FIFA have altered the rules for next year’s Olympic games which can see 24 year olds compete.
With the Olympics postponed until next year, FIFA has agreed to extend the age limit from 23 to 24, allowing players which would normally have beel selected this year to take part again next year.
The football tournament will kick off before July 23, 2021 which is when the actual games in Tokyo would begin. Countries will still be allowed to select three over-age players.
Martin Demichelis spoke to Radio La Red where he discussed the 2014 and 2010 FIFA World Cup defeats.
Demichelis played in two of the biggest matches one could play in his career and was on the wrong end of the result both times. The first was the infamous 4-0 defeat to Germany at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the second was another loss to the Germans at the 2014 World Cup.
The former Manchester City and Bayern Munich man mentioned what he had in mind had the 2014 result gone the other way. Here’s what he had to say:
“It’s going to hurt forever but there’s very little to reproach us with.
“In my head, I had imagined us leaving at dawn with the World Cup to Christ the Redeemer. It would have been an image for all eternity.”
He also revealed that he has yet to rewatch the Eorld Cup final but thay eventually he will:
“When my son Bastian will be older and he’ll understand football and ask me to watch it, I’ll sit and watch it with great pride.”
Asked abiut the 2010 World Cup quarter final defeat to Germany, here’s what he had to say:
“A few days ago I saw a summary of the game. I saw highlights ans I believe we were up to it in the match until the 65-70 minute mark with a lot of chances to draw level. After the 2-0, every time they passed the middle of the pitch, there was a feeling they would score.
“We started the match 1-0 down within two minytes. We were competing but the 4-0 remains and there are no excuses and it remains there to analyze in Argentine football. We were eliminated.”
Carlos Tevez has stated that football players should take a pay cut with everything going around with the coronavirus.
Tevez has come out and spoken about how a football player should have to take a pay cut and that the clubs have to help out the communities. Speaking to America TV in Argentina, here’s what he had to say:
“A footballer can live six months or a year without receiving [wages]. We are not in the same despair as those who live with kids every day, who have to leave their house at six in the morning and return at seven in the evening to feed the family.
“We are not an example in this case; yes in other things. We have to be there and help. It is easy for me to speak from home, knowing that I have food for my children.
“But desperate people, who cannot move and cannot leave the house. That is worrying.”
The Boca Juniors man says it’s not just the players but the clubs who have to do their part as well:
“The clubs have to get involved. Instead of going to train in the morning, they [should] demand that you do things for the people. For example, go to the dining rooms in La Boca. I would be delighted to go. I know that my family is fine.
“That’s where the great example begins. You can make videos, like me at home from my living room, but the great example would be that we all go out and help.”
“There are no shirts here. Social class does not matter. We all want to help. Hopefully the world will be more supportive. We are realising that we are all the same. Hopefully we grow as a society and tomorrow this has changed the world for good. This virus teaches us that. Hopefully it is for the good and that we are all one and come out of this together.”
Credit to Bein Sports for the translated quotes:
Federico Fernandez gave an interview with Ole where he discussed the Argentina national team, the 2014 World Cup, Lionel Messi and the coronavirus.
Fernandez hasn’t played in a tournament for Argentina since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He didn’t take part in the final but was part of the entire World Cup qualifiers as well as the friendly matches which lead to the World Cup. Here’s what he had to say about it all:
“No doubt about it, my time with the Argentina national team with Sabella, during the entire World Cup qualifying process, was something exceptional. I enjoyed it a ton. A good team was formed leading into the World Cup. A new coach came in, with new ideas but it wasn’t to be.
“I played six years in the Premier League, I played everything. And the coaches watch everything, they’re aware. I have to play well with Newcastle. If I get a call, I have to be ready.
“I have never closed any door in regards to the Argentina national team and I don’t believe the coach shuts anyone out. The idea is always there but I am also aware that it’s a new period with young players. If I get a call, great.”
In regards to the 2014 World Cup final:
“I can’t go back and watch that match. In general, Argentina were better, had the better chances. Everything was pointing towards the match going to penalty kicks and they won from a play out of nothing and it ended in a goal. Football is like that. In the end it’s like that, nothing and we couldn’t…”
About Lionel Messi:
“He won so much with Barcelona and it’s just not happening with the Argentina national team. They are different scenarios, playing with the national team is also easier, it’s less games, the competition is different. Hopefully with the years he has left, he can fight and bring the Argentina national team to another final. He fights until the end. As a fan, it’s what one wants.”
Regarding the coronavirus:
“We don’t know what will happen, there’s nothing official. It changes from one week to another, it depends on the virus. When they told us that we would all have to stay home, we thought it would all be inder control in two weeks. Now, we will supposedly be in training for the 15th of April, but I doubt it. I doubt it will start in May, I think it will get extended until June and July.”
Paulo Dybala gave an interview with AFA Play where he spoke about the Argentina national team, playing alongside Lionel Messi and the coronavirus.
Dybala has been at Juventus for five years and has been part of the Argentina national team for the same amount of time. He spoke about when he got called up to the team. Here’s what he had to say:
“There was a lot of talk about me. I was 21 years old, there was a lot expected of me. There was talk saying “it’s now, in September”. I had just joined Juventues and when the list came out, I wasn’t there and there was some bitterness. Still, I went on and my family supported me. I was waiting, I continued to train and luckily things were going well for me.
“In October, it was the same. That I was going to get called up but I didn’t have any expectations because I didn’t want to get my hopes up and that month I got a call from Tata (Gerardo Martino). It was just immense joy.”
In regards to the Argentina national team, Dybala says he wants more while also putting pressure on himself:
“I would have liked to have achieved more. To be able to give more goals, more assists, better results, on a personal level as well. Because here at Juventus, I’ve always been able to do the things I wanted to do. And maybe with the Argentina national team, I haven’t been able to develop the same way playing the minutes I was planning on playing at the World Cup, at the Copa America. But I always tried to respect the decision of the coach because I know it’s a very prestigious spot where I always have to give the most and the coach puts who he thinks is better.
“I don’t know if I’m a perfectionist but I’m very demanding of myself. I try to see what I’m doing wrong to be able to improve on it. I like to talk to the coach, to give my best and they know what I’m missing. Here at Juventus, I’ve always played. I won important things, I reached a Champions League final, I scored goals. I think that what I’m doing here, I still have to do with the Argentina national team. I’m now 26 years old, I’m not 21.
He was also asked about his comments a few years ago where he said it was difficult to play alongside Lionel Messi:
“There was never any bad intention on my part but people wanted to see it differently. If we’re going to talk about football at a press conference, I’m not going to criticize a team mate. Even about Leo, what I meant is that tactically we are so similar, it’s normal that we find ourselves playing in the same position. I played five years there at Juventus, him 15 at Barcelona. We feel comfortable in the same position, the best is that the coach works on that. It’s obvious that I’m the one that has to change and look for space he isn’t occupying.
“It’s what happened vs. Chile up until they sent him off. We had worked on it with Lio Scaloni, I always tried to look at him, to see where he is, to find the holes. It was a question that I answered normally.”
The Argentina and Juventus man was asked about the coronavirus:
“It’s psychological. At the beginning, you’re scared. In principal, you try not to think that it’s that. But after that, one of my team mates had it (Rugani) and after that another (Matuidi) and I was the last one. Luckily we weren’t many at the club.
“I had a bad cough, I was tired and at night when I would sleep, I’d be cold. It was a bit of having to live with it, not becoming desparate and trying to be calm.
“Now we are good, much better. Those days, we didn’t have symptoms. Let’s say that she (his girlfriend Oriana) feels much better. I got tired quickly, I wanted to train and I would be out of breath after five minutes. From there, we knew that something wasn’t right and through tests they told us that we were positive.”
Support the site, win prizes, and be part of the Albiceleste family!
OFFER AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME
1 MONTH – FREE TRIAL, CANCEL ANYTIME
