Posts Tagged ‘Copa Libertadores’

The Copa Libertadores is the oldest competition in South America.  It began in 1960. This competition includes clubs from South America and selected clubs from Mexico. Three clubs are chosen to compete from each South American country. Brasil and Argentina each have five clubs allowed to compete.

The clubs are divided into group play. The Group winners and the runner up compete in a knockout stage. The club that makes through the competition is crowned Copa Libertadores Champion.

The Copa winner then competes in the FIFA World Club championship that is held in December.

Santos won the Copa last year. Argentina club Independiente has won the most Copa Titles seven.

Independiente last won the Copa in 1984.

Boca Juniors has won six. Los Xeneizes last title came in 2007.

Sao Paulo and Santos have each won three titles. Tricolor last title came in 2005.

In Wednesday action in the Copa Corinthians defeated Cruz Azul 1-0. Danilo scored the match winner for Timao in the 35^th minute. Corinthians is top dog in Group Six with eight points.

Thursday play features Santos taking on Juan Aurich in Group One play. Peixe is in third place in Group One with six points.

Velez Sarsfield has a hot date with Deportivo Quito in Group Seven play

Flamenguista and Gunner for life.

www.palau.org

http://hillsongtv.com/

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

Both Manchester clubs struggled big time in their first round matches in the Europa League. City gave up a goal in the 51^st minute to lose to Sporting Lisbon 1-0.

Xandao cheeky back heel beat the Citizens keeper Joe Hart dead to rights. City played like crap. However the Citizens had a chance to get the equalizer in the final moments.

Man U on the other hand stunk the joint in a 3-2 loss to Atletic Bilbao at Old Trafford. The Rooney man scored twice but this was not enough. Sir Alex and the boys were down right bad against the Spanish side.

Los Leones completely outplayed Man U from start to finish. This is not your typical Sir Alex side. The Red Devils hearts are not into playing in the Europa League. Their play so far has confirmed this. The boys lost at home to Ajax 2-1 in the second leg and now to Atletic Bilbao 3-2 prove my point that Man U would rather go home and concentrate on the EPL.

Sir Alex and the boys only have one win at home in their last five matches in Champions League and Europa League play.

Man U didn’t play their best defenders. Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes, and Michael Carrick didn’t start. Only Carrick saw action when he came in for Chris Smalling in the 55^th minute. 

Smalling had to come out when he re injured his head wound suffered in England’s international friendly against the Netherlands last week.

My instincts guided by experience reveals that Man U and City would be bettered served if they did not participate in the Europe League after they bombed out in the Champions League group play.

The second leg matches will be played next week.

In Copa Libertadores play Santos defeated Internacional 3-1.

Fluminense defeated Argentina giant Boca Juniors 2-1 at Los Xeneizes house.

Boca has one tie and one loss in Group Four play.

Corinthians shut out Nacional 2-0.

So far in Group play the Brasileiros sides are playing very well but this can change on a dime.

Fluminense is top dog in Group Four.

Santos sits in second place in Group One.

Vasco is in second place in Group Five.

Peixe is in second place in Group Six.

My guys from Mengao battle Emelec late on Thursday.

Flamengo has one tie and sits in third place in Group Two.

Both Vanger Love and Ronaldinho Gaucho are going to have to score and hope that our crappy “D” will not let us down. Felipe can be a clown in goal at times.

UOL- O Flamengo sofreu esta semana com problemas de cabeça e coração. O goleiro Felipe sofreu pancada e foi parar no hospital. Renato Abreu está afastado com problemas cardíacos. E a lista de preocupações não acaba por aí. Joel Santana, então, terá que recorrer a um time remendado para a partida contra o Emelec-QUE às 19h30 desta quinta-feira, no Engenhão. Do outro lado, pelo menos, o rubro-negro encontrará um cenário animador: o adversário nunca venceu equipes brasileiras na Copa Libertadores.

Joel Santana encontra problemas para escalar o Flamengo desde o gol. Felipe levou uma pancada na cabeça na vitória sobre o Duque de Caxias e deixou a partida direto para o hospital. Ele recebeu alta no mesmo dia e passa bem, mas terá que ficar em repouso até o fim de semana. Paulo Victor será o substituto. Sem os lesionados Willians e Aírton, Joel aposta nos jovens Muralha e Luiz Antonio para ocupar as vagas entre os titulares.

http://esporte.uol.com.br/futebol/campeonatos/libertadores/ultimas-noticias/2012/03/08/flamengo-usa-time-remendado-para-enfrentar-fregues-brasileiro-emelec-equ.htm

Flamenguista and Gunner for life.

www.palau.org

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

http://hillsongtv.com/

Finally the guys broke the scoring code. After being shutout in our last three Carioca matches Flamengo shut out Nova Iguacu 2-0. Goals by Renato and Deivid broke the scoring drought for the Boo Mengao’s.

The win gives us 12 points. Rubro-Negro is still in third place. Mengao will take Resende on Saturday. The winner will determine who will go to the semifinals of the Guanabara Cup.

Botafogo battles with Macaé.

UOL-Com o resultado, o Flamengo chega a 12 pontos, mas se mantém na terceira posição, já que o Resende também triunfou sobre o Madureira. As duas equipes decidirão a vaga em um confronto direto na última rodada da Taça Guanabara.

Com a entrada de Vagner Love na vaga de Bottinelli, Ronaldinho Gaúcho e Deivid tiveram que desempenhar uma função um pouco mais recuada, com Renato Abreu flutuando pelo meio chegando mais ao ataque, enquanto Luiz Antônio e Willians ficavam mais na contenção das subidas do Nova Iguaçu. Desacostumado a jogar fora dá área, embora seja sua posição de origem, o camisa 9 não vinha se encontrando, demonstrando falta de velocidade em determinados momentos.

Vanger love had a hand in setting up the first goal. This was good but the guys are getting used to playing different positions with Love playing. This will take some time getting used too.

Ronaldinho Gaucho has great skill when he has the ball but shows little creativity without the rock. This is Gaucho’s downfall.

Coma nova formação, a marcação rubro-negra estava muito frouxa, pois RG10 e Deivid tinham que recompor a marcação no meio de campo, o que claramente era um problema. Ofensivamente a equipe se adequou muito bem à nova escalação. Vagner Love recebeu na entrada da área pela direita girou em cima de Chiquinho, faz lindíssima tabela com Ronaldinho e toca na saída de Jefferson, que faz boa defesa. Atento, Deivid aproveitou rebote para abrir o placar aos 13 minutos, 1 a 0

Com a vantagem no placar, o time de Joel Santana passou a cadenciar o jogo e esperar a saída do Nova Iguaçu, que mesmo perdendo continuava a apostar nos contra-ataques. Ronaldinho com a bola nos pés demonstrava muita habilidade e visão de jogo, distribuindo bem as jogadas. O problema era sem a bola, quando o camisa 10 tinha que voltar e acompanhar os volantes adversários. Em uma dessas meia fez falta em Mossoró na entrada da área, que Amaral bateu para fora com muito perigo. No fim do primeiro tempo, o Fla quase ampliou em jogada ensaiada. RG10 cobrou na primeira trave e Deivid raspou na bola, que passou por cima da meta.

http://esporte.uol.com.br/futebol/campeonatos/estadual-do-rio/pos-jogo/2012/02/12/na-volta-de-vagner-love-flamengo-vence-nova-iguacu-e-decide-vaga-com-resende-na-ultima-rodada.htm

It comes down to win and you advance lose and you go home.

Resende, Flamengo, and Botafogo each have twelve points.

Resende has four wins but Mengao is a plus seven and three wins while Fogao has three wins a plus ten.

My guys from Arsenal have a hot date with AC Milan in the knockout stage of the Champions League on Wednesday. This puppy will take pace at the Rossoneri House.

It is imperative that we get that all important elusive away goal. This means Robin Van Persie and company are going to have to step up big time to come away with a win or a tie.

Gunner and Flamenguista for life.

www.palau.org

http://hillsongtv.com/

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

Mengao and Botafogo battled to a nil-nil draw. This stupid tie dropped Flamengo to third place in Group A. The guys have one win and three draws.

This sucks big time.

At this rate Rubro-Negro will not play in the Taça Guanabara Campeonato.

Mengao started their top players but the result was crap. Both sides played poorly. There weren’t that many scoring opportunities. Sure the expectations were high but Gaucho company didn’t deliver.

UOL-Com o resultado, as duas equipes se afastaram da liderança do grupo A, ocupada agora pelo Nova Iguaçu. Precisando reencontrar o caminho das vitórias, as equipes voltam a campo nos próximos dias. Na quarta-feira, o Flamengo encara o Madureira, novamente no Engenhão, às 19h30. No dia seguinte, será a vez do Botafogo receber o Olaria.

Apesar da expectativa pelo primeiro clássico carioca na temporada, Botafogo e Flamengo protagonizaram um primeiro tempo de baixo nível técnico, sem grandes oportunidades de gol. O alvinegro, comandado por Andrezinho, chegava com mais frequência, mas esbarrava nos erros de Elkeson e Loco Abreu na hora da conclusão das jogadas.

http://esporte.uol.com.br/futebol/campeonatos/estadual-do-rio/pos-jogo/2012/02/05/botafogo-x-flamengo.htm

Up next for Mengao is Madureira on later tonight.

Madureira is in seventh place with four points.

Flamenguista for life.

www.palau.org

http://hillsongtv.com/

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

Flamengo lost to Real Potosi 2-1 at Leon Imperial’s house Bolivia. Leon Imperial is up 2-1 on aggregate. This means the guys are going to have to hold Real Potosi goalless and win 2-0. Mengao has the all important away goal in this home at home series.

Rubro-Negro took the lead when Muralha found the back of the net in the 28^th minute.

Leon Imperial responded  in kind with a goal by Claudio Centurion in the 30^th minute.

Real Potosi nailed the match winner in the 57^th minute.

Edgardo Britez ripped the twines.

Game, set, and match to Leon Imperial.

UOL- Mesmo com o período de treinos na altitude, o Flamengo mostrou muita dificuldade com o ar rarefeito de 4.100m de Potosí-BOL. No entanto, a equipe da casa tentou se aproveitar disso para pressionar o Rubro-Negro e saiu de campo no jogo de ida da primeira fase da Libertadores com uma vitória de 2 a 1. Luiz Antônio abriu o placar para o time carioca, enquanto Centurión e Brittes garantiram a vitória para os bolivianos.

As chances vinham sempre da mesma maneira: através dos chutes de longa distância. No entanto, muitos destes remates do Real Potosí paravam nas defesas de Felipe. Quando o Flamengo conseguiu ter um breve domínio da posse de bola, o gol saiu. Léo moura fez uma belíssima jogada na direita e rolou de bandeja para Luiz Antônio, que só teve o trabalho de escorar para o fundo da rede.

http://esporte.uol.com.br/futebol/campeonatos/libertadores/pos-jogo/2012/01/25/treino-na-altitude-nao-surte-efeito-e-flamengo-e-derrotado-pelo-real-potosi-por-2-a-1.htm

Right now the guys are in the deep shits. Ronaldinho Gaucho is not playing worth a damn. He is half assing it. The fire in his belly is gone. It sure looks like the head case  Gaucho is back.

This story appear in UOL-Os jornais bolivianos desta quinta-feira afirmaram que os torcedores ficaram decepcionados com a atuação de Ronaldinho Gaúcho e exaltaram a atuação do Real Potosí sobre o Flamengo na partida realizada nesta quarta-feira, em Potosí, válida pela primeira fase da Libertadores. O time da casa venceu de virada por 2 a 1.

http://esporte.uol.com.br/futebol/ultimas-noticias/2012/01/26/imprensa-da-bolivia-diz-que-ronaldinho-nao-e-mais-o-mesmo-e-exalta-real-potosi.htm

Flamenguista for life.

www.palau.org

http://hillsongtv.com/

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

Vanger Love is a part of Flamengo nation. CSK Moscow accepted his deal. Finally the chief idiot Patricia Amorim is taking steps to insure Mengao is heading in the right direction.

UOL- This is the lead. Se o Flamengo não conseguiu convencer os árabes do Al Hilal para comprar os direitos econômicos de Thiago Neves, o contra-ataque veio de forma rápida e efetiva. Depois de uma reunião na Rússia, nesta terça-feira, os dirigentes do CSKA Moscou, aceitaram a proposta que o Flamengo fez por Vagner Love, de pagar 8 milhões de euros (mais de de 18 milhões de reais), em três parcelas, em um período de até um ano e meio, para liberar o jogador. Ainda restam acertar alguns detalhes para que o contrato seja assinado e o atacante seja anunciado oficialmente.

Não seria a primeira vez que Vagner Love defenderia o clube da Gávea, já que, em 2010, ele foi emprestado pelos russos por seis meses à equipe rubro-negra. Ele fez dupla de ataque com Adriano, parceria que foi chamada de “Império do Amor”. O atacante foi artilheiro do Campeonato Carioca, com 15 gols, e teve de voltar para a Rússia após marcar quatro gols em cinco jogos pelo Brasileirão. No total, com a camisa rubro-negra, Love marcou 23 gols em 27 jogos.

 http://esporte.uol.com.br/futebol/campeonatos/estadual-do-rio/ultimas-noticias/2012/01/24/cska-aceita-proposta-do-fla-por-vagner-love-anuncio-oficial-sai-com-assinatura-do-contrato.htm

Later today my guys from Rubro-Negro will take on Real Potosi in the Pre- Copa Libertadores.

 Here is the 411 or skinny. Flamengo must play their way into the main show.

Mengao will go to Bolivia for the first round in a home at home match against Real Potosi. The winner by aggregate will advance to the big show.

The problem is this Flamengo stinks big time when we play in Bolivia.

Mengao and Real Potosi last squared off in 2007. Flamengo won at home 1-0 and then tied with Real Potosi in Bolivia 2-2.

Mengao trailed at half 2-0.

The guys were fortunate to comeback and tie.

UOL- Quando entrar no gramado do estádio Victor Agustín Ugarte, em Potosi, o Flamengo colocará em jogo seu primeiro semestre. Uma eliminação deixaria o clube apenas com o estadual até maio. Além disso, representaria um feito negativamente histórico. Afinal, jamais um clube boliviano passou pela Pré-Libertadores.

http://trivela.uol.com.br/especial/materias/real-potosi-busca-feito-historico-contra-flamengo

Headman Luxemburo is getting his chargers ready for a tough match in Bolovia.

Globe Esporte- O Flamengo fez no fim da tarde desta terça-feira seu último treinamento antes da estreia na fase prévia da Taça Libertadores. Pela primeira vez desde que chegou à Bolívia, o técnico Vanderlei Luxemburgo fechou a atividade. Durante 75 minutos o grupo trabalhou sem a presença de imprensa ou torcedores.

http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/times/flamengo/noticia/2012/01/luxa-fecha-o-ultimo-treino-do-fla-antes-do-duelo-com-o-real-potosi.html

Flamenguista for life.

www.palau.org

http://hillsongtv.com/

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

Here is the skinny on the Brasileiros Serie A. 

Corinthians is the champ.

Timao won their first title since 2005.

Corinthians was sent down to D-2 ball in 2007.

It took Timao two years to dig out of the hole.

Corinthians made it back in 2009 to Brasileiros Serie A.

Atletico—PR, Ceara, America-MG, and Avai were sent packing to Serie B or as I like to call it D-2 ball.

Portuguesa, Nautico, Ponte Preta, and Sport were promoted to the big boys league.

Sent packing from Serie B were Icasa, Vila Nova-GO, Salgueiro, and Duque de Caxias to the depths of whale dung Serie C.

If a club has dropped past Serie B it is a long hard process to dig ones way out of this huge hole.

All one has to do is ask Juventude.

Santos defeated Kashiwa 3-1 in the semifinals of the FIFA World Club Championships held in Japan.

Peixe won the Copa Libertadores title.

Neymar was the hero for Santos.

He scored in the 18^th minute.

His mates Borges and Danilo tickle the twines também.

Peixe will face the winner of the Barcelona- Al-Sadd played today.

Lionel Messi, Pedro, David Villa, and Xavi are part of the Catalans offensive firepower that Peixe will be staring down in the FIFA World Club Championship on Sunday December 18^th.

UOL wrote this about the Peixe win http://esporte.uol.com.br/

A vitória do Santos por 3 a 1 contra o Kashiwa Reysol na noite de quarta-feira, em Toyota, no Japão, não foi convincente para Muricy Ramalho. O treinador citou a vantagem do time japonês nas estatísticas e sabe que a situação será a mesma em um provável duelo diante do Barcelona na final do Mundial de Clubes.

Santos headman Muricy said- “Realmente vi a estatística e nossa posse de bola não foi boa, apesar de isso não definir resultado. Temos de melhorar, pois o Barcelona tem uma posse de bola maior do mundo”, destacou Muricy.

The guys know that Barca will be a hard match.

Santos will have to be on the top of their game or the Catalans firepower will kill them.

Flamenguista for life.

www.palau.org

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

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

This is the skinny.

Corinthians defeated Ceara 1-0.

Vasco and Palmeiras tied one all.

Timao has 64 points.

Vasco has 62 points.

Flu beat Gremio in a shootout 5-4.

So here’s what the guys from Mengao need to do.

We have to beat fourth place Figueirense on later on Thursday.

Flamengo is in sixth place.

A win would put the guys in fourth place.

Rubro-Negro has lost two out of their last three matches.

Ronaldinho Gaucho, Deivid, and Thiago Neves have to come up big.

We can’t have any more brain farts on the “D”.

If we do our season is doomed to a huge failure.

As it stands right now nine points separate Mengao from top dog Timao.

A win would cut the gap to six points with three matches left to play so a lot things have to got to go right for Flamengo to win the whole enchilada.

However Rubro-Negro has a good chance to finish in the top four.

If the guys can do this they will compete in the Copa Libertadores.

Luxemburgo headman Flamengo said this about Thursday’s match-O projeto era ganhar títulos, revelar a molecada e entrar na Libertadores. O nosso projeto está vivo

Ties or losses are not going to cut it.

We have to win on Thursday.

UOL wrote this www.uol.com – Empolgado por conta das seis vitórias seguidas, o Figueirense tem confronto direto na luta pela Libertadores. Um fator que deixa o time ainda mais empolgado é o ótimo desempenho fora de casa,  

Ronaldinho Gaucho has played like shit in his last matches. He needs to score now.

Gaucho has not scored since September 21^st.

He needs to step up big time.

Flamenguista for life.

www.palau.org

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

http://www.bolaradio.com.br/ 

Uruguay has booked their spot in the Copa America finals.

Charruas defeated Peru 2-0.

La Blanquirroja put up a hell of flight but Peru couldn’t crack the code.

Luis Suarez led the way with the daily double.

His mate Diego Forlan set up the first puppy in the 53^rd minute.

Forlan fired a rocket into the teeth of the goal. Keeper Raul Fernandez stopped the first volley.  Shot. Save. Rebound. Score off the boards by Suarez.

Peruvian Juan Vargas was given the early showers in the 68^th minute.

La Blanquirroja played a very dirty game.

Peru was going after the Uruguay players with the intent to do bodily harm.

I was pulling for Peru but I can’t stand dirty futebol.

This cheap dirty play has no place in the game.

Uruguay is going after the 15^th Copa title. If Charruas wins they will leap frog over Argentina.

Argentinos has fourteen titles tambem.

Charruas coach Oscar Tabarez was asked about taking his star player out in the second half- “It is one thing with Suarez, it is another without him in the final,” Tabarez said. “He (Suarez) is a great forward, an elite player among forwards in the world. … He often determines the outcome as he did today.”

Sergio Markarian, who was born in Uruguay, took over Peru’s team a year ago and has improved it quickly.

“We played in this tournament against teams that had almost 100 percent of their players playing abroad,” Markarian said. “You could tell in their experience, sense of how to play the match. … But we are working hard to get better.” 

Suarez plays for Liverpool had this to say after the match- “The first half was tough because we knew Peru would be very defensive,” Liverpool striker Suarez said. “We had to try to take advantage of some chance to score. The goal in the first few minutes was a big blow to Peru.”

Peru coach Sergio Markarian, born in Uruguay had this to say about quick improvement since he took over a year- “We played in this tournament against teams that had almost 100 percent of their players playing abroad. You could tell in their experience, sense of how to play the match. … But we are working hard to get better.”

On Wednesday night Paraguay will battle Venezuela to see whom books the other spot in the final that will be held on Sunday in Argentina.

My guys from Flamengo battle Palmeiras on Wednesday night.

This is a must win for Mengao.

Flamengusita for life.

www.palau.org

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

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

What did I tell ya Messi is a wimp. Messi did the whining act. Oh, I am not playing very well so please don’t criticize me. I am the best player in the world yet when it comes to nut cutting time on the world stage I play like a girl.

Please don’t attack me with the truth. Now the idiot head of the Argentina Futebol Association Julio Grondona  said this “The solution would be for Messi to say: ‘I will not come any more, I will stay in Spain.”

“What everyone acknowledges is that the Argentines want to put him down. Messi was born in Rosario, he lived and played there, he had growth problems. He followed his path, found a place – Barcelona – and they took care of him as if he was born there.

“And despite this, he said no to Spain because he wanted to play for Argentina. We have to reflect on this.”

This may be tongue and cheek but it’s symptomatic of what is wrong with Argentinos Futebol.

No wonder these guys crap out on the world stage.

Even in this report ESPN wrote below par. Below par my ass.

If you can’t take the heat then stay out of the kitchen fool.

Stay in Spain if you would you want Messi.

Who gives a crap.

You want all the headlines but when you have to step up to the plate and lead you are just like the other ten-cent futebol players. All show and nothing to show for it.

Pele was a man.

He took the crap thrown his way.

The difference between you and Pele is as wide as the Grand Canyon.

Pele burst onto the scene in 1956.

He was eighteen years old and scored a hat trick in the 1956 World Cup semifinals.

Pele followed it up with a daily double in the finals.

Sure Pele has some bad matches but did he ever wine like a little girl.

NO!

The truth has bitten you in the ass.

You are a fake.

You and your buds Carlos Tevez have shown your real character. Tevez said this quote from ESPN- Messi’s team-mate Carlos Tevez has previously said he could quit Argentina because of the pressure placed upon him when playing for his country, but the Barcelona star claimed club and country are two very different things.

Messi did say this- I’ve never been bothered by what they say in the press and I never will be,” Messi said. “I don’t think anyone likes it when they’re whistled and insulted. We’re the first ones who want to do things well.

“It’s a mistake to compare this team to Barcelona. We’ve all been working together at Barcelona for a long time.

“In the national team we’re trying to do something similar, keeping hold of the ball, dictating the rhythm of the game, but you can’t compare the two teams, either as a group or in terms of individuals.”

Okay then prove it you lying sack of crap.

I’m sorry but I get tired of these high priced super stars that think they are above the rest of us.

He is just another crybaby in the long line of professional athletes who want love all the time even when their performance on the pitch sucks.

Thank God Lionel Messi you are not in Philly my hometown.

You would never make it.

If Jesus played a sport the sportswriters and fans would find fault with His performance.

Only two people in Philadelphia sports history have never been booed.

Doctor J and Tommy McDonald.

Grow up you jack wagon Messi.

El Litoral wrote this about Messi-

Messi descartó una futura renuncia a la Selección debido a las críticas

“Vengo a la Selección porque lo siento y siempre quiero jugar”, respondió esta noche Lionel Messi, como rechazo a la especulación por una eventual renuncia futura ante las críticas recibidas en Argentina por su rendimiento diferente al que muestra en Barcelona.

“No es la primera vez que pasa. Lo que digan los medios no me preocupa y no me hará cambiar”, desafió el rosarino, elegido por FIFA como el mejor jugador del mundo las últimas dos temporadas.

El crack de Barcelona admitió, en cambio, que las reprobaciones del público tras los dos primeros partidos de Copa América le habían “dolido” y confió en que “la gente va a estar con la selección” durante la segunda fase.

“Todos nos fuimos mal por cómo se dieron los partidos tanto en La Plata (1-1 con Bolivia) como en Santa Fe (0-0 ante Colombia). Lo que pasó, pasó. Ahora empieza otra Copa”, se esperanzó.

Messi aseguró que las críticas hicieron “más fuerte al grupo” comandado por Sergio Batista y que sus compañeros lo protegieron con “un cariño muy lindo y sano”.

Luego, el delantero campeón olímpico en Beijing 2008 consideró “un error” la comparación entre Argentina y el Barcelona, aunque reconoció “cosas parecidas” en cuanto al deseo de “tener siempre la pelota y llevar el ritmo de los partidos”.

“Pero no se puede comparar ni en lo individual ni en lo grupal. Barcelona es un equipo que trabaja hace mucho tiempo juntos”, diferenció.

Sobre su prestación en el equipo de Batista, Messi aclaró que su posición será “la que el técnico crea conveniente” y aceptó que su rendimiento “fue diferente” cuando se recostó sobre el sector derecho en el último partido ante Costa Rica, que lo tuvo como figura.

Al jugar por el medio (frente a Bolivia y Colombia) no encontraba mucho espacio, en cambio, al salir hacia afuera pude jugar sin tantos rivales alrededor”, explicó.

De todos modos, el jugador de Barcelona expresó su intención de ubicarse “bien en la cancha para ser una opción” en cada ataque del equipo.

De cara a la próxima instancia, el rosarino -campeón mundial sub 20 en Holanda 2005- pronosticó “una final” ante Uruguay, el sábado próximo desde las 19.15 en Colón de Santa Fe.

“Uruguay viene de estar cuarto en el último Mundial (Sudáfrica 2010). Es una selección muy fuerte y tiene delanteros muy peligrosos como (Diego) Forlán, que conocemos muy bien”, expresó.

Por último, Messi señaló a Chile como el equipo que “mejor se clasificó para cuartos de final” y caracterizó al brasileño Neymar como “un grandísimo jugador”.

Télam

Flamenguista for Life.

www.palau.org

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

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