More fútbol argentino than you can shake a mullet at
Argentina's 'Under-25' B-team played a friendly in Abuja, Nigeria on Wednesday, and got thumped 4-1 by a home side who looked infinitely more up for the match than their visitors. A side captained by Pablo Zabaleta were 3-0 down at half time and only got a consolation from the penalty spot after a farcical decision... Continue Reading →
The long run of Argentine defeats to Brazil at full international level was finally brought to an end on Wednesday in Qatar, and although it was an inconsequential friendly, the result - sealed by a 92nd minute moment of brilliance from Lionel Messi - could well give a huge psychological boost to Sergio Batista's reign... Continue Reading →
The highest-profile of the friendlies being played next week during the international break is almost certainly the one in Buenos Aires on Tuesday 7th September, when Argentina will host new world champions Spain in the Estadio Monumental. It'll be the first time since 1987 that a highly-ranked European side (back then it was West Germany)... Continue Reading →
Copa Libertadores holders Estudiantes de La Plata went through to the quarter-finals of the competition on Wednesday night with an easy 3-1 home win over Mexican strugglers San Luis in Quilmes, to add to the 1-0 advantage the champions' substitutes had already secured in the first leg in Potosí last week. Estudiantes took an early... Continue Reading →
One of the matches on Wednesday night featured a 'national' team playing Ghana in Córdoba. Martín Palermo scored both goals and, as a result, has convinced everyone in the press that he'd be ideal to play as the number 9 in the World Cup qualifiers against Peru, ahead of Diego Milito and Gonzalo Higua'in. Hmmm.... Continue Reading →
Argentina's full selección may be struggling to stagger across the line in the race to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but one country who are already there will take on a locally-based B team in Córdoba on Wednesday night. The starting XI isn't being reported as I type this up, but... Continue Reading →
Well that was a brief road trip. Diego Maradona's and the AFA's protracted falling-out with River Plate over the state of the Estadio Monumental pitch led to River putting up posters proclaiming '16 years unbeaten at the Monumental...' in the wake of the 3-1 defeat to Brazil in Rosario last week. On Tuesday it was... Continue Reading →
Wednesday night saw an international of questionable importance as Argentina's entirely home-based 'B' team took on Panama in Santa Fe. An underwhelming performance was embellished by a fine goal from Matías De Federico halfway through the first half, before the guests equalised. After the break though, Gonzalo Bergessio struck twice to win it for Argentina.... Continue Reading →
Diego Maradona's first match in charge of Argentina saw few surprises. Against improving and tenacious opponents, a big win was never on the cards, but those who've doubted the wisdom of Maradona's appointment can take some encouragement from a performance in which the Albiceleste actually played like a team. Atlético de Madrid's Maxi Rodríguez scored... Continue Reading →
It's getting on for 2am and the international friendly between Belarus and Argentina on Wednesday evening was so 'friendly' that neither side bothered to trouble the opposing goalkeeper unduly, by all reports. I can't even offer my own opinions on the matter because like the patriotic idiot I am, I was wasting my evening watching... Continue Reading →
Hasta El Gol Siempre 