Leandro Paredes commented on arriving at the 2022 World Cup with an injury, the save by Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez and Lionel Scaloni.

Paredes revealed that he got to the 2022 World Cup without being fully fit. The World Cup champion gave an interview to Sofi Martinez Mateos where he spoke about the World Cup. Here is what he had to say:

“I didn’t get to the World Cup 100%. I got there with pain in my adductors, in the pubis. 20 days later, I had a hamstring injury.

“I had a very bad time. I suffered and cried a lot here in Turin. I used to turn on the shower so no one would see me. I locked myself up alone and tried to get over my problems.

“The coach (Lionel Scaloni) called me and told me: ‘Get well, you’re going to be there. Don’t go crazy because you’re not going to miss the World Cup.'”

He also spoke about what it was like the day of the finals:

“The day before the final, we slept very well. We woke up calm, we had lunch and took a nap.

“The day of the final vs. Brazil at the Copa America was much more difficult. We all woke up at 7:00 am, like never before.”

The World champion was asked about the save by Emiliano Martínez on Kolo Muani in the last minute of the final:

“In the last one (play), Dibu saved us. He was there, 10 meters away. I knew it was very difficult for him to miss, it was just a matter of him saving us.

“To have a ball bouncing at the last minute in a WC final, it’s tough to miss.”

When asked about coach Lionel Scaloni:

“Winning is addictive. It was shown when I had to speak with Leo Scaloni after he won the Best award. I congratulated him and he said ‘now we have to go for more'”.

Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez is in India and spoke about the 2024 Copa America, the World Cup and Lionel Messi.

Martínez has been in Asia for several days, having visited Bangladesh and India. The Best goalkeeper in the world spoke to the media while in India about his Argentina national team career. With quotes via Calcutta Times, here is what he had to say:

“When I play in goal, I think I can be the best. Winning the Copa America, the Super Cup against Italy and the World Cup, within two years we won everything as internationals and we are going to win the next Copa America and hopefully the next World Cup.”

The World Cup winner was also asked about Lionel Messi, with quotes via Telegraph India:

“After the match against the Netherlands we knew we would be champions. And when we won the Cup, Messi hugged me and told me ‘You have won us the Cup’. It’s a night I will never forget.

“He is from another planet. Messi is irreplaceable. If he decides to retire before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, we have to respect his decision.

“With or without Messi, we will give our all to defend the World Cup.”

Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez is on the cover of Calcutta Times in India!

“Kolkata’s love for football surprises me!”

Via @Calcutta_Times. pic.twitter.com/th85NVJf6B

— Mundo Albiceleste ⭐🌟⭐🇦🇷 (@MundoAlbicelest) July 5, 2023

Argentina U17 national team coach Diego Placente has announced his latest team for training.

The U17 World Cup begins on November 10 in Indonesia and the coach is already beginning to prepare for it. Placente has named 24 players on Monday which will begin training at the Lionel Messi training complex.

Two absences are Claudio Echeverri and Gianluca Prestianni. The two players will continue to train with River Plate and Velez, their respective clubs. Here are the players that have been called up to the team:

Froilan Diaz (Union)
Enrique Maza (Atletico Tucuman)
Franco Villalba (Velez)
Dylan Martinez (River Plate)
Dylan Gorosito (Boca Juniors)
Ulises Gimenez (River Plate)
Juan Gimenez (Rosario Central)
Agustin Colmegna (Boca Juniors)
Octavio Ontivero (Lanus)
Lucas Flores (River Plate)
Alejo Rivas (San Lorenzo)
Thiago Laplace (Lanus)
Gustavo Albarracin (Talleres CBA)
Mariano Gerez (Lanus)
Kevin Gutierrez (Rosario Central)
Franco Mastantuono (River Plate)
Alejo Sarco (Velez)
Agustin Ruberto (River Plate)
Ian Subiabre (River Plate)
Hernan Godoy (Lanus)
Santiago Lopez (Independiente)
Benjamin Acosta (Lanus)
Luka Andrade (Boca Juniors)

David Beckham has spoken about Lionel Messi signing with his club Inter Miami and what happened when he found out about the news.

Beckham explained how he found out that Lionel Messi signed with his club Inter Miami, despite rumors and interest from both Barcelona and Saudi Arabia. Beckham is part owner of Inter Miami and as per Goal.com, here is what Beckham had to say at the “Leadership Lessons” seminar:

“A couple of weeks ago, I woke up to about a million messages on my phone.

“I was thinking, ‘What’s gone off? I don’t usually get this many messages.’ All of a sudden, I hear Leo has come out and announced he’s coming to Miami. Obviously, it wasn’t a surprise to me.

“I have always said, from the word go, that if I had the opportunity to bring the best players in the game to Miami, at whatever time of their careers, I would do that. I have always made that commitment to our fans.

“So when I hear that one of the best players – if not the best player – who has won everything in the game, who is still a great player, still young and still doing what he’s doing, wants to play for my team, it’s a massive moment for us.”