Copa de Verano Begins This Weekend

http://goal.com/es/articolo.aspx?contenutoid=547113

Posted from  United States

Regardless of his feelings he is acting professional by saying those things and that counts for something . most of the superstars are very selfsih they always want the ball and always think they could do better. Practically everythime a guy shoot the ball there are 2 teamates waving there arms like they were wide open You just have to accept that when you play. Anyone with eyes can see that Ronaldo and tevez are not running very fast over to congratulate each other it is obvious that there is something there but if one of them scores a big goal in a big game you can bet they will be lovers

Posted from  United States

Riquelme says he’d like to play in the Olympics as one of the over 23 players, as much as i love Riquelme that would not be a good idea, we need to have alternatives to Riquelme, if he goes to the Olympics then the team will most probably be based around him, i don’t think that will help our cause for alternate strategies. I was rather hoping the AFA would give the job to Tocalli, but then again now he’s coach of Velez i suppose it’s not possible.

AFA have lost Pekerman and Tocalli (also Bianchi, my favorite) and it’s going to be noticeable in a few years.
Right now we’re starting to enjoy the quality of so many young players who were developed by them.
From Riquelme to Messi, there’s a lot of talent in between.
I just hope Batista keeps the same direction that have given us such great players.
Something must be wrong with Grondona.

Posted from  United States

Forgot to mention that Peck and Tocalli share together 4 Sub-20 world cups.

Posted from  United States

Thanks for that information, Christian!

Posted from  United States

Our new NT coach for the Olympic Games, Checho Batista was interviewed last night by Clarín/Olé and the new “mister” didn’t waste anytime in making it clear:
I’d love to go with Riquelme and our best U-23 spertars (Messi, Agüero, etc).
It would be a unique oportunity to defend the Gold with such a lineup.
Eventually it’ll be up to their contractual obligations with their clubs and with AFA (they all play for Basile first).

Posted from  United States

do any one know of any website that shares news of the olympics, i can’tseam to find any. i personally would not like to see riquelme at the olympics. i think its time to give someone a shot, its not going to kill us if riquelme doesn’t play. should we depend on riquelme for every match and every competition well it sure seems so. this is basically a u23 why not have an u23 playmaker. we should also be grooming such a player for the world cup. riquelme will be 31 in 2010 and none of here can preidict if he play next world cup or even how productive he will be. i would like to see sosa from bayern munich play in this competition it would be great for him to get this experience.

I have just confirmed Diego will not go to Italy. Though he remains a huge fan of Napoli and would like to be there to support his fellow argentines playing there, legal issues prevent him from returning.

Regards

I think our decisions on the Olympics will be influenced by what the other teams do. If Brasil add rhonaldino and Kaka then it is important that we pick the three over 23 that give us the best chance to win. I have posteed before that I would like to see a 4 3 3 with all the upfront talent we have available. What worries me most our the defenders so i would use at least two of the picks for defense ie Zanetti and Milito.
Here is what i would do.
Utsari
Zanetti x Milito x

Di SAnto Cambiasso Gago

Messi Higuain Aguero

Posted from  United States

Interesting article on Goal.com about Cambiasso:

Calcio Debate: Is Cambiasso The World’s Best Defensive Midfielder? With Inter the dominant force in Italian football currently, one less fashionable name has particularly stood out – Esteban Cambiasso. Carlo Garganese asks if the Argentine is the best defensive midfielder in the world at the moment…
Calcio Debate: Is Cambiasso The World’s Best Defensive Midfielder?
zoom - galleria

For all the hundreds of millions of pounds that Inter President Massimo Moratti has shelled out on Inter since taking over the club in the mid-1990s, it is rather ironic that possibly his best-ever signing to date, Esteban Cambiasso, cost him absolutely nothing.

Cambiasso first came to the fore as a 15-year-old in the Independiente youth team, and impressed so much that he was snapped up by Real Madrid.

At Madrid Cambiasso was never appreciated and had few chances to shine, mainly due to the fact that the Spanish public in general simply do not understand the virtues of defence. It was for this same reason that Real decided to sell probably the best defensive midfielder in the world at the time, Claude Makelele, to Chelsea in 2003, rather than pay him the wages that he deserved.

Anyhow, Cambiasso’s contract at the Santiago Bernabeu was allowed to run down, and he signed for Inter on a free transfer in 2004.

The move did not gain much publicity and Cambiasso was expected to be just a squad player, especially due to the fact that the world-renowned Edgar Davids, who was just coming off an outstanding six-month loan deal at Barcelona, had also just signed for the club.

As things panned out it was Davids who would be sitting on the bench, as Cambiasso immediately made the defensive midfield position his own, with an outstanding start to his career in Italy.

Within six months of his first season at Inter I had come to the conclusion that Cambiasso had the potential to be the best defensive midfielder in the world. Three years down the line, I am in no doubt that this is now the case.

Perhaps the best attribute of Cambiasso is his tactical sense - positionally he is virtually perfect. His ability to close up the space in the hole between the defence and midfield makes it virtually impossible for attacking midfielders or trequartista’s to shine. Anyone who watched the Milan derby will see how much Brazilian superstar Kaka struggled due to Cambiasso’s positioning.

The Argentine’s marking, tackling, anticipation, bravery and stamina are also as good as they come. When a player attempts to take on Cambiasso they rarely go past him, and the 27-year-old will be just as fit and fresh in the last minute as he is in the first.

However what also makes Cambiasso so special, and perhaps separates him from the player closer than anyone to matching him, Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano, is that the Inter star also possesses brilliant offensive attributes as well.

Cambiasso is often the instigator of attacks, his passing and creativity is intelligent, and he rarely fails to find his target with a ball.

He has also chipped in with a fair few important goals. Indeed this season he already has five to his name in all competitions, which is hugely impressive for a defensive midfielder.

These include decisive goals such as the winner in the Milan derby before Christmas, as well as a crucial brace to help Inter come from two goals down to beat CSKA Moscow in the Champions League.

Many people talk of the importance of Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Inter, and this is very true, however in my opinion Cambiasso is equally vital to the Nerazzurri machine, particularly in Serie A.

Of course it is always difficult choosing the world’s best player in a certain position because there are just so many things to consider.

For example Andrea Pirlo is the best deep-lying playmaker of his generation, and essentially he takes up the same position on the field as Cambiasso. However would you describe him as a defensive midfielder? I do not think so.

Pirlo is a unique player – he is a one-off. His position is unorthodox and for this reason I am excluding him from this discussion. He operates outside the realm.

The two players that come closest to challenging Cambiasso are Mascherano and Chelsea’s Michael Essien.

Defensively Mascherano is the equal of Cambiasso, however he certainly is not as complete as his countryman, especially in the offensive department.

Essien is more of a modern footballer based on power and pace, and as a critic I have always favoured intelligence and guile over this type of present-day phenomena. Nevertheless the Ghanaian is still a world-class player and any team in the world today would take him.

Cambiasso however would have been world-class in any era - indeed he probably would have been better 20 or 30 years ago when the game was slower and more tactical. Now that is a scary thought!

Posted from  United States

toddutah,

Di santo in the midfielder???

Di santo In higuain spot. Move Messi back and Have Higuain on the right.

But I think AFA wouldn’t call on messi to play in the olypmics.

Posted from  United States

100 % sure that barcelona won’t let any of there stars execpt bojan risk injury in this tournament thats not so important.

Posted from  United States

Still think Cristiano ronaldo and Tevez aren’t friends???

Man Utd’s Ronaldo: Tevez complete player

Manchester United ace Cristiano Ronaldo has hailed the impact made by Carlos Tevez this season.

“He is a great player,” stated Ronaldo. “He is fast, aggressive, passes the ball well, he makes things happen and scores goals.

“I call him a complete player.

“It’s incredible the speed with which he has adapted to our team and his progress on the field can be seen by everybody.

“He is calm, very reserved,” revealed the Portugal star. “He is a good friend but, most important is what he does on the pitch for our team.

“He is a key player for this Manchester United team and we hope he carries on in the same way.

“This is a very dynamic Manchester United. A very young team with a very fast, dizzying game.

“We have the perfect balance between experience and youth.

“We have very many great players and are in a great moment. We have everything necessary to win everything we play in.”

Posted from  United States

Good call Golazo and I think Messi should get a chance to play in Olympics b

Posted from  United States

Very kind words from Ronaldo. I do think they get along it’s just that Ronaldo is a narcissist — we also have one of those who posts here— and believes perhaps Tevez is a threat to his mantle of Man U being his team.

Regards

He is under 23 and who would not want to have that chance?

Posted from  United States

Messi is really injury prone so Barcelona won’t let him go to a tournament that doesn’t even count in fifa.

Posted from  United States

Golazo with all due respect I disagree and think that Messi will play unless he is injured. He is under 23 and I think he will tell Barcelona that he will play.

Posted from  United States

Riquelme States Olympic Desire

Juan Román Riquelme has indicated that he wishes to be considered for Argentina’s Gold Medal attempt at this summer’s Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

zoom - galleria Argentina are the current Gold Medal holders in the event, having triumphed over Paraguay in Athens in 2004 and Riquelme wants to be part of their efforts to retain the crown.

The Games operate as a Under-23 tournament, but each team is allowed to include three older players in their squad to compliment the youngsters, a position that Riquelme would like to fulfil.

“I want to play the Olympic Games,” he told Olé.

“I was in the World Cup, the Copa [America], local matches… but not in the Games. I am going to do the best I can to prepare myself to have a place in Beijing.”

As well as his general desire to do well for the national team, Riquelme also noted that the efforts of AFA chief Julio Grondona to try and get FIFA to let him play in the World Club Cup in Japan meant that he feels there is a debt that he needs to repay to his country.

“Whatever happens [Grondona] always treats me with affection. In Japan, for example, he approached me to let me know how much effort they put into trying to do the impossible and let me play. I know he tried and I do not forget these things.”

Finally, Riquelme was asked how it felt to be back with Boca Juniors and he responded enthusiastically.

“I am in my home; I return to wear the shirt once more. Nowadays I want to remain here, I have a contract until 2010. It is the best way in than I can get to the World Club Cup. I am already good, thinking more about my happiness than the money,” he concluded.

Posted from  United States

Wouldn’t be that bad of an idea not calling up Messi. to see our other talents and golazo is right, messi is really injury prone.

Posted from  United States

The AFA said that they will send a B squad even though Bastista wants the strongest side possible. It will consist mainly of Players in argentina with German Denis, Juan Riquelme and someone not yet knowed being the 3 over 23 year olds. There waiting to see what happens with Messi to see if he gets picked or not. Kun Aguero is more then likely going to get picked.
The squad is mostly going to be the players who won the U-20 world cup last summer.

Posted from  United States

No chance in hell Aguero will get picked. Tevez will be dropped to the bench and get ready for the Aguero-Messi partnership.

Posted from  United States

Germán Denis scored against Boca last night and a new kid (for Independiente), 17 years old, scored too and had a great night.
His name is Patricio Rodríguez. Keep it in mind… he’s got game.

Alexa, Riquelme has not been playing for this young Boca Juniors.
I imagine he’ll play on the “Super Clásico” Boca-River but nobody knows for sure.

Posted from  United States