Sergio Batista has just announced a preliminary squad for the 2011 Copa América - which starts in Argentina one month tomorrow - which will be trimmed slightly to 22 players for the final squad. Carlos Tevez, after the amazing about-turn from both parties at the end of last week, is in the squad. Gabriel Heinze... Continue Reading →
Argentina squad for friendlies vs Nigeria & Poland
In early June, a side representing Argentina will play friendlies away to Nigeria (on the 1st, in Abuja) and Poland (the 5th, in Warsaw). It won't be a full Argentina team, but it's infinitely more worthwhile than the ‘local selección’ matches we sometimes have to put up with. All the players are under 25 years... Continue Reading →
Batista set to stay on as Argentina boss
Julio Grondona came as close as he's ever done yesterday to confirming that caretaker manager Sergio Batista will become Diego Maradona's successor as Argentina boss on a permanent basis after December. Talking to Radio Independencia in Tucumán, the AFA president said; 'There will have to be some very big difficulties in order for Batista not... Continue Reading →
Di María’s actually not-all-that-contentious goal gives Argentina victory
Although I am leaving this article unedited, I've updated the title and am putting this notice in to explain that I'm a massive idiot who'd totally forgotten - like Shay Given - that there's no offside played from goal kicks. Thanks to Pegamequemegusta for reminding me in the comments... Ángel Di María scored the most... Continue Reading →
Olympic defeat
The bulk of Argentina's Olympic Games squad played a friendly behind closed doors at the AFA's training complex in Ezeiza on Tuesday, and lost 4-2 against a Panamanian side who were notably fitter and more motivated. Whilst the match was only an evalution session for Argentine coach Sergio Batista, Panama have to qualify for the... Continue Reading →
Pre-Olympic friendly: Argentina 5 – 0 Guatemala
The Argentine Olympic football squad had their first preperatory friendly under Sergio Batista's stewardship in the early hours (Argentine time) of Thursday morning, and easily beat Guatemala by five goals to nil. Accepting that their rivals will hardly be challenging for the title themselves, Batista none the less declared himself 'very pleased with the attitude'... Continue Reading →
The Olympic squad, and some transfer news
Sergio Batista named the 15 under-23 players to represent Argentina at the Beijing Olympics on Tuesday, but what with putting up three other stories last night, I thought I'd leave it until now to publish the list. One of those players, River Plate forward Marco Rubén, has now become Villarreal forward Marco Rubén, in what... Continue Reading →
The over-23 club
The three players who will be Argentina's 'over age' inclusions in their squad for the Olympic Games in Beijing in September have been named. Sergio Batista, the 1986 World Cup winner, will be the manager. Don't worry - Alfio Basile's not lost his job. The AFA just want to give things a bit of variety... Continue Reading →