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Ángel Di María, from almost ending his cycle with Argentina to scoring the Copa America winner

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Ángel Di María’s story with the national team can be compared with any of the stories written by the greats. It has everything: drama, conflict, emotion, and a fantastic ending; one which hopefully lasts a couple of more years.

His injuries in key moments were his biggest downfall with Argentina. As several players have said over time, injuries are perhaps the worst thing that can happen to a footballer since it is something that, most of the time, cannot be controlled. The impotence that the player feels in those moments is huge.

“Fideo” missed the 2014 Brazil World cup final due to a tear in his right thigh. He had to be replaced in the first half of the quarterfinal match vs. Belgium, and it came down to the wire on whether or not he would play the final vs. Germany. It was definitely a risk for him to play with so little time of recovery but, as he stated some time after the final, it was going to be worth it. This is what he said to the Argentina physical trainers the morning of the final:

“If I get injured again, let me keep getting injured. I don’t care. I just want to be there and play.”

It was that same morning when he received a letter from his club, Real Madrid, ordering him not to play. Ángel ripped that letter without even reading it, and told the physical trainers it was going to be his decision whether he plays or not. There, he went to talk with coach
Alejandro Sabella.

This is what Di María wrote in an article for Player’s Tribune about that conversation with the Argentina coach, hours before the game of their lives:

“I sincerely wanted to play that day even if it ended my career. But I also didn’t want to make things complicated for our team. So I woke up early that morning and went to see our manager, Mr. Sabella. We had a very close relationship, so if I told him that I wanted to start, I knew that he would feel the pressure to put me in. I told him sincerely, with my hand on my heart, that he should put in the player that he felt he had to put in.

“I said, “If it’s me, it’s me. If it’s another, then it’s another. I just want to win the World Cup. If you call on me, I will play until I break.”

“And then I started crying. I couldn’t help it. The moment had overwhelmed me.”

Enzo Pérez finally played in his place and, even though Di María exercised his leg right before the game and during halftime, he did not play a single minute in the final that ended with Germany beating 1-0 Argentina, in extra time. Later, Di María would state that that was “the worst day of his life.”

Incredibly, that was just the beginning of Di María’s bad luck with the injuries.

During the 2015 Copa America final in Chile against the hosts, Ángel suffered a muscle injury after a 70-meter run in the 24th minute of the first half. He then had to be replaced as Argentina would go to lose that final vs. Chile through the penalty shootout.

At the 2016 Copa America in the United States, he suffered another muscle injury during the second group stage game, a 5-0 win vs. Panama. This came after having a great performance during the opener vs. Chile, where he scored and assisted.

Despite missing all the Cup matches from then on, it seemed that he was going to be able to play the final. A couple of days before the big game, again vs. Chile, he re-felt the injury but still played in Argentina’s third consecutive final. Di María started the match but was visibly hurt. One more time, the same story:
Chile beat Argentina on penalties.

This continuation of getting injured made him seek professional psychological help. Although he started working with a psychologist during the 2014 Brazil World Cup qualifiers because the pressure of playing with the national team at that time was “huge,” he needed it even more
after the three lost finals.

Many Argentina fans and journalists destroyed that generation of footballers who, three times were on the verge of lifting the trophy. Ángel Di María was probably one of the most punished along with Gonzalo Higuaín and Fernando Gago. Living in the era of fast
communication, where everything spreads with the speed of social media, clearly did not help to appease the fire.

“The criticisms and memes that come out, even if it seems like it wouldn’t hurt you, it hurts you a lot and makes you think a lot. One of the reasons why sometimes I think or thought of stop trying is that.”

As with other interviews with players of that generation, Di María looked sad when he talked about what he had to experience with the national team despite reaching three consecutive finals. However, during an interview with ESPN F90 in September of 2020, Ángel made it clear that he would continue to seek revenge with Argentina:

“I have many friends that tell me to stay in Paris, have a coffee in front of the Eiffel Tower. I tell them that I prefer to go to Argentina and have 45 million people insult me and I’ll defend the Argentina shirt.”

But Di María also had people who were against him from his beginnings with the national team. If you don’t remember, listen to what Diego Maradona said while he was Argentina’s coach in 2010:

“Di María was resisted (against). Remember the game with Uruguay. They all wanted me to put another player in that position, and I told the lad (Di María): I’ll die with you.”

In the last couple of years, especially after the 2016 Copa America, the fans and the media began to ask for a change in the Argentina squad, which included Di María, who was already in his 30’s, being out. Despite playing at a high level at Paris Saint-Germain, most of the Argentina fans thought Ángel should not be call anymore for the national team.

Still, “Fideo” maintained his good permances at PSG, playing alongside stars like Kylian Mbappé and Neymar, and was called by all the Argentina coaches. Although he was not always a starter, he ended up playing many minutes with the national team.

Even in the last Copa America, the 2021 edition in Brazil, he was not a starter from the beginning. Di María fought for a spot in the starting eleven, which he only achieved in two of the seven Copa America matches. Nicolás González was coach Lionel Scaloni’s favorite in the left-wing position. However, in the most important match of the tournament, the final against Brazil, Scaloni started with Di María instead of Nico González.

In the end, Ángel Di María would go on to score the winning goal in the 1-0 win vs. Brazil, at the Maracanã, in the 2021 Copa America final. His words speaking with his family, in tears, after the game, summarizes how big was his desire of lifting a trophy with Argentina, how much he loves his country, and how much he fought for it:

“We made it. I love you so much. Thanks for always supporting me. I love you. Did you see it? Someday the wall was going to break. The wall finally broke. I got hit many times, but I kept coming here. I never gave up, dad, as you taught me. I was always there.”

As he said several times, and we can see it clearly in the previous video, the support of his family was extremely important for this outcome. Here, we can see the emotional reunion of Ángel with his daughters and his wife, after winning the Copa America:

Di María, now more than ever, earned being called “the player of the important goals” with the Argentina national team:

At the 2008 Beijing Olympics final, he scored the only goal in the 1-0 vs. Nigeria, finishing with a chip over the opponent’s goalkeeper.

At the 2014 Brazil World Cup round of 16, he scored the winning goal vs. Switzerland, with 3 minutes left in extra time.

He also scored against France, at the 2018 World Cup round of 16 in Russia, with a fantastic shot outside the box that gave hope to the Argentina fans.

And of course, his recent winner in the 1-0 vs. Brazil, at the 2021 Copa America in Brazil.

Lionel Messi’s post on his Instagram account of “The old guard”, with Sergio Aguero, Nicolás Otamendi, Ángel Di María, and himself, somehow symbolizes the fight of that generation of players that reached three finals and could not get the title. This trophy is for them too.

As a way to immortalize the triumph, and all that it meant, Ángel got tattooed the Copa America on the thigh of his left leg. It will be an indelible memory for him, as well as for all the Argentina fans.

Emiliano Martinez comments on winning Copa America with Argentina, Lionel Messi

Roy Nemer
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In a lengthy interview with Ole, Argentina Copa America winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez spoke about winning the Cup and having Lionel Messi as captain.

In this two part interview which will be translated here on Mundo Albiceleste, the undisputed number one for Argentina spoke at length about the admiration he has for Lionel Messi and the support which Messi has given the team.

During the interview, Dibu commented on the celebrations of winning the Copa America. When asked that what he lived was like celebrating a World Cup. Winning at the Maracana vs. Brazil. How he perceived it and realized what they
achieved:

“I started to realize it when the memes. People went crazy over what I said but for me it’s something very normal. The people that know me know how I am as a person, I won’t change for anyone. I’m sick and passionate about what I do and I’m a fighter without limits. And obviously without people, they hear everything you say on a pitch.

“What I said is not something out of this world, I just kept talking to the penalty kick taker. It had never been seen but it’s something that I do, not to neutralize the opponent but to get me excited, to motivate me. But I know that people were crazy about it because I stopped three out of five penalty kicks, four in six with the one vs. Chile.

“But I know that I had played six matches with the Argentina national team or seven. I had won nothing. Going to a final and for it to be a disaster, what is it worth? It’s worth nothing. People felt better because we won the final, in the semi finals I was lucky to have saved three of the five penalty kicks.

“But if I had been a disaster in the final or said “I got it, the entire world know me”, losing the final would serve for nothing. I was really excited that it was just that game. I put aside the press, the people, the memes… everything and I focused on that I had to do what I did at Arsenal, Racing or Aston Villa. And the truth is that I grew a lot mentally and physically and today I feel better and better and I will continue to improve.”

How everyone knows who Emiliano Martinez is:

“It’s normal. People remember the great Argentine goalkeepers for decisive moments. It’s like that for a goalkeeper. The start is always the number nine or number ten. The goalkeeper always goes unnoticed, it’s the truth. A goalkeeper is a goalkeeper for a reason, because he’s not good playing like a number ten.

“But that today people recognize me with a phrase or a shot, or they say my name or that Dibu made a save, it’s like when I would hear about Pato. They would throw themselves and they would say Pato or Goyco. One remember those great goalkeepers for the moments where they achieved something with the Argentina national team.

“Or Mascherano’s phrase to Chiquito (Sergio Romero) that gave him the strength to stop the penalty kicks (Argentina vs. Netherlands, 2014 World Cup semi final).

“Leo gave me a hug and told me “you’ll stop one”. You have a crack that saves you in every match, that does everything for the Argentina national team. The least I could do was to try and help him to get to the final. It’s what I set out
to do.”

If Lionel Messi told him anything else that left a mark on him:

In a match vs. Uruguay he told me “help us in the crosses because they’re brave.” In general, he says more things as a captain, he helps us all. When he scored his penalty, he could have gone straight to the center but he came and told me “You’ll save one” and I saved the next one. That’s what he generates. It’s difficult to explain but he’s a captain and the entire world wants to have him.”

Lionel Messi isn’t too active on his Instagram but on his Instagram, Messi called Martinez a monster. What went through his mind:

“I was speechless when I saw it. They are sentences or pictures that you keep for the rest of your life. Or to have frame that I’m hugging him. Same thing in the semi’s, when he came to hug me, same as the interview or what he put on Instagram, it gave me strength to stop in the final and be even better. It gives me strength.”

On if he got emotional about it:

“That he puts a photo with the caption “he’s a phenomenon”, how can I not perform in a final? I want to give him life, I want to die for him. I said it four or five months ago, I said I prefer that he wins the Copa America before I do. And it’s true. Just like every Argentine. The Brazilians, for me, wanted Argentina to win the Copa just because of Messi.

“And an Argentine isn’t going to want Messi to win it? It (winning Copa America) happened and hopefully we can give him the World Cup.”

About how what surprised De Paul the most was that Leo never loses in training. What surprised Martinez the most about Messi?

“We would play truco (card game), Marchesin, Musso and I against Messi, Paredes and De Paul. Practically 20 or 30 nights, we would play truco. He’s a normal guy, a great guy and someone who really wanted to win something with the Argentina national team, more than anyone in the national team.

“And he transmitted that to us, to the new group, that desire of this animal who wanted to win something. How can we not want to win something ourselves?”

About Lionel Messi and playing alongside him:

“You guys said it: I’m an Argentine fan that achieved my dream. I didn’t stop fighting until I reached my goal. I don’t know how many Copa America’s or World Cup’s Leo will play. Having played one with him already for me… When I made my debut at the Copa America, I said “I reached my dream.”

“And after that we won it, that I could not have thought or imagined. You want to play with the best player in the world and watching him play made me secure and made me better.

“You say “he made the players excited”, me too and I’m a goalkeeper. I wish I had played every match in a league with him. I would be a much better goalkeeper. I was with the national team for 45 days having come off a great season with Aston Villa where I got much better but with the national team, I got better by 10% or 15%. You know when you watch Dragon Ball Z as a kid? I’m Vegeta and when I played with Messi, I turned into Super Say Saiyan.”

Leandro Paredes said that at times he couldn’t believe what Messi did on the pitch. If there was something in particular that Martinez couldn’t believe:

“There’s not a specific play. In the free kicks, it’s halfway being a goal. A dead ball, if he crosses it well, it’s a goal. He grabs it (the ball) and you’re calm, he won’t lose it. We would be winning 1-0, Messi would take it and go to the corner and say alright, the match is done, there’s five minutes left.

“All of these things make you more secure. At Villa, we would lose a lot of matches in the 91st or 92nd minute. We would have the ball in the corner at the 89th minute against Uruguay or Paraguay and that’s it, we would win 1-0. These are things that make you very secure. It’s small things that I’m telling you that made us all better.”

The second part of the translated interview will be up shortly.

Cristian Pavón to join Olympique Marseille from Boca Juniors

Roy Nemer
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Cristian Pavón is set to join Olympique Marseille from Boca Juniors.

The 25 year old will reportedly be making the jump over to Europe as several reports out of Argentina are stating that he will be joining Marseille. Per the reports, the winger will join Jorge Sampaoli’s team on a season long loan with the Ligue 1 club having the option of purchasing him for 6 million.

Pavón spent the 2019-2020 season out on loan at MLS club Los Angeles Galaxy where he scored 14 goals in 35 games. He took part in Boca’s 0-0 draw vs. Union on Friday.

With the Argentina national team, Pavón has played 11 matches and even took part in all four of Argentina’s 2018 World Cup games in Russia. The coach at the time would be his new coach, Jorge Sampaoli. His last match for Argentina came in September of that year.

Boca Juniors held to 1-1 draw, Estudiantes earn big 3-0 win vs. Sarmiento

Roy Nemer
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It was the return of the Argentine Primera Division on Friday with two games being held.

Union hosted Boca Juniors in the first match and it looked to be the visitors who would get the win but for a late draw. Boca Juniors took the early 1-0 lead through Agustin Obando. A left footed shot from the 21 year old Argentina from inside the penalty area took a touch off the defender and in to give Boca the lead.

Cordero nearly drew Union level after a good header from close range but an even better save by Garcia maintained the advantage. Union would come close a few times before finally scoring. A cross into the penalty area found an unmarked Marquez who headed the ball to draw Union level as both teams would share the points.

Estudiantes were away to Sarmiento and it was three goals in six minutes which made the difference. The first goal of the match came from a cross inside the penalty area that found Apaolaza as he would head the ball from very close range.

Two minutes after that it was a well worked goal and Manuel Castro was on the end of it as he struck the ball from inside the penalty area. Just four minutes after that, Apaolaza scored his second of the game. A pass from deep and a close range strike made it 3-0 for Estudiantes.

Former Argentina man Ezequiel Garay announces retirement from football

Roy Nemer
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Ezequiel Garay has announced his retirement from football.

Former Argentina man Ezequiel Garay has announced through social media that he will not continue playing football. Still only 34 years, Garay spent many of his years playing in Spain.

Having started at Newell’s Old Boys from 2004-2005, Garay joined Racing Santander in Spain for three seasons. Having impressed at Racing, he made a move to Real Madrid.

Not a regular starter at Madrid, he was sent back on loan for one season at Racing. From there, he spent three years at Benfica where he started getting called-up to the Argentina national team.

After Benfica, he joined Zenit for two years before finally going back to Spain, joining Valencia. He played for them from 2016 until 2020 where he just announced his retirement.

With the Argentina national team, he won the U20 World Cup back in 2005 alongside Lionel Messi, Pablo Zabaleta and several others that would go on to play for the senior side.

He also won gold at the 2008 Olympics where he was a starter. He represented the sky blue and white 32 times at senior level. He was a rock and the heart of the Argentina national team back line.

Argentina made the 2014 World Cup final with Garay in the eleven. He took a crucial penalty, the second of the penalty shootout in the semi finals vs. the Netherlands. His penalty was unstoppable as Argentina made the final. Garay was also part of the 2015 Copa America team which made the final.

Thank you Ezequiel Garay for everything!

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