On Friday, the Copa América Centenario kicks off in the United States, and in this week's issue of The Libero, I was asked to preview it. I've gone for a piece looking at why although it's going to be a good tournament, it's still important to remember it's not an actual Copa América. To give you... Continue Reading →
Boca Juniors’ Copa Libertadores disqualification: trying to summarise the fall-out
Four links here, three audio and one written. It's just under a week since River Plate players were attacked with home-made pepper spray by a Boca Juniors barra brava, causing the cancellation of the second half of their Copa Libertadores last sixteen superclásico, and Boca's disqualification from the tournament (as well as first degree burns to four... Continue Reading →
CONMEBOL ruling: Boca Juniors out of 2015 Copa Libertadores
They took their sweet time announcing it, but CONMEBOL finally tweeted the above photograph on Saturday night, confirming that Boca Juniors have been disqualified from this year's Copa Libertadores after the acid spray attack on River Plate's team prior to the second half of Thursday night's last sixteen second leg. As well as the expulsion... Continue Reading →
Some quick thoughts on Argentina’s World Cup qualifying, and South America more generally
Last Friday and this Tuesday just gone were good days for the Argentine national football team. For the first time in the current World Cup qualifying campaign, they won back-to-back matches (3-0 against Uruguay on Friday, 2-1 away to Chile last night), and now sit on top of the CONMEBOL qualiying table with twenty points,... Continue Reading →
Positive news for Banfield
A brief break from World Cup stories: Banfield president Carlos Portell has confirmed that two of the club's players, playmaker Walter Erviti and youngster Federico Sardella, have tested positive for a banned substance in CONMEBOL's tests after the club's elimination from the Copa Libertadores at the hands of Internacional (yeah I know, how long's that... Continue Reading →
World Cup 2010: Peru 1 – 1 Argentina
Esteban Cambiasso had the goal and, without actually impressing anyone, Argentina were putting to bed the run of six matches without a win that's seen them slip from first to fourth in the South American qualification table for South Africa 2010. A poor performance but the result was still as expected. And then, three minutes... Continue Reading →
Copa Libertadores 2008
Ladies and gentlemen, the world's best club football competition is upon us. No, of course I'm not talking about the imminent knockout rounds of the Champions League, don't be daft. This week sees the beginning of the group stages of South America's much more enjoyable answer to UEFA's competition, the Copa Libertadores. As ever, Argentina... Continue Reading →
Job done… just
A couple of hours after Lanús confirmed their participation in the Copa Libertadores with a win, Arsenal de Sarandí did the same in spite of a defeat. Their 2-0 home victory in the first leg proved enough for the Copa Sudamericana holders, as Mineros de Guyana could only manage a 2-1 win in Venezuela. The... Continue Reading →
Turning it round
League champions Lanús booked their place in the Copa Libertadores group stage on Tuesday night, winning in style against Ecuadorian champs Olmedo to overturn a 1-0 first leg defeat. In the first half, they looked edgy, creating chances but - as in Riobamba last week - not managing to finish them off. In the second,... Continue Reading →
A winning debut
Take a deep breath everyone... COMPETITIVE FOOTBALL IS BACK! Arsenal de Sarandí played the first meaningful match featuring an Argentine top-flight side of 2008, in their first ever game in the Copa Libertadores. It was a good start, too - they beat Mineros de Guyana of Venezuela 2-0 in El Vidaucto in the first leg... Continue Reading →
Hasta El Gol Siempre 