, two goals and an assist, was something of RIQUELME’s level. Unfortunately, Argentina would go on to lose the final but Argentina definitely misses a player of Roman’s caliber.

Last week’s Argentina Throwback Thursday saw Hernan CRESPO score a peach of a volley against Colombia.

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