Posts Tagged ‘Argentina’

World Cup qualifying is underway on Tuesday.

This is round of two of the long qualifying process to see who makes it to Brasil in 2014.

Chile battles Peru.

Paraguay battles hated foe Uruguay.

This should be a real war.

Venezuela takes on Argentina.

Bolivia has a hot date with Columbia.

Messi and Gonzalo Higuain are the two headliners for Argentinos.

With Tevez out Argentina is playing like a real team.

Higuain said this- “I hope I can keep playing this way. Playing for the national team is great – I’ve dreamt about it since I was a kid. I’ve always dreamt of wearing the number nine shirt of Argentina.

“This is just the beginning of the qualification. Winning the first match is good, but it’s just the first step.

”Both of these guys play for Barca so they know each other very well.

“We get on with each other very well. To me, it’s a pleasure to play by his side,” he said. “With both Angel (Di Maria) and Leo I feel very good when we attack, because we can profit from the spaces we have on the field thanks to their speed.”

Both Argentina and Venezuela both won their opening matches.

Diario Hoy wrote this about the match-

Tras el debut exitoso ante Chile, el seleccionado argentino viajó a Puerto La Cruz para ratificar este buen inicio en las eliminatorias sudamericanas clasificatorias para el próximo Mundial de Brasil 2014, cuando enfrente esta noche a Venezuela, con cambio de sistema y algunos nombres.

En poco más de un mes, estos combinados se volverán a encontrar, porque fresco está el último antecedente en Calcuta, India, donde se produjo el comienzo de la era Alejandro Sabella en septiembre, cuando Argentina venció 1-0 con gol de Nico Otamendi.

El estadio José Manuel Anzoátegui estará repleto por unas 40 mil personas, que aguardarán por ver un triunfo local y terminar con las derrotas ante Argentina. Pero además del rival habrá otros factores a tener en cuenta, los cuales podrían influir en el estado de los futbolistas. La temperatura, la humedad y el clima lluvioso serán datos no menores, como el pronóstico cercano a los 30 grados en ese horario.

Más allá de la buena versión que mostró el viernes pasado, Sabella tocará la formación inicial.

Teniendo la posibilidad de incluir a Javier Mascherano, quien cumplió la fecha de suspensión, y a Martín Demichelis, recuperado de un traumatismo en la cabeza, el seleccionador nacional se adaptará a la propuesta del adversario y a los jugadores que tiene a disposición para trasladar el dibujo 4-4-2 a un sistema 5-3-2 en zona defensiva, pasando a un 3-4-3 cuando esté en ataque.

Las apariciones de Masche y Micho obligarán a dejar el once titular al doble cinco del viernes, Braña-Banega, por lo que habrá un funcionamiento distinto, con más defensa y contragolpe, como también libertad para el accionar individual de mitad de cancha hacia adelante.

La otra cuestión pasa por la continuidad de Mariano Andújar en el arco, ya que Chiquito Romero no tiene al 100% su tobillo izquierdo.Tomando aquellas variantes, Zabaleta y Rojo cumplirán la función de laterales volantes; en la zona defensiva, Demichelis sobrará para jugar de líbero teniendo a Otamendi y Burdisso como stoppers. En el medio, Mascherano se ubicará como único volante central, con Sosa más adelantado, y en la parte de arriba, Di María se tirará por izquierda y Messi quedará libre para abastecer al solitario Higuaín, que viene de meter un triplete en el Monumental.

My good friend Doctor Luis Palau is happy that Argentina is playing well.

He was born in Buenos Aires.

When you get a chance please check out his website.

Flamenguista for life.

www.palau.org

http://www2.hillsong.com/tv/home.asp

http://www.bolaradio.com.br/

World Cup qualifying begins for 2014. Jeez I can’t believe it is just around the corner. The 2014 World Cup will be held in Brasil so that means Brasil already is in.

The host nation is guaranteed a spot.

Argentina started off their quest with a convincing 4-1 win over Chile.

Argentinos was led by Lionel Messi.

Messi scored a goal but his mate Gonzalo Higuain hit the triple lotto.

He dialed up the hat trick.

Uruguay doubled up Bolivia 4-2.

Luis Suarez and Edison Cavani each scored a goal while Diego Lugano hit the daily double.

Peru beat Paraguay 2-0.

Ecuador shut out Venezuela 2-0.

The Peruvians win over Paraguay was a real shocker.

The other big news is that Carlos Tevez was not named to the Argentina National team.

Juan Riquelme from Boca Juniors was also left off the squad.

This was only the first match in the long qualifying process but is was good to see Peru beat Paraguay. Peru This Week wrote this about the win-” The Peruvian soccer team defeated Paraguay 2-0 on Friday night.

According to Andina, Peru played in front of more than 45,000 spectators, in what was Peru’s first qualifying match for the FIFA 2014 World Cup.

During the first half of the game, Peru’s attacks were constant but failed to outplay the strong Paraguayan defense.

20 minutes into the match Paraguay began to attack more frequently and created some dangerous situations for Peruvian goalie Raul Fernandez.

Peru scored it’s first goal 2 minutes into the second half, after a play started by Jefferson Farfan, who passed the ball to Guerrero, who managed to pass between two defenders and score.

The second goal came at the 27th minute of the second half, when a pass by Pizarro managed to find Guerrero in front of the goal.

With the win, Peru scored its first three points in South American qualifying round for the FIFA 2014 World Cup.

Peru is attempting to reach the World Cup after a 29-year absence.”

Flamenguista for life.

www.palau.org

http://www2.hillsong.com/tv/home.asp

http://www.bolaradio.com.br/

Uruguay won their 15^th Copa America title on Sunday. This puppy was pretty much over from the outset.

Paraguay never had a chance.

The final score was 3-0 Charruas.

Forlán hit the daily double to lead the way.

Diego Forlán put this sucker outta reach with goals in the 41^st and 90^th minutes.

His mate Luis Suarez started the hit parade off with a pai de crianca in the 11^th minute.

This is a little bit of Portuguese lingo for ya.

Lets get real Los Guaranies was completely out classed.

In a sane futebol world Brasil and Argentina should have been in the finals but both clubs are sorely lacking big time ability to get the job done when it counts.

Argentinos and Brasileiros have the star power but star power doesn’t always get it done.

To win titles it takes teamwork and sound fundamentals on both the offensive and defensive ends of the pitch.

Congrates to Uruguay for taking it to Argentina and Paraguay.

Charruas did it when it counted.

Forlán was the player of the match.

His two goals were the difference in this sucker.

Flamenguista for life.

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The Copa America semifinals begin on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Tuesday pitches Peru and Uruguay.

This should be a win for Charruas but never under estimate La Blanquirroja.

Both these clubs were not supposed to make it to the semifinals.

Peru upset Columbia 2-0 while Uruguay beat Argentina 5-4 in a PK shootout.

Both sides came out of Group C.

Uruguay and Peru tied one all.

This could be a good.

Charruas is looking for the 15^th Copa America title.

Both Argentina and Uruguay each won 14 crowns since the Copa began play in 1916.

Prior to 1975 the competition was called the Southern American Championship.

Uruguay’s headman Oscar Tabarez is not taking lightly the Peruvian side-

“If you paid attention to everything that was written before the Copa America, they are a surprise, but I know the Peruvian style of play, their coaching staff, and in every tournament there appears a team who were not in the original calculations,” he said.

“Maybe Peru and Venezuela have caught the attention most, but I’m not surprised.

“It’s going to be a very difficult game, it’s going to be against a team that is going to stand toe-to-toe with Uruguay.”

He added: “We’ve completed the minimum objective that we’d planned before coming, which was to repeat what we did in the last Copa America (reaching the semi-finals). We now have to see what happens against Peru.”

Peru has won two Copa titles. The last championship came in 1975.

Uruguay last won the whole shooting match in 1995.

I am pulling for Peru since my Brasileiros side stunk the joint out against Paraguay.

Flamenguista for life.

www.palau.org

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This past weekend was not a good day at Black Rock for Argentina and Brasil.

The favorites of the Copa America both crashed and burned.

Even though Brasil and Argentina lost this was a tale of two different futebol clubs.

Argentinos played very well while Brasil looked like shit.

There I said it.

Sure Uruguay took the early lead in the 5^th minute when Diego Perez found the back of the net on a great shot.

Argentinos answered in the 17^th minute.

Messi finally showed signs of why he is the best player in the world.

He didn’t score but his crossing ball set up mate Gonzalo Higuain. All Higuain had to do was deposit the ball into the back of the net.

Yes, the basket counts and a foul.

Then Charruas committed a brain fart in the 39^th minute el stupido Diego Perez committed his second offense.

Voce Vai.

My wife said La Albiceleste will win this puppy.

I said No.

Uruguay can win.

The Argentines mounted a furious attack led by Lionel Messi.

Close but no cigar for La Albiceleste.

Great keeping by Nestor Fernando Muslera.

Several of his death defying stops was of the point blank range variety.

Two those were kick saves.

Muslera’s body was going one way and his legs kicked the ball out of harms way.

This cat was the hero of the match.

Then Argentina did the stupid red card trick late in the match when shit for brains Javier Mascherano did a very aggressive tackle in the 87^th minute.

120 minutes later it’s PK time baby.

The goat.

Carlos Tevez.

Muslera flat out stopped this cat’s shot.

Game, set and match to Uruguay.

5-4 in PK time.

Tevez wore the choke collar.

Argentina showed promise.

The guys played very well in their last two matches.

Messi played the best he has played all tournament.

You see I will give a guy credit when he deserves it.

Messi played very good.

Peru beat Columbia 2-0.

Batista was asked after the match if he was going to quit-

“I’m not thinking about that. It has never crossed by mind. I have to continue on the job. My job started five or six months ago, and I have to continue with my plans. The important thing is the (2014) World Cup.

“I can’t be happy. One does not like to be eliminated. But I am content with my players.”

He asked by the press if the exit in the quarters was a failure for the club- “It is not a failure because we did all we could to win, and it didn’t happen,” Batista said. “Failure is a strong word. We worked to win but couldn’t do it.”

Charruas coach Oscar Tabarez said-”We’ve managed to reach our first objective, which was to match our results in the last Copa America.”

Últimas Noticias in Uruguay wrote-

El clásico más esperado

Flamenguista for life.

www.palau.org

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Congrates to the USA women’s futebol side for making it to the finals of the World Cup.

Way to go garoto.

In the Copa America both Uruguay and Chile punched their ticket to the quarterfinals.

Uruguay defeated Mexico 1-0.

Alvaro Pereira nailed the only score of the match in the 14^th minute.

Chile and Peru engaged in a death match.

This puppy went back and forth until Jorge Valdivia curling corner kick hit pay dirt in the second minute of stoppage time.

Buda bing Buda boom. The ball missed several players until it connect with Peru’s Andre Carrillo.

Nothing but the back of the net.

1-0 Chile.

Game, set, and match to La Roja.

Chile won Group C with seven points.

Uruguay finished in the runner up spot with five points.

Up next for the Uruguayans is Argentina in the quarterfinals.

This will be a barnburner.

On Wednesday Brasil battles Ecuador and Paraguay takes on Venezuela.

Venezuela is top dog in Group B with four points.

Brasil and Paraguay are tied for second with two points.

To see who will get to advance will depend on Wednesday night’s outcomes.

Flamenguista for life.

www.palau.org

http://www2.hillsong.com/tv/home.asp

http://www.bolaradio.com.br/

Finally the real Argentina showed up. With lightening quick speed and a furious attack La Albiceleste scored three goals to advance to the next round of the Copa America.

This baby was a must win for Argentinos.

Lose and you go home.

Sergio Aguero led the way by hitting the daily double.

His mate Angel Di Maria added a mark também.

Lionel Messi hasn’t dented the scorebooks yet but he had his paws in the three goals.

Columbia wins Group A with seven points.

Costa Rica still has chance to advance but they have to wait until all the results are in.

Two sides with the third best records will advance as well.

Eight clubs will make to the quarterfinals.

The top two in each group and the next two with the best records will battle it out for the Copa America title.

Head man Sergio Batista shock up the line up. He sat Carlos Tevez and Ezequiel Lavezzi.

Inserted into the starting eleven were Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, and Di Maria.

This proved to be the winning touch.

Both Aquero and Di Mari scored Argentina’s three goals.

Good move coach.

Maybe this is what the doctor ordered.

Aguero said after the match- “We are really happy. This was like a final. We got the goal, and that is what we were looking for. I’m happy how I played, but it’s for the team. Today it was me scoring.”

Diario La Union wrote this- Aparecieron en el momento justo

El equipo de Batista venció a Costa Rica por 3-0 con una actuación colectiva muy interesante. Gago fue figura y Messi rindió muy bien. Agüero en dos ocasiones y Di María marcaron los goles.

Ya está. Ya pasaron días de turbulencias y nervios. Argentina hizo lo que tenía que hacer ante un debil Costa Rica y ahora empezará una nueva Copa América para el equipo de Batista. Sorprendió el entrenador con el plantel táctico.

Cuando se esperaba un 4-2-1-3, con Messi retrasado, hizo jugar a Agüero por izquierda, Di María más retrasado y Messi por derecha. Y le dio sus frutos.

Movedizos por las puntas, los delanteros le dieron a Argentina las situaciones más claras, muchas de ellas desperdiciadas por Gonzalo Higuaín. Un cabezazo de Burdisso y varios mano a mano que no pudo concretar el ex delantero de River hacían peligrar la retrasada defensa costarricense.

Clarin sports wrote-

Messi iluminó a todos en la noche de Córdoba

“Toma y hacelo”. La noche que Messi enamoró a los cordobeses se la recordará como la de las geniales asistencias. Ante Costa Rica no necesitó retroceder para buscar la pelota. Tuvo en Gago un socio ideal, que se la sirvió en bandeja. Y así las cosas, la beneficiada fue la Selección.

No había arrancado bien la noche para la Pulga. En los tres primeros minutos intentó gambetear a dos costarricenses. No pudo. ¿Sombras santafesinas? Ni ahí. Se volcó sobre la derecha, como en el Barcelona, y comenzó a generar juego. Fue el abanderado de la generosidad. Asistió a Agüero, pero el Kun falló. También se la puso en la cabeza a Higuaín. Y el Pipita no la pudo conectar. Por momentos dio la sensación que solito no podía.

El gol del Kun, en la última acción del primer tiempo, liberó al equipo. Se generaron espacios en el fondo de Costa Rica y la Pulga regaló su mejor repertorio. Exquisita habilitación para una brillante definición del Kun en el 2-0 y genial pase a Di María para el tercero.

Con el pitazo final del peruano Rivera, llegó una nueva ovación para el mejor futbolisa del mundo. La voz del estadio anunció lo obvio. “Messi, el mejor de la noche”. Y está bien.

Flamenguista for life.

www.palau.org

http://www2.hillsong.com/tv/home.asp

http://www.bolaradio.com.br/

First off congrates to the USA women’s team for their come from behind win over Brasil to advance to the semifinals of the Women’s World Cup.

Group play in the Copa America is about end. Columbia took care of Bolivia 2-0. Los Cafeteros is top dog in Group A with seven points.

Columbia will win Group A.

The battle will be for second place.

Argentina will battle Costa Rica to see who will advance to the next round.

Costa Rica is in second place with three points.

A tie will do Argentinos no good.

La Albiceleste must win this sucker.

Argentina has two points.

Venezuela is in the pole position in Group B with four points.

Brasil is in second place with two points.

Paraguay is in third with two points tamben.

Both sides have zero plus minus so this sucker will come down to the final match of group play.

Brasil battles Ecuador while Paraguay takes on Venezuela.

Ecuador has one point.

La Vinotinto has to either win or tie their final match to advance.

Brasil must win out right to advance.

Paraguay has to beat Venezuela to advance. If Los Guaranies ties and Brasil loses Paraguay advances.

If both Paraguay and Brasil tie it will goal down to goal difference.

You gotta love it.

In Group C, both Peru and Chile sit a top the group with four points.

Uruguay is buried in third place with two points.

Mexico is out of it with zero points but the Mexicans can be the spoilers with a win over Uruguay.

Chile takes on Peru.

Either side ties they both should advance but it will come down to goal difference if Uruguay beats Mexico.

The race is on.

Flamenguista for life.

www.palau.org

http://www2.hillsong.com/tv/home.asp

http://www.bolaradio.com.br/

Argentina is deep crap. With Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, and Ezquiel Lavezzi in your starting line up you should be kicking ass and taking names.

La Albiceleste is stinking the joint out big time.

Only two points in two matches stinks.

One goal in two matches is an abomination.

Sergio Batista was supposed to be the saviour.

He replaced the clown for a coach Diego Maradona.

Under the guidance of Maradona Argentinos barely made it to the world cup.

La Albiceleste made it out of the group play and then flamed out in the quarterfinals.

Are we seeing a repeat of this?

Time will tell.

Lionel Messi is the best player in the world.

On the world stage he barely registers a whimper.

Messi a great club player but when it is nut cutting time he vanishes.

Batista is a former national team player. He played with Maradona on the 1986 World Cup Champions and the 1990 World Cup runner ups.

Sergio Batista earned 39 caps from 1985-1990.

He began managing in 2000 at Bella Vista. He coached Argentinos Juniors 2001-03, Talleres 2003, Argentinos Juniors 2004, Nueva Chicago 2004-05, Godoy Cruz 2007, and the Argentina Under 17 club 2007-10 before being named as the National team coach in 2010.

Is this another one of those former players who is rising to their highest level of incompetence?

This is the Peter Principle at work.

Argentina is coming off a huge nil-nil tie with Columbia on Wednesday in Santa Fe, Argentina.

The local paper torn the club a new rear end after the crappy futebol display on the pitch.

Diario La Union wrote this-

La igualdad y los silbidos en Santa Fe repercutieron en el ánimo del plantel. Messi y Burdisso cruzaron palabras, y ayer entrenaron a puertas cerradas.

Los silbidos de la fría noche santafesina, sumado al mal rendimiento que tuvo en las dos primeras presentaciones en la Copa América, comenzaron a repecutir en el ánimo del plantel del seleccionado.

Y es que en el vestuario, todavía con la adrenalina en el cuerpo, hubo una discusión entre Lionel Messi y Nicolás Burdisso.

Sin embargo, tras el almuerzo de ayer hubo una reunión donde ambos jugadores hablaron y le pidieron disculpas a sus compañeros por la discusión que tuvieron en el vestuario del coqueto estadio de Colón de Santa Fe.

Pero no sólo eso. Para sumarle otro condimento a esta situación que vive el equipo, la selección de Sergio Batista se entrenó a puertas cerradas y sin atención a la prensa, ya que no se realizó la típica conferencia de prensa.

Sin embargo, tres jugadores dialogaron con los periodistas antes del entrenamiento en el predio de Ezeiza.

Uno de esos futbolistas fue Javier Zanetti, quien reclamó “reacción” en el plantel dirigido por Batista para mejorar el juego y lograr la clasificación a los cuartos de final de la competencia continetal.

“Nadie pensaba en un inicio de Copa así. Este grupo tiene que reaccionar. Sabemos que todavía queda un partido para terminar la primera rueda y la clasificación depende de nosotros”, explicó el marcador lateral, que en el último partido jugó por la izquierda.

Además, el futbolista de Inter de Italia sugirió “analizar fríamente todo el planteo del equipo y luego sacar las conclusiones necesarias para seguir mejorando”.

Le apuntan a Batista

Los medios españoles fueron muy críticos con la Selección Argentina, pero no sólo con el equipo sino que también con Lionel Messi.

Sin embargo, para la mayoría de los medios ibéricos, la floja actuación del astro argentino es responsabilidad de Batista.

“Para Messi, jugar en Argentina se ha convertido en un verdadero marrón. Pasar de divertirse y hartarse a ganar y agradar a perderse entre envíos imprecisos, combinaciones erróneas y circulaciones lentas”, remarcó el diario Marca.

The basic jist of this is that Sergio Batista is responsible for the clubs crappy play.

Flamenguista for life.

www.palau.org

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http://www.bolaradio.com.br/

The Copa America continues play on Monday July 4^th. Mexico will battle Chile.

Uruguay battles Peru.

This will be Mexico’s first major testing outside of their comfort zone.

Mexico has an emerging super star Javier Hernandez.

Chicharito has taken the EPL and now CONCACAF by storm. Let’s see how this cat will perform on a bigger stage against some of the worlds best futebol clubs.

The Chileans made the 2010 World Cup.

Los Roja made it to the quarterfinals.

Peru is not a very good futebol side.

Los Blanquirroja has played in four World Cups since it’s inception in 1930.

Peru has had some success in the Copa America.

Los Blanquirroja has won the Copa America twice in 1939 and 1975.

From 1997-2007 Peru finished fourth in 1997 and in 2001, 2004, 2007 they have made it to the quarterfinals.

Uruguay won the first World Cup in 1930. In 1950 the Uruguayans defeated Brasil to win the whole enchelidda.

Uruguay finished fourth in 1954, 1970, and 2010.

In the Copa America, Uruguayans won the Copa America 14 times.

Uruguay won its last crown in 1995.

Argentina has won the 14 times and Brasil has eight titles.

Mexico was runner up twice in 1993 and 2001.

Prior to 1975 only South American countries played in the tourney.

It was called the South American Championship until it was changed to the Copa America in 1975.

Mexico, the USA, Costa Rica, Canada, and Honduras have been invited to play.

Mexico has been playing in the Copa since 1993.

The Mexicans have had some good success in Copa.

Flamenguista for life.

www.palau.org

http://www2.hillsong.com/tv/home.asp

http://www.bolaradio.com.br/