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Esteban CAMBIASSO announces retirement

Latest News

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September 7, 2017

Esteban CAMBIASSO has announced his retirement.

Former Argentina international and Inter legend Esteban CAMBIASSO has called it a day. The 37 year old midfielder last played for Greek club Olympiacos but has had a massive career.

A product of Argentinos Juniors, Cucho played in five different leagues, reaching the pinnacle of his career with Internazionale in Italy when he won a historic treble with the club. At senior level, CAMBIASSO played with Independiente and River Plate in Argentina, Real Madrid in Spain, Internazionale in Italy, Leicester City in England and finally Olympiacos in Greece.

A total of 21 trophies won in his club career included (and obviously not limited to) a La Liga and UEFA Super Cup trophy with Real Madrid as well as a UEFA Champions League trophy, five Serie A titles and a Club World Cup with Internazionale. In Greece, CAMBIASSO ended his career on a high note winning back to back Superleague titles.

Esteban CAMBIASSO and Argentina

With his country, CAMBIASSO will forever be remembered as the goalscorer of one of the (depending on who you ask)) nicest team goals ever scored at a World Cup after rounding off a lovely play which consisted of 24 passes at the 2006 World Cup against Serbia and Montenegro. Oh and don’t worry, we have the clip of the goal below! He won two South American Youth Championships with Argentina in 1997 and 1999 and the big one at youth level, the 1997 World Cup.

An excellent midfielder and not a bad eye for goal either (90 goals in 702 matches for a defensive midfielder), it’s fair to say Esteban CAMBIASSO has left his mark on the beautiful game. Obviously for a player like CAMBIASSO, statistics won’t do him justice. A true professional, he was the back bone for Inter when they were dominating the Serie A and especially when they won the Champions League back in 2010.

Thank you for everything, Cuchu!

Esteban CAMBIASSO goal vs. Serbia and Montenegro (Spanish)

Esteban CAMBIASSO goal vs. Serbia and Montenegro (English)

Argentina versus Peru could be at La Bombonera

World Cup Qualifiers

Roy Nemer

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September 7, 2017

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Argentina versus Peru could be at La Bombonera

Argentina’s final World Cup Qualifier could be played at La Bombonera.

Following the team’s 1-1 draw against Venezuela, there were already talks about the team playing next month’s ultimate World Cup Qualifier at home in Boca’s La Bombonera. The team has played all across the country in the past few years but in Buenos Aires, it was always el Monumental. That could soon change.

According to reports, the AFA and president Claudio TAPIA will ask FIFA and CONMEBOL if the match against Peru could be played at La Bombonera. The formal request is expected to be made Wednesday night.

There have been talks and rumors as early as last year that the federation wanted to play at the mystical Bombonera but nothing was ever done about it.

Cesar Luis MENOTTI on Argentina: “It was frightening”

Latest News

Roy Nemer

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September 6, 2017

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Cesar Luis MENOTTI on Argentina: “It was frightening”

The legendary coach Cesar Luis MENOTTI had a lot to say about Jorge SAMPAOLI and the Argentina National Team.

When Cesar Luis MENOTTI speaks, you should probably listen. Considered one of the brightest and most knowledgeable minds in Argentina, the World Cup winning coach had some comments following Argentina’s 1-1 draw against Venezuela. Always truthful, the former National Team coach had this to say:

Cesar Luis MENOTTI on Jorge SAMPAOLI

“Coaching Sevilla is not the same as coaching Argentina. Above all, you have MESSI and players who play for top clubs. He puts up drones, gives chats, 14 people to work and after all that MESSI runs forward trying to dribble past everyone.

“Football is like tango, you can’t run all the time. Football has pausing, it has acceleration, it has rhythm, it has changes.”

“He lacks time and experience ate him up. I didn’t understand the team and I say that with extreme caution as I have never spoken to SAMPAOLI but I don’t understand it. I don’t know how he plays.

“The truth is that it was frightening, watching it all was frightening. I played two matches against Venezuela: In Caracas we won 7-0 and in Rosario 11-0. We scored 18 goals in two matches. And now I have to see how much it costs us to beat Venezuela, something within us is not going well.

Jorge SAMPAOLI press conference after Venezuela draw

Roy Nemer

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September 5, 2017

80

Jorge SAMPAOLI press conference after Venezuela draw

Jorge SAMPAOLI held a press conference following the team’s 1-1 draw against Venezuela.

A sad and angry looking Jorge SAMPAOLI spoke a press conference at the Monumental following yet another draw. Angry, disappointed and sad can probably sum up the feeling of every Argentina fan worldwide. But there was one man who had to speak and it was the coach himself. Here’s what he had to say:

Jorge SAMPAOLI press conference

“We’ll continue fighting to qualify, to win both matches. We have to analyze the past two matches to improve on the remaining two matches. We created 11 goal scoring situations. We’ve let a big chance go by (to qualify). That’s football and it could happen.

“We have to work on what we did well for the match against Peru. Argentina will continue fighting for their place in Russia. We were the better team but couldn’t finish. We have to lift our heads up and play the next two matches with professionalism and strength. We leave angry because the match should have finished in Argentina’s favor. I saw a team determined to qualify. Argentina’s first half was overwhelming.

“We had a lot of good attacks from the left. First with DI MARIA and then with ACUNA. MESSI took over many times during both matches. The important thing is we all push forward together for Argentina to be at the World Cup. The fight for qualification will be tough, we will try to improve on things that we failed at today.”

Argentina fail to pick up steam in draw against Venezuela

Roy Nemer

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September 5, 2017

37

Argentina fail to pick up steam in draw against Venezuela

Another Argentina match, another draw.

On paper, it looked like a very strong attack. Ever BANEGA in midfield to move the ball forward, Paulo DYBALA the jewel of Juventus, Angel DI MARIA the (insert your DI MARIA insult/praise here), the speedy Lautaro ACOSTA, the hitman Mauro ICARDI and of course Lionel MESSI. The opponent? Bottom of the table in the South American World Cup standings Venezuela. The venue? At home. Easy win, right? Wrong.

Argentina were huffing and puffing in the first 20 odd minutes. Throwing everything but the kitchen sink at Venezuela’s defence but the Vinotinto resisted the attacks and weathered the storm. Halfway into the first 45 minutes, Angel DI MARIA (not for the first time in his Argentina career) has to be substituted off in a key match for his country due to an injury. On comes the tricky Marcos ACUNA. The first half solved nothing and the second half brought more nerves.

The second half and the 1-1 draw

The second half of the match did provide goals but not what Argentina wanted. Venezuela scored the opener on a quick counter and Sergio ROMERO came way off his line as he was chipped and suddenly the last placed team in South America was bringing the Monumental to its knees. The Albiceleste kept pushing forward and finally got their deserved goal following a cross by ACUNA which first appeared to hit Mauro ICARDI and go in but was later given as a Venezuelan own goal.

With one substitution made, Jorge SAMPAOLI had two more to go. He gambled, rolled the dice and got snake eyes. Dario BENEDETTO of Boca Juniors was given his national team debut as he replaced Paulo DYBALA. The second was Javier PASTORE on for Mauro ICARDI. To say both substitutions provided next to nothing for Argentina would be a fair assessement. Lionel MESSI (who once more had a sublime match) with a great ball to BENEDETTO into the area but the Boca man was unable to control it as it went out for a goal kick. As for Javier PASTORE, a failed backheel attempt in midfield which lead to a Venezuelan counter and a shot saved following a brilliant MESSI pass is what he has to his name in this match.

The whistle blew as 1-1 was the final score in Buenos Aires and Argentina remain exactly where they were at the start of the last two rounds, in playoff position.

#VamosTodosUnidos Así fue el gol argentino para el empate parcial 1 a 1 en el Antonio V. Liberti. pic.twitter.com/RNbbPMnwKy

— Selección Argentina (@Argentina) September 6, 2017

#VamosTodosUnidos El mago, el capitán, el 10… #Messi. pic.twitter.com/f0zVRL0nWv

— Selección Argentina (@Argentina) September 5, 2017

Deadly counter attack from Venezuela which Murillo finishes off. Argentina one down at home to bottom of the table. pic.twitter.com/ExM7qoo7nH

— Escojar (@Escojar) September 6, 2017