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Argentina possible opponents for 2020 Olympic games

Roy Nemer
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20
Argentina possible opponents for 2020 Olympic games

The qualification phase is done and we now know which 16 teams will be competing in the men’s football tournament at the Olympics in July and August.

If Argentina are to win their third gold medal in football at the Olympics, they will have to battle 15 other teams with the draw being held next month. In addition to Argentina, Brazil were the other South American country who qualified from the region. Hosts Japan earned an automatic birth.

Along with Argentina, Brazil and Japan, it’s four teams from Europe, one from Oceania, three from Africa, three from Asia (Australia included in the region) and two from North America. Here are the 16 teams that will be battling for gold.

Japan (hosts)
France (UEFA)
Germany (UEFA)
Romania (UEFA)
Spain (UEFA
New Zealand (OFC)
Egypt (CAF)
Ivory Coast (CAF)
South Africa (CAF)
Australia (AFC)
Saudi Arabia (AFC)
South Korea (AFC)
Argentina (CONMEBOL)
Brazil (CONMEBOL)
Honduras (CONCACAF)
Mexico (CONCACAF)

We will find out which group Argentina will be drawn in on April 21, with the draw taking place in Switzerland. It will be four groups of four and no group can contain more than one nation from a region. That would mean that Argentina and Brazil cannot be drawn in the same group.

Argentina won their first gold medal in 2004 in Anthens where they let in zero goals. Four years later, a star studded team would win the second gold medal. That team had the likes of Lionel Messi, Juan Roman Riquelme, Javier Mascherano, Sergio Aguero, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Pablo Zabaleta, Sergio Romero and several others. Many from that team would go on to play in the final of the 2014 World Cup.

Argentina fall 3-0 to Japan in Olympic preparation

Roy Nemer
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43
Argentina fall 3-0 to Japan in Olympic preparation

Argentina fell 3-0 to Japan in their second of two games as their preparation for the Olympics continue.

Despite winning 1-0 on Friday in their first match, Fernando Batista’s team lost 3-0 on Monday in a less than stellar performance. Here was the starting eleven for the team:

Jeremias Ledesma
Kevin Mac Allister
Nehuen Perez
Nazareno Colombo
Alexandro Bernabei
Hernan De La Fuente
Santiago Ascacibar
Santiago Colombatto
Lucas Gonzalez
Juan Brunetta
Adolfo Gaich

Fernando Batista made a few changes from the first match. And while it wasn’t the best of performances, it should be noted that Batista only had this team for less than one week. There were only two substitutions made during the match. The first was Benjamin Rollheiser for Juan Brunetta while Enzo Cabrera was brought on for Adolfo Gaich.

Lisandro Martinez says Lionel Messi is a leader, talks about Copa America, Olympics

Roy Nemer
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22
Lisandro Martinez says Lionel Messi is a leader, talks about Copa America, Olympics

Lisandro Martinez recently spoke about the Argentina national team, Lionel Messi, the Copa America and the Olympics.

Martinez has started for Ajax in their last five league matches and eight of the last nine as he has played 90 minutes in most of those games. Enjoying a good run of games could get him included into the Argentina team for the upcoming Copa America.

Having made his debut in March of 2019 in a friendly match vs. Venezuela, the 23 year old defender managed to get some minutes alongside captain Lionel Messi. Speaking in an interview with EFE, here’s what he had to say about Messi:

“He’s a born leader. We can’t have him for 100 years but the years that he could be with the Argentina national team, we have to try and enjoy him as much as we can. It’s very nice observing him playing, how he sees things differently, how he anticipates the plays. No doubt it’s a question of watching him and observing because he’s incredible.”

Regarding the upcoming Copa America and the Argentina national team, Lisandro had this to say:

“If I’m called up to the Copa America, I’ll be very happy and if I’m called to the Olympic games, I’ll be just as happy. Representing the Argentina national team, no matter the spot, brings a lot of satisfaction.

“One has to be playing with his team, doing things well and from there showing a high level because the Argentina national team is full of good players.”

He has only played one match with Argentina and that was the 3-1 loss vs. Venezuela two years ago. He missed out on the 2019 Copa America and hasn’t featured in the World Cup qualifiers.

Argentina U23 coach Fernando Batista speaks on striker Adolfo Gaich

Roy Nemer
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1
Argentina U23 coach Fernando Batista speaks on striker Adolfo Gaich

Argentina U23 coach Fernando Batista spoke about striker Adolfo Gaich following the team’s 1-0 win vs. Japan.

It was Gaich who scored the only goal of the match, the winner in Argentina’s first of two friendly matches vs. Japan on Friday. He has been in great form this week as he not only scored for the national team but for his club Benevento in their 1-0 win vs. Juventus last week.

Gaich has been the breakout star for the U20 and U23 team, making a name for himself at the U20 World Cup and especially in the Sudamericana, where he helped Argentina qualify for this year’s Olympic games.

Fernando Batista called up the 22 year old for the two games this week as the team prepares for the Olympics and Gaich didn’t disappoint. Speaking in an interview with TyC Sports, here’s what coach Batista had to say:

“Hopefully he continues down this path because he’s a great kid and he deserves it. In addition, he’s in good form, he always wants to do better. Everytime we call him up to the team, he comes here with a lot of desire, he has a magnet with the Argentina national team.”

The team will play their second match vs. Japan on Monday.

Adolfo Gaich scores only goal as Argentina U23 win 1-0 vs. Japan

Roy Nemer
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54
Adolfo Gaich scores only goal as Argentina U23 win 1-0 vs. Japan

Adolfo Gaich scored the only goal of the match as the Argentina U23 team got the 1-0 win vs. Japan.

In the first of two friendly matches vs. Japan, Fernando Batista’s men would draw first blood. As both teams begin preparation for the Olympic games in Tokyo, it was an Adolfo Gaich goal that would be the difference.

A cross by Valenzuela in midfield found Vargas who would run towards goal and cross the ball into the penalty area. His cross would find Gaich as the Argentine would score, with the ball bouncing off of the crossbar and in to give his team the 1-0 lead.

Here was the starting eleven:

Jeremias Ledesma, Hernan De La Fuente, Nehuen Perez, Nazareno Colombo, Milton Valenzuela, Santiago Ascacibar, Santaigo Colombatto, Fernando Valenzuela, Matias Vargas, Agustin Urzi, Adolfo Gaich

Prior to the match, the Argentina team all wore a number 10 shirt in honor of the late great Diego Maradona who passed away in November. In addition, they played in the new Argentina shirt which was released by Adidas a few days ago.

The team play their second friendly match vs. Japan on Monday.

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