Argentina will face Russia in November, according to reports.
To celebrate the inauguration of the Luzhniki stadium in Russia, Argentina will play the hosts of the 2018 World Cup. The match, which is expected to take place on November 11, will take place at the same stadium which will host the 2018 World Cup final.
Lisandro Lopez scoring against Russia
Argentina vs. Russia
Nikolai Guliaev, the head of the department of sport in Moscow had this to say:
“The Luzhniki will be ready for use in June. The official inauguration will be a match between Russia and Argentina and the preliminary date is November 11th.”
The stadium has been revamped and was the host of the 2008 Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea.
Goals from Gabriel MERCADO, Hernan BARCOS, Alexander SZYMANOWSKI and Martin MANTOVANI make the list for this weekend.
Spain:
In Spain, it was the Seville derby as Jorge SAMPAOLI’s Sevilla travelled to play against Real Betis. It was the home team which scored first but it was Gabriel MERCADO who scored the equaliser for SAMPAOLI’s men before they went on to win 2-1 and get the three points. Along with MERCADO, Nicolas PAREJA and Franco VAZQUEZ started for Sevilla while Joaquin CORREA and Matias KRANEVITTER were substituted. For Betis, former River Plate man German PEZZELLA played the full 90 minutes.
Still in Spain, Leganes had two Argentine players score for them in their 4-0 win against Deportivo. Alexander SZYMANOWSKI and Martin MANTOVANI both scored while German Lux was the goalkeeper for Deportivo.
Ecuador:
In Ecuador, Hernan BARCOS scored twice for LDU Quito in their 4-0 win against River Ecuador.
Gabriel MERCADO’s goal:
MERCADO, EL DE LOS GOLES IMPORTANTES | Gaby anotó en el Derbi Sevillano para empatar el partido que luego terminó llevándoselo Sevilla. pic.twitter.com/ldQhXZLwgL
Mateo MUASCCHIO is reportedly close to joining AC Milan.
According to a report from TyC Sports, Villarreal defender Mateo MUSACCHIO is close to a move to the Italian giants. The reported fee is that of €25 million. MUSACCHIO would join the team in the summer.
Mateo Musacchio with Villarreal
MUSACCHIO with Villarreal:
The 26 year old, who joined Villarreal B from River Plate in 2009 was promoted to the main team in 2010 and has been capped four times for Argentina.
Those are the words from Argentina’s most capped player Javier ZANETTI (via Twitter @javierzanetti) as he shows his gratitude towards Lionel MESSI for giving him a signed Argentine shirt and a ball.
However, none of these items will go in ZANETTI’s memorabilia collection. Instead the Internazionale Vice President intends to sell them on eBay and all the proceeds will go straight into the PUPI Foundation (which is run by ZANETTI himself).
Both players are well known for doing charitable cause through their respective foundations. Apparently it was ZANETTI who seeked for some assistance from MESSI to help young kids back in Argentina to which Leo responded with this great gesture.
Here’s hoping that both items will fetch a good number and put a smile on some less fortunate kids. Bravo to both players!
Edgardo BAUZA commented about Mauro ICARDI, Paulo DYBALA, the World Cup Qualifiers and more.
Speaking on Argentine television, Argentina National Team coach Edgardo BAUZA has stated the reason why he doesn’t want to call-up Mauro ICARDI. Here’s what he had to say:
BAUZA on ICARDI:
“I don’t want to bring in ICARDI to have him sit on the bench. My center forwards are HIGUAIN and PRATTO. DYBALA in the final 30 meters of the pitch is very unbalancing. Today, we don’t know how much he can grow. HIGUAIN and DYBALA understand each other very well at Juventus”
Lucas Pratto and Gonzalo Higuain are Edgardo Bauza’s center forwards
“I want the league to start for us to look at players. After that, what happens in the AFA has nothing to do with us. For CARUZZO (defender Matias CARUZZO of San Lorenzo), I know him, I don’t have to watch him. I asked the directors to play at the Bombonera but they told me it would be better to play at the Monumental.”
“The match against Chile is vital. I’m thinking about the two different matches against Chile and Bolivia. I know about the altitude and what it can cause. Five or six midfielders. We have to have the ball. The amount of matches OTAMENDI has played is very important, just as much as the one’s ROMERO has played. MOURINHO is very comfortable with ROJO as a center back”
At this point, it is becoming increasingly clear that Edgardo BAUZA simply does not want Mauro ICARDI on the team, not even on the bench. Regarding Matias CARUZZO of San Lorenzo, BAUZA’s comments can be seen as a positive or simply another BAUZA comment in which he doesn’t follow through and call-up the player.
