Lionel MESSI will not get called-up for the Argentina National Team this year.
According to various sources, MESSI has refused a call-up and will not play for Argentina this year. Apparently, MESSI will not play until further notice. This can be until next year, the year after or even retirement. No one but MESSI knows.
Interim Argentina coach (and former team mate of MESSI’s at the 2006 FIFA World Cup) Lionel SCALONI reportedly called MESSI to speak with him and the Argentina captain told him “I appreciate it but no”. The reasons (per what is being reported) is because of the pain of the last World Cup as well as a lack of project and management within the team.
The last match of the first week was between Atletico Tucuman and Racing Club and it didn’t disappoint.
Racing were all over Tucuman in the first few minutes of the match. Matias ZARACHO had a shot from close range which bounced off the crossbar as Tucuman were left off the hook. That was until former Argentina man Lisandro LOPEZ opened the scoring for Racing Club in the 28th minute with a lovely one touch shot which curled into the back of the net.
Gustavo BOU doubled their lead following an individual effort by Augusto SOLARI who played a simple pass to BOU and he had an open net in front of him to score.
Guillermo ACOSTA brought Tucuman back in it as his shot bounced a few times along the way before beating ARIAS. BOU nearly added a third shortly after but his effort hit the side netting.
David BARBONA finally got Tucuman level with a lovely effort from long range although it must be said that ARIAS should probably have done better on the shot.
Leandro DIAZ had the match winner and should have scored to turn the comeback into a victory for Tucuman but his close range effort went over the crossbar.
Gabriel HEINZE’s Velez remain top of the league table following their 2-0 win against Newell’s Old Boys with five teams tied for second position. Here are the league standings:
Argentina Superliga standings after the first week.
The matches for the second week are as follows:
Friday:
Talleres Cordoba vs. Rosario Central
Newell’s Old Boys vs. Independiente
Saturday:
Defensa y Justicia vs. Atletico Tucuman
Banfield vs. Gimnasia
Argentinos Juniors vs. Godoy Cruz
River Plate vs. Belgrano
Sunday:
San Martin vs. Patronato
Colon vs. Tigre
Aldosivi vs. Huracan
San Lorenzo vs. Lanus
Racing Club vs. Velez
Estudiantes vs. Boca
San Martin Tucuman vs. Union
There are reports that Walter SAMUEL could eventually join Lionel SCALONI’s Argentina coaching staff.
With the two friendly matches against Guatemala and Colombia coming up next month, there could be a change in staff following those matches. There are rumors that Pablo AIMAR’s stint with the senior team will be short lived, with AIMAR returning to work with the youth teams.
Should AIMAR leave the senior staff, a possible replacement is Walter SAMUEL.
Lisandro MAGALLAN of Boca Juniors could be called-up to the Argentina National Team.
Martin TOCALLI who is part of Lionel SCALONI’s coaching staff was present for Boca’s match against Talleres on Sunday and reportedly scouting Lisandro MAGALLAN. Interm coach of the Argentina team Lionel SCALONI was supposed to be present for the game but ultimately it was TOCALLI who was there instead.
According to a report by TyC Sports, TOCALLI was there watching the 24 year old defender. MAGALLAN was part Argentina’s 2016 Summer Olympics team but has never previously played for the senior team.
Lautaro MARTINEZ has been lighting it up for Inter during pre-season and now hopes to make the Argentina National Team squad.
Lionel SCALONI and Pablo AIMAR will be in charge of coaching the Argentina team next month when they play Guatemala and Colombia in friendly matches. Speaking to the press following his goal against Atletico Madrid, MARTINEZ stated his desire of wanting to be called-up for those matches.
“Hopefully I can be called-up. I’m going to keep working to complete my objective.”
The Inter forward also spoke about his friendship with club captain Mauro ICARDI.
“We get along very well and he’s helped me a lot on a day to day basis. We are taking advantage of it and we are very happy with what we are doing.”
There’s no doubt that a partnership of ICARDI and MARTINEZ with Inter can only benefit the Argentina team.
