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Celebration of Two Legends: Messi & Batistuta

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Messi’s winner against Uruguay marked his 56th international goal for Argentina, drawing level with another former Albiceleste legend, Gabriel Omar Batistuta.

Some media outlets claim that Batistuta’s official tally for Argentina stands at 54 instead of 56, but that depends on who your source is: FIFA or the AFA. Back in June 1995, Argentina played an unusual friendly in Mendoza against the Slovakian nation youth side which they won 6-0. Batistuta scored two goals in that game which FIFA recognize as legitimate to his tally while the AFA don’t, and hence the ambiguity in Bati’s total goals scored for Argentina.

Here at Mundo, frankly we dont care… Messi and Batigol are two legends who will forever be inscribed in Argentine football history, and this post is not in any way a comparison, but a celebration of their 112 goals and everything else they have done for the Albiceleste.

Gabriel Batistuta
Albiceleste Career: 1991 – 2002
Senior Appearances (goals): 78 (56 goals)
Goals Ratio: 0.72 goals/game
World Cup: 10 goals
World Cup Qualifiers: 11 goals
Copa America: 13 goals
Confederations Cup: 4 goals
Friendlies: 18 goals


Lionel Messi
Albiceleste Career: 2005 – Present
U20 Appearances (goals): 18 (14 goals)
Olympic Appearances (goals): 5 (2 goals)
Senior Appearances (goals): 114 (56 goals)
Goals Ratio: 0.49 goals/game
World Cup: 5 goals
World Cup Qualifiers: 16 goals
Copa America: 8 goals
Friendlies: 27 goals

Edgardo BAUZA confirms line-up for Argentina, press conference quotes

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Edgardo BAUZA has confirmed Argentina’s line-up for their match against Venezuela on Tuesday.

Speaking at a press conference, Edgardo BAUZA has confirmed that Marcos ROJO, Ever BANEGA and Erik LAMELA will start. Here’s the line-up:

ROMERO; ROJO, FUNES MORI, OTAMENDI, ZABALETA; MASCHERANO, BIGLIA; DI MARIA, BANEGA, LAMELA; PRATTO

Argentina Lineup Venezuela
Argentina line-up against Venezuela

Here’s what BAUZA had to say:
“Looking past not having MESSI on the team, the idea will remain the same. We’ll try and be the protagonists. Marcos ROJO will come in for Emmanuel MAS, Ever BANEGA for Paulo DYBALA and Erik LAMELA for MESSI. MESSI has talked with the team and he’s wished them good luck for the match tomorrow.”

“The important thing in the debut match was to win. It’ll be a different match against Venezuela. I know their coach, he looks for intensity in his teams. We’ll have to watch out. I see a very committed and eager team. Venezuela has 5 or 6 players who are playing at a high level. We’ll have to be very careful in the back. Venezuela aren’t the team they were 10 years ago. Most of their players now play in Europe.”

“We’ll have to be prepared for the long balls and their pressuring.”

“The idea is to give LAMELA freedom. He’s a player that gets to the goal. I saw him as better than others. MESSI is the player that can unbalance a team the most. He won’t be there. But we have other very good players.”

“The World Cup Qualifiers are totally different than the Copa America. But the idea is to always win. We’ve had very little time to work but we’ve talked with the players. We’re looking for a balanced and winning team.”

Javier MASCHERANO on BAUZA/SABELLA, MESSI and more

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When MASCHERANO speaks, it’s definitely worth paying attention to what he has to say.

Speaking on Fox Sports, Javier MASCHERANO touched on a number of subjects pertaining to the National Team. About the thought of retirement, Lionel MESSI, comparisons between Edgardo BAUZA and Alejandro SABELLA and more. Here’s what he had to say:

“After the World Cup in Brazil, I had a lot of doubt about leaving the National Team. Now, after losing to Chile, it wasn’t doubt but more of seeing what would happen with everything. We were left without a coach and it makes you think how things will continue. I think more than anything it was just to honestly see what the general feeling was among those here and to see if we would continue what we had started, because the Qualifiers had already started and it’s never easy to make a change halfway into it. It wasn’t the time to throw in the towel. This team can continue to compete.”

If Lionel MESSI had quit, if he would have quit as well:
“I don’t know if I would have left but it would have been complicated because it would have been very difficult to continue without Leo. If Leo had left, things would not have been too easy. Not only in terms of a team but in terms of the whole structure of it all. I think we don’t get how significant Leo is in that aspect.”

“Luckily, Leo realized that his story with the National Team doesn’t deserve to finish like that.”

“The problem is what you want people to believe. Journalists create opinions. Many times things don’t go our way and in the end, someone is called a failure or a loser. This is a team sport and I don’t think I’m a winner for what I have won in Barcelona.”

About BAUZA:
“BAUZA is similar to Alejandro (SABELLA). For me, Alejandro was the top of top in terms of a coach. Not only in terms of his professionalism but of how close I was with him. I have a connection with him which I haven’t managed to get with any other coach. I often speak with him and the truth is that it sucks what happens to good people like him. He’ll surely get better and I have a lot of faith in him and that he’ll succeed.”

“BAUZA is similar to him. Someone who has a lot of experience, above all is used to competitions in South America and that could be a plus for us. He’s a practical coach, who’s not limited to his bubble. He’s pragmatic.”

About how he would like to be remembered with the National Team:
“As a nice guy. At the end, it’s all there is. It’s been a long adventure. I never would have imagined that I’d have lasted this long. I’d like to be remembered as someone who was always committed to the cause.”

Ever BANEGA to wear the number 10 shirt

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Ever BANEGA to wear the number 10 shirt

Ever BANEGA will wear the number 10 shirt for Argentina.

In the absence of Lionel MESSI against Venezuela on Tuesday night’s World Cup Qualifier, it’ll be Inter’s Ever BANEGA who will wear the prestigious number 10 shirt. Erik LAMELA will wear the number 9 (not sure how that one works) with Angel DI MARIA as the number 11 and the number 18 going to PRATTO once again.

Squad numbers against Venezuela
Squad numbers against Venezuela

1. Sergio ROMERO
2. Gabriel MERCADO
3. Facundo RONAGLIA
4. Pablo ZABALETA
5. Matias KRANEVITTER
6. Lucas BIGLIA
7. Angel CORREA
8. Augusto FERNANDEZ
9. Erik LAMELA
10. Ever BANEGA
11. Angel DI MARIA
12. Nahuel GUZMAN
13. Ramiro FUNES MORI
14. Javier MASCHERANO
15. Martin DEMICHELIS
16. Marcos ROJO
17. Nicolas OTAMENDI
18. Lucas PRATTO
19. Mateo MUASCCHIO
20. Nicolas GAITAN
21. Lucas ALARIO
22. Emmanuel MAS
23. Mariano ANDUJAR

Erik LAMELA expected to start for Argentina

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Erik LAMELA is expected to start for Argentina on Tuesday when they play Venezuela.

Argentina will be without Lionel MESSI and Paulo DYBALA when they visit Venezuela but according to reports, we do have our starting eleven. It looks as if the line-up we reported a few days ago, will be the final one. Marcos ROJO is set to start at left back after serving his one game suspension which means Emanuel MAS will be on the bench.

Ever BANEGA will start in place of Paulo DYBALA and Erik LAMELA appears to have won a starting spot as he would start on the right side ahead of Nicolas GAITAN. Here would be the line-up:

ROMERO; ROJO, FUNES MORI, OTAMENDI, ZABALETA; MASCHERANO, BIGLIA; DI MARIA, BANEGA, LAMELA; PRATTO

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