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Cesar Luis MENOTTI on Argentina: “It was frightening”

Roy Nemer
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22

The legendary coach Cesar Luis MENOTTI had a lot to say about Jorge SAMPAOLI and the Argentina National Team.

When Cesar Luis MENOTTI speaks, you should probably listen. Considered one of the brightest and most knowledgeable minds in Argentina, the World Cup winning coach had some comments following Argentina’s 1-1 draw against Venezuela. Always truthful, the former National Team coach had this to say:

Cesar Luis MENOTTI on Jorge SAMPAOLI

“Coaching Sevilla is not the same as coaching Argentina. Above all, you have MESSI and players who play for top clubs. He puts up drones, gives chats, 14 people to work and after all that MESSI runs forward trying to dribble past everyone.

“Football is like tango, you can’t run all the time. Football has pausing, it has acceleration, it has rhythm, it has changes.”

“He lacks time and experience ate him up. I didn’t understand the team and I say that with extreme caution as I have never spoken to SAMPAOLI but I don’t understand it. I don’t know how he plays.

“The truth is that it was frightening, watching it all was frightening. I played two matches against Venezuela: In Caracas we won 7-0 and in Rosario 11-0. We scored 18 goals in two matches. And now I have to see how much it costs us to beat Venezuela, something within us is not going well.

Jorge SAMPAOLI press conference after Venezuela draw

Roy Nemer
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80

Jorge SAMPAOLI held a press conference following the team’s 1-1 draw against Venezuela.

A sad and angry looking Jorge SAMPAOLI spoke a press conference at the Monumental following yet another draw. Angry, disappointed and sad can probably sum up the feeling of every Argentina fan worldwide. But there was one man who had to speak and it was the coach himself. Here’s what he had to say:

Jorge SAMPAOLI press conference

“We’ll continue fighting to qualify, to win both matches. We have to analyze the past two matches to improve on the remaining two matches. We created 11 goal scoring situations. We’ve let a big chance go by (to qualify). That’s football and it could happen.

“We have to work on what we did well for the match against Peru. Argentina will continue fighting for their place in Russia. We were the better team but couldn’t finish. We have to lift our heads up and play the next two matches with professionalism and strength. We leave angry because the match should have finished in Argentina’s favor. I saw a team determined to qualify. Argentina’s first half was overwhelming.

“We had a lot of good attacks from the left. First with DI MARIA and then with ACUNA. MESSI took over many times during both matches. The important thing is we all push forward together for Argentina to be at the World Cup. The fight for qualification will be tough, we will try to improve on things that we failed at today.”

Argentina fail to pick up steam in draw against Venezuela

Roy Nemer
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37

Another Argentina match, another draw.

On paper, it looked like a very strong attack. Ever BANEGA in midfield to move the ball forward, Paulo DYBALA the jewel of Juventus, Angel DI MARIA the (insert your DI MARIA insult/praise here), the speedy Lautaro ACOSTA, the hitman Mauro ICARDI and of course Lionel MESSI. The opponent? Bottom of the table in the South American World Cup standings Venezuela. The venue? At home. Easy win, right? Wrong.

Argentina were huffing and puffing in the first 20 odd minutes. Throwing everything but the kitchen sink at Venezuela’s defence but the Vinotinto resisted the attacks and weathered the storm. Halfway into the first 45 minutes, Angel DI MARIA (not for the first time in his Argentina career) has to be substituted off in a key match for his country due to an injury. On comes the tricky Marcos ACUNA. The first half solved nothing and the second half brought more nerves.

The second half and the 1-1 draw

The second half of the match did provide goals but not what Argentina wanted. Venezuela scored the opener on a quick counter and Sergio ROMERO came way off his line as he was chipped and suddenly the last placed team in South America was bringing the Monumental to its knees. The Albiceleste kept pushing forward and finally got their deserved goal following a cross by ACUNA which first appeared to hit Mauro ICARDI and go in but was later given as a Venezuelan own goal.

With one substitution made, Jorge SAMPAOLI had two more to go. He gambled, rolled the dice and got snake eyes. Dario BENEDETTO of Boca Juniors was given his national team debut as he replaced Paulo DYBALA. The second was Javier PASTORE on for Mauro ICARDI. To say both substitutions provided next to nothing for Argentina would be a fair assessement. Lionel MESSI (who once more had a sublime match) with a great ball to BENEDETTO into the area but the Boca man was unable to control it as it went out for a goal kick. As for Javier PASTORE, a failed backheel attempt in midfield which lead to a Venezuelan counter and a shot saved following a brilliant MESSI pass is what he has to his name in this match.

The whistle blew as 1-1 was the final score in Buenos Aires and Argentina remain exactly where they were at the start of the last two rounds, in playoff position.

Argentina against Venezuela – Match Thread

Roy Nemer
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134

We are less than an hour away from Argentina playing Venezuela and this is the official match thread!

Results are going Argentina’s way. Bolivia with a 1-0 win against Chile and Colombia drew 1-1 against Brazil. What does that mean? It means that a single point for Argentina (which would not be ideal) would put them ahead of the Chileans. Colombia are currently in second place with 26 points and a win for Argentina would take them level with the Colombians (although goal difference would be a factor).

However, at the moment of writing, Peru are currently leading Ecuador 2-1 and if the Peruvians get the three points, they would be ahead of Argentina (who currently have 23 points) as they would have 24 points.

A massive game up next for Argentina where three points should be added to the table for them. As we reported yesterday, here’s the starting eleven for Jorge SAMPAOLI’s men:

ROMERO; MASCHERANO, FAZIO, OTAMENDI; ACOSTA, PIZARRO, BANEGA, DI MARIA; MESSI, ICARDI, DYBALA

or (different formation)

ROMERO; MASCHERANO, FAZIO, OTAMENDI; DYBALA, PIZARRO, BANEGA; MESSI; ACOSTA, ICARDI, DI MARIA

Poll: Argentina against Venezuela prediction

Roy Nemer
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22

Tuesday night, it will be Argentina against Venezuela and we want your predictions!

If Thursday night’s World Cup Qualifying match against Uruguay was more of a “can’t lose”, then Tuesday night’s World Cup Qualifying match between Argentina and Venezuela is a “must win” for the Albiceleste. The legendary Estadio Monumental is the venue, Argentina against Venezuela is the match, the stars will be on show but who will win? On paper, logic predicts that Lionel MESSI’s men will pick up the three points. However, it’s never that easy. Argentina only managed a 2-2 draw in Venezuela last year and they cannot afford to drop any points this time around.

As we reported yesterday, Argentina’s starting line-up was already confirmed. Once more, Lionel MESSI, Paulo DYBALA and Mauro ICARDI will start together. Here’s the line-up:

Argentina against Venezuela line-up

ROMERO; MASCHERANO, FAZIO, OTAMENDI; ACOSTA, PIZARRO, BANEGA, DI MARIA; MESSI, ICARDI, DYBALA

or (different formation)

ROMERO; MASCHERANO, FAZIO, OTAMENDI; DYBALA, PIZARRO, BANEGA; MESSI; ACOSTA, ICARDI, DI MARIA

Argentina coach Jorge SAMPAOLI appears to be going all in with a very attack minded team. With that said, what do you think the result of the match will be? Is it going to be 3 points for Jorge SAMPAOLI’s men? Will Venezuela pull of a shock and get the victory themselves or will the match end in a draw?

[poll id=”5″]

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