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Latest FIFA rankings, World Cup champions Argentina in second

Roy Nemer
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12

The latest FIFA rankings are out and the World champions Argentina are in second place.

Lionel Scaloni’s team lifted the biggest trophy in all of football to add that third star on the shirt but even with the win, they are not first in the rankings. Brazil are first with Argentina second and France third.

One of the reasons why Argentina are not first appears to be because FIFA does not count Argentina’s penalty shootout wins vs. Netherlands and France as wins. Instead, they would count as draws. Here are the top 10:

1: Brazil
2: Argentina
3: France
4: Belgium
5: England
6: Netherlands
7: Croatia
8: Italy
9: Portugal
10: Spain

Nicolás Tagliafico on the World Cup final: “I didn’t know I was playing”

Roy Nemer
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79

Nicolás Tagliafico spoke about the World Cup final, stating that he didn’t know he was playing.

Tagliafico started the World Cup final for Argentina and put in a stellar performance as they lifted the trophy. He would start the semi final and final for the Argentina national team in place of Marcos Acuña but it was Acuna who was set to start the final.

The original early reports had Acuña in the eleven vs. France but about an hour and a half before kick off, it was Tagliafico’s name on the team sheet. Speaking in an interview, streaming with AFA Estudio, here is what he had to say:

“We got to the team talk and I didn’t know that I was playing. I thought it was el huevo (Marcos Acuña). I saw my name and my eyes opened up. I still haven’t realized what we have achieved, I think it was the best final ever.”

Argentina in Group A for January-February U20 Sudamericano tournament

Roy Nemer
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6

Argentina are in Group A for the U20 Sudamericano tournament which will be held at the start of the new year.

Coach Javier Mascherano will be coaching in yet another tournament. The tournament will be held between January 19 and February 12, with Argentina in Group A along with hosts Colombia, Brazil, Paraguay and Peru.

The tournament will serve as qualifiers for the 2023 U20 World Cup in Indonesia and the 2023 Pan American Games. The top four teams will qualifier for the U20 World Cup and the top three teams, along with hosts Chile, will qualify for the Pan American Games next year.

Javier Mascherano’s team will play Paraguay on January 21 before playing on January 23 vs. Brazil. On January 25 they play Peru and will play their last match in the group on January 27 vs. Colombia.

Lionel Messi invited to join Brazilian Maracanã Hall of Fame

Roy Nemer
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16

Lionel Messi has been invited to join the Brazilian Maracanã Hall of Fame.

Messi continues to break records and gain love from fans around the world. This time, from Brazil.

The Argentine World Cup champion has been invited to join the Maracanã Hall of fame. Adriano Santos, the president of the Rio de Janeiro State of Sports, sent a etter to the AFA which included this:

“Messi has already demonstrated his importance on and off the pitch. He is a player who has been at the highest level in the history of football for years”

“It is only fair that the Maracana pay tribute to him. After all, he is a genius with the ball.

“Nothing could be more fitting than for the Maracana to also pay tribute to him.”

Argentina won the 2021 Copa America at the Maracana in Brazil with Messi lifting the trophy. He would join fellow giants of football like Pele, Garrincha, Rivelino and Ronaldo of Brazil.

Chile’s Elias Figueroa, Serbia’s Dejan Petkovic, Portugal’s Eusebio, Uruguay’s Sebastian Abreu and Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer.

Paulo Dybala speaks on penalty in the World Cup final, mentions Dibu Martínez

Roy Nemer
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13

Paulo Dybala spoke about the penalty he scored in the World Cup final while also mentioning Emiliano Dibu Martínez.

Dybala was brought on as a substitute in the World Cup final to take a penalty. With Lionel Messi scoring Argentina’s first penalty, Dybala was the second taker and he mentions he originally was not going to shoot down the middle.

After all of the celebrations in Buenos Aires, Dybala was at the airport in Córdoba and he spoke to the media. Here is what he had to say:

“When I went in, I knew it was for the penalties. I had planned to go to one side but Dibu told me after they missed that I should kick down the middle because the goalkeeper always dived. Luckily, I listened to him.”

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