Geronimo Rulli spoke with TyC Sports where he commented on his relationship with the Argentina national team and Estudiantes de la Plata.
Rulli, still only 27 years of age, has played a total of two matches for the Argentina national team. Speaking in an interview, the Montpellier goalkeeper stated that his dream is the Argentina team but that he has a strange relationship with it.
“It’s a strange relationship that I have with the Argentina national team. It’s my dream and what I always want, to play, to represent my country. What I know is that if I do things well, I’ll be there. At times, I’d say I’m among the best in the world, best statistics and I’m not called and it annoys me. But as I got older, I learned that it’s what I love the most but I’m not going to go crazy about it.”
Regarding his boyhood club Estudiantes de la Plata:
“It’s my family, the love and the great memory I left at the club. It’s everything. I started when I was 5 years old and where I did all of my preparation. I was barely a year into the top division, I enjoyed it. At la Real (Sociedad), I showed everything I did at Estudiantes and the preparation I had.”
Pablo Zabaleta gave an interview with Presion Alta where he spoke about Argentina taking part in three straight finals, the demands on Lionel Messi and the current Argentina national team.
Zabaleta was part of the Argentina team which made the 2014 World Cup final and it continues to weigh heavy on him. Speaking in the interview, here’s what he had to say:
“We put in a lot of effort and there was the frustration of not having won a title. And they would say Messi’s friends. Today, it’s impossible for a footballer to get away from it all. We don’t stop being humans who suffer. After losing three finals, everything weighs more on you and you have to live with it.
“We live in a demanding society. The fact that we played three finals in three years has to be highlighted.”
The former Manchester City man also commented on Lionel Messi’s contributions:
“It’s demanding on Leo (Messi) because he’s the best in the world but no one wins alone. Beyond just that he hasn’t won a senior title, he gave the chance to the AFA to make a lot of money for having the best player in the world.”
Regarding the current team:
“When Russia was over, for many it was the end of a cycle. Now there’s a rebuilding. I see that (Lionel) Scaloni has done well with the group and I believe that he has good support from the new ones and as usual from the greats.”
Juan Pablo Sorin gave an interview with Presion Alta where he spoke about the Argentina team at the 2002 World Cup as well as having Marcelo Bielsa as a coach.
Sorin only had nice things to say about the current Leeds manager. Having had him for the 2002 World Cup qualifiers and the World Cup itself, here’s what Sorin had to say:
“I appreciate having had him as a coach because he’s one of those revolutionaries who is always looking for more. He always wants to learn and pass something more onto the player.
“I never went through a defensive plan that made me polish up everything. To anticipate, the aerial duels… After that it was natural movements but when you work on them, you get used to covering for your team mates. From being a left wing back to left back or a sweeper.”
Regarding the disaster that was the 2002 World Cup for Argentina:
“The people don’t want to hear anymore about it because we didn’t score goals and we didn’t make it out of the group. The training sessions were demanding as they always were. We weren’t many which came from South America and we were physically very well.
“The one’s that came from Europe with very long seasons arrived extremely tired. We did our best, tried everything and maybe we reached our football peak a year before.”
Javier Saviola is the latest to come out and speak about Lautaro Martinez’s potential move to Barcelona.
Saviola knows first hand what it’s like to play alongside Lionel Messi. Having been a team mate of his at Barcelona as well as with the Argentina national team, Saviola knows what it takes to play next to the best player in the world. Speaking in an interview with la Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Honestly, Lautaro is a player that could be useful for Barcelona. However, we know what it means to be next to Suarez, Messi and other stars. What I’m saying is that it’s not easy to play with them.”
The former Argentina man also weighed in on Dybala’s comments of finding it difficult to play with Messi:
“Dybala said it was difficult for him to play with Messi and I support that idea. Because being able to maintain the same rhythm (as Messi’s) requires another level of concentration. It seems easy but it’s not.”
Roberto Sensini gave an interview with the AFA website where he spoke about the match he enjoyed the most while with the Argentina national team, his favorite players, goals and more.
Sensini made a World Cup final with Argentina back in 1990 and while he may never have won a World Cup, he was part of some legendary matches. Speaking in an interview, here’s what Sensini had to say:
About playing for the Argentina national team:
“Having player for the Argentina national team is everyone’s dream. I was one of them, I was fortunate enough for a long time and that makes me happy. For all those wanting to be footballers, representing your country is the best thing that can happen and even more at a World Cup. Maybe at the time I don’t know if I enjoy it or realized the spot I had but as the years pass by, you value it a lot more. I’m thankful for what football has given me.”
Which match he enjoyed the most while playing with Argentina:
“There were a lot but I always remember Caniggia’s goal against Brazil at the 1990 World Cup. For many reasons but the one where we eliminated Italy on penalty kicks at the same World Cup. But that match was special for having eliminated Brazil and the way it all happened. We suffered a lot but thankfully Diego’s play ended with a goal and it was all very joyful.”
He has been part of teams which had great players, if he had to pick just one, who would he pick:
“No doubt Diego (Maradona). He encompassed everything you need to have as a player and as a team mate, beyond the fact that I’ve had other great team mates. But Diego had everything to be the ideal team mate because he made you win matches, he taught you to play and after that as a professional, he defended you. These are all things you have to value.
“After that, someone who marked me a lot in terms of their wanting to win was Bati (Gabriel Batistuta). I share a lot of times with him but Diego is Diego.”
As a fan, what was the goal he celebrated the most with the Argentina national team:
“There are two I have to pick. The one from Diego in 1986 against England. For me, that looks like a goal that we still celebrate. And the one Burru (Jorge Burruchaga) scored in the final of the same World Cup. I would pick those two. The one from Brurruchaga for he importance of it and that it made us win the World Cup. And the one from Diego for the play and for everything it meant for Argentines.”
