Hey everyone,

SAMPAOLI has tried out a totally new formation in a practice yesterday.  It was a 3-4-2-1 formation.  As we all know this isn’t the usual formation Argentina has used in the past few years. Sergio ROMERO kept his place in goal.  The three defenders were: Nicolas OTAMENDI, FAZIO or MAMMANA, & MERCADO. There were 4 midfielders: DI MARIA & SALVIO as the wingers and BIGLIA and BANEGA played the middle.  Up front, SAMPAOLI had Gonzalo HIGUAIN as his main striker, while Lionel MESSI and Paulo DYBALA are set to play in the hole.  Here is a picture of what it looks like: What do you guys think?

This is a very attacking formation but it’s just a rumored possible lineup.  It’s way too early to know the exact starting lineup as we all know it may well change a little, but it’s nice to analyze and possibly provide SAMPAOLI with ideas.  Argentina has tons of players at their disposal. SAMPAOLI has options and will be able to tinker with the lineup quite a bit. It will be interesting and exciting to see what he has in store for the Albiceleste.  What do you guys think? What lineups would you like to see him try?

Here are some images from the practice sessions:

VAMOS ARGENTINA!!!

Hey everyone,

Today is the day! Jorge SAMPAOLI will be presented officially as our new National team coach at approximately 6:30pm local time in Argentina today.  He will be accompanied by Claudio “Chiqui” TAPIA.  The coach has reached an agreement with AFA that will see him as the Argentina coach for the next 5 years.  Only Cesar Menotti (1974-1982), Carlos Bilardo (1982-1990) and Marcelo Bielsa (1998-1994) have had contracts that lasted more than 5 years.

SAMPAOLI wil be presented today, and tomorrow he will depart Argentina for Melbourne, Australia at approximately 7:50am local time.  In Australia he will make his debut as the new Argentina coach in a friendly match vs. Brazil. His staff includes Juan Manuel Lillo (2nd in command coach); Jorge Desio (physical trainer); Lionel Scaloni, Matías Manna, Martín Tocalli & Íñigo Domínguez (helpers); Javier García (goalkeeper coach); Sergio Domínguez & Moisés del Hoyo (helpers in physical preparation); also Jesús Olivera (video analyst).

Hopefully this is the start of good things to come!

VAMOS ARGENTINA!!

It is now official: Federico FAZIO will be replacing the injured Javier MASCHERANO.  The Roma defender will be with the Argentina national team for the friendly matches vs: Brazil and Singapore.  Fazio, 30 years old, hasn’t played for the national team since 2014 when he was called up by Gerardo MARTINO for a friendly against Croatia.  Here is an updated list of the players that have been called up by coach Jorge SAMPAOLI:

Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Manchester United), Nahuel Guzmán (Tigres) & Gerónimo Rulli (Real Sociedad).

Defenders: Federico Fazio (Roma), Nicolás Otamendi (Manchester City), Emanuel Mammana (Lyon), Gabriel Mercado (Sevilla), Jonatan Maidana (River), Nicolás Tagliafico (Independiente), Javier Pinola (Rosario Central) & José Luis Gómez (Lanús).

Midfielders: Ángel Di María (PSG), Eduardo Salvio (Benfica), Lucas Biglia (Lazio), Guido Rodríguez (Tijuana), Leandro Paredes (Roma), Éver Banega (Inter), Manuel Lanzini (West Ham), Marcos Acuña (Racing) & Nacho Fernández (River).

Forwards: Paulo Dybala (Juventus), Mauro Icardi (Inter), Gonzalo Higuaín (Juventus), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Alejandro Gómez (Atalanta), Joaquín Correa (Sevilla) & Lucas Alario (River).

What do you guys think of this call up? I am personally content.  In my opinion, FAZIO has grown over the years as a player and deserves another chance.

VAMOS ARGENTINA!!