Argentina will be using a shirt with the Olympic emblem on for the tournament.
For those who remember the 2008 Olympics edition, there were some problems between the Olympic committee and FIFA. The Argentina team (along with others) at the Olympics had to have the AFA emblem removed for the Olympic games as the AFA are part of FIFA and the Olympics are not a FIFA sanctioned event.
Here is the shirt the team will be wearing, with the Olympic emblem and sky blue and white colors.
Argentina Olympic coach Julio OLARTICOECHEA spoke in a press conference ahead of the start of the Olympics.
OLARTICOECHEA spoke about the Olympics, the team and Edgardo BAUZA being named the new coach of the senior National Team. Here’s what he had to say:
“I’m convinced this team could do something special. They talk and are very united. I banned cellphones at the dinner table. I was informed that the rooms in the Olympic village for us are functioning fine. Everything was tested.”
“I’m calm knowing that the senior National Team now has a new coach. BAUZA and I were teammates in the National Team. We have a friendship. I wish him the best and I’m sure he’ll do well. BAUZA has the personality, the capacity to do it. Also, this opportunity comes at the right time in his career.”
“It’ll be a great match against Portugal on Thursday. A dinamic one. It’ll be nice to watch. The fans will enjoy it. It would be nice to get to the final against Brazil. It would be beautiful to ruin Brazil’s party.”
“Youth football in Argentina has to be re-built.”
BAUZA has also stated that it is possible that OLARTICOECHEA joins his coaching staff.
To follow up on the earlier quotes, here’s the transcript of Edgardo BAUZA’s quotes.
The new Argentina coach discusses the team’s playing style, about how certain things need to be worked on and more.
About the team and the upcoming list:
“It’s not entirely set in stone. I won’t make major changes in the first call-ups. It’s important that these players lead the way. More than anything because we have little time. After that, we can talk about some names that may not have been there in the past. But it’ll mostly be the same ones which have recently been called-up. I’m not going to mention any names in fear of me changing ideas. We have very little time and we’re already working. We have until the 15th of the month to announce the list, we’re going to wait until the last day because I first want to talk, not only with Leo, but with several other people. Four or five players which have marked this generation of the National Team.”
“There are a lot of players. But I don’t want to get into mentioning names because even though in my head we’ve started working, the problem is that we have very little time and we need results right away. It’s for that reason I don’t think we will have big changes. We need players that are used to playing in the Qualifiers. But yes, we will start integrating young players.”
Playing style:
“Obviously we have the choice and with the amount of quality which Argentina possess, it gives you choices. Furthermore, the thing is that in every team I have coached, everyone attacks and everyone defends. To defend, we need everyone. As the coach, I’ll try to take advantage of all the choices Argentina presents.”
“We have not contacted MESSI or anyone in his family. The idea is to speak to PEREZ and after that to travel to speak with MESSI. It’s not about convincing MESSI but to talk to him. Those of us who have worked in football know the frustrations. MESSI has defended a lot. He doesn’t need to run to the half circle in his own area to defend. When one says “everyone has to defend”, it starts with where you are to defend. If you’re doing it in your area, in the attacking half, etc… There are different ways to defend and you don’t have to run a lot to do that.”
“The issue is how we can organize the team defensively. I think that’s the part we have to work on. With the options that Argentina has, offensively, very rich but we have to organize defensively for the team not to get worn down and recover the ball as soon as possible. I have an idea in mind but for that, we have to talk to the players, explain the idea and work on it.”
About Tata MARTINO:
“I’d like to have a coffee with him because speaking to him can make things clearer. I’ve spoken with SABELLA but I’ll get together with other coaches when I can.”
“They were 10 days with a lot of ups and a lot of downs. When they called me, I was very excited. As I said, it was a good conversation. It ended just as I had wanted it. We’re very excited and anxious to organize and work in such short time.”
About HIGUAIN:
“Surely HIGUAIN will be there. But like any player, we have to support him and give him confidence. He’s now at a club due to everything he’s done in the past few years, nothing was gifted to him. I know exactly the sacrifices he had to make.”
About MASCHERANO and TEVEZ:
“MASCHERANO could play as a central defender but also has great timing in being the number 5 of the team. I think about TEVEZ just like all the other players. He’s a player that nobody can put into question.”
“It’s the most important challenge of my career. And I told Armando PEREZ today: I’m grabbing onto this and I’m giving it my all. If today I don’t dream about bringing the World Cup to the Pope and more so with Argentina, I should devote myself to another profession.”
New Argentina National Team coach Edgardo BAUZA took the media on Tuesday to talk about his new position.
BAUZA spoke about Lionel MESSI, the players and the team. Here’s what he had to say:
“We have not contacted MESSI or anyone in his family. The idea is to speak to PEREZ and after that to travel to speak with MESSI. It’s not about convincing MESSI but to talk to him. Those of us who have worked in football know the frustrations. I won’t make major changes in the first call-ups. It’s important that these players lead the way.”
“I’m one of those who think that everyone should attack and everyone should defend.”
“Surely HIGUAIN will be there. We have to support him and give him confidence. MASCHERANO could play as a central defender but also has great timming in being the number 5 of the team. I think about TEVEZ just like all the other players. He’s a player that nobody can put into question.”
“It’s the most important challenge of my career. And I told Armando PEREZ today: I’m grabbing onto this and I’m giving it my all. If today I don’t dream about bringing the World Cup to the Pope and more so with Argentina, I should devote myself to another profession.”
Edgardo BAUZA is the new coach of the Argentina National Team.
In typical Argentine fashion, they were late to their own party. Sao Paulo, BAUZA’s previously club, had released a statement indicating that BAUZA has left the club and is the new coach of the Argentina National Team. The AFA were supposed to hold an announcement about it at 19:30pm local time.
With Sao Paulo, along with every reputable journalist in the country announcing it, it’s fair to say the job is his.
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