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Atalanta reportedly asked Cristian Romero not to play Argentina quarter final game

Roy Nemer
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Atalanta have reportedly asked Cristian Romero not to play in Argentina’s quarter final game.

Per several reports coming out of Argentina, Cristian Romero’s club Atalanta have contacted the player asking him not to take part in the quarter final match on Saturday. Romero is not yet fully fit and Atalanta don’t want him to risk the injury and potentially aggrevate it.

As we reported a few days ago, should Romero not be fit enough to start the match, it would be Pezzella who would replace him in the back line. However, per the reports, Romero wants to play the quarter final match on Saturday.

This would not be the first time an Argentine has received a player during a tournament from his club asking him not to play. Angel Di Maria infamously received a letter from Real Madrid prior to the final of the 2014 World Cup. They asked Di Maria not to play and reportedly even threatened legal action. 

Argentina Olympic squad announced, Alexis Mac Allister of Brighton included

Roy Nemer
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37

Argentina U23 coach Fernando Batista has announced his squad for the Olympics which begins later this month.

Fernando Batista has selected his team of 22 players for the tournament as Argentina will be looking to win their third gold medal at the men’s football tournament. As we reported earlier, Lucas Alario is injured and will not be taking part in the tournament.

Batista has included one overage player as goalkeeper Jeremías Ledesma is included. River Plate did not allow Julián Alvarez to make the squad.

It’s a total of 22 players but only 18 would be allowed per match squad. The squad was released through the social media channels. Here are the players that have been selected:

Jeremías Ledesma (Cadiz CF)
Lautaro Morales (Lanus)
Joaquín Blázquez (Talleres de Cordoba)
Hernán De La Fuente (Free agent)
Marcelo Herrera (San Lorenzo)
Nehuén Pérez (Atletico Madrid)
Leonel Mosevich (FC Vizela)
Facundo Medina (Lens)
Francisco Ortega (Velez)
Claudio Bravo (Portland Timbers)
Fausto Vera (Argentinos Juniors)
Santiago Colombatto (Club Leon)
Tomás Belmonte (Lanus)
Martín Payero (Banfield)
Fernando Valenzuela (Famalicao)
Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton)
Thiago Almada (Velez)
Esequiel Barco (Atlanta United)
Agustín Urzi (Banfield)
Pedro De La Vega (Lanus)
Adolfo Gaich (CSKA Moscow)
Ezequiel Ponce (Spartak Moscow)

Copa America knock out changes, no extra time, only in final

Roy Nemer
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7

Changes have been made to the format of the Copa America knock out stages.

The format will be reverted back to the 2015 and 2016 editions. That means in case of a draw in the quarter finals and semi finals of a Copa America match, the game would go straight to penalties. There would not be extra time if a match were to be tied after 90 minutes.

However, extra time would be available in the final. That means in the final, if a match is tied, it would go to extra time, followed by a penalty shootout if necessary.

This was not the case in 2019 where extra time was available in the semi finals and final but not the quarter finals.

Should Argentina vs. Ecuador be drawn after 90 minutes, that means the match would go to penalties.

Lucas Alario out of the Argentina Olympic team due to injury

Roy Nemer
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13

Lucas Alario is out of the Argentina Olympic team due to injury.

Alario, who was initially selected for the Copa America squad by coach Lionel Scaloni, had to be dropped from the squad because of an injury. After being dropped from the squad, Argentina U23 coach Fernando Batista selected the 28 year old for the Olympics.

Initially one of three overage players in that team, the official Argentina Twitter account have stated that he is out of the team due to an injury.

Lionel Scaloni’s doubts in Argentina lineup for quarter-finals vs. Ecuador

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Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has some doubts regarding the starting eleven he will choose for next Saturday’s game vs. Ecuador in the quarter-finals of the Copa America. Some players seem to have their place secured for the next match, while in other positions the starters are still uncertain.

Per a report by TyC Sports, Emiliano Martínez would be the goalkeeper, not Armani, who played last game vs. Bolivia. Martínez was rested in the last match to protect him from receiving his second yellow card in the competition.

Regarding the defense, Nahuel Molina would play as right-back, while Nicolás Tagliafico and Marcos Acuña fight for a place in the left-back position. Nicolás Otamendi seems to be another that has his place secured, whereas Cristian Romero, who is recovering from a knock on his knee and Germán Pezzella appears to be a doubt for now. While the belief is that Romero should be good to go, he might not be fully fit. Should he not be ready, it would be Pezzella in his spot.

In the midfield, Lionel Scaloni will have to decide between Leandro Paredes or Guido Rodríguez. On the other hand, Rodrigo De Paul would be a starter, while Giovani Lo Celso and Alejandro Gómez fight for the same spot.

The only doubt in the attack is whether Nicolás González or Ángel Di María, who is also recovering from a knock on his knee, will start as left-wing. Lionel Messi would play as right-wing and Lautaro Martínez would play as striker.

Here, Argentina’s lineup to play Ecuador:

 

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