So as before, please post your choices on the following topics:

* Best Game
* Worst or Most Disappointing Game
* Best Individual Performance
* Best Goal
* Breakout Player Award

And for 2009:
* Predict What the Biggest Storyline Will Be
* Who Will Be the Next Big Player from Argentina
* Which Player Will Have the Most Impact

The above topics are just a guide, please feel free to include any other points you wish. Your answers can include either national and club football, but obvioulsy, please keep it Argentina-focused. Have fun!

But there will still be plenty of football action over the weekend, so as always, I invite you to use this space for all your comments. Most eyes will be on the Manchester Derby this Sunday to see if Tevez can rebound from his current bad form, but Inter and Napoli face each other the same day in Italy, and if you have TYC Sports USA, Saturday’s Huracán vs San Lorenzo match in the Apertura should be a quality matchup between two hated rivals.

Thanks again for all your input, and enjoy the holiday. Chau chau.

The biggest derby in all Argentina will resume once again today, when River Plate host Boca Juniors at the Monumental this afternoon. You can watch live at on Fox Sports Espanol at 2PM ET/11AM PT, or delayed on FSC at 4:30 PM ET/1:30 PM PT, though if you’ve ever heard the announcer who calls those games in English, you may want to steer clear.

Regardless that both teams appear to be out of contention for the local title, that will be put aside for 90 minutes, as one of the world’s most important derbies plays out in front of one of the most intense and wild atmospheres you are likely to see in football.

Even those of you who do not follow the Argentine league, you owe it to yourself to see at least one River-Boca match before you die. And for those of you following the recent coaching change in the national team, be sure to check out River’s Diego Simeone, whose name as been floating around as a possible candidate.

Here’s hoping for a great match, free of violence. One of the great memories of my life was seeing a Superclasico live and in person, and I hope that for all you watching, you experience at least a portion of what I saw that amazing afternoon two years ago.

Please check my River blog for a very, very biased recap once the game is over, and also visit Dave’s Boca blog.

Carlos Tevez already scored in Manchester United’s 1-2 loss to Liverpool, and Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Atletico Madrid, all playing today. Tomorrow, Boca, current leaders in the Argentine Apertura, face a huge derby match tomorrow against an Independiente side who are desperate for a win.

Look for a recap of the Argentine Apertura early next week, and make sure to leave your thoughts on all the club football going on this weekend.

Batista is already looking ahead to the quarters, announcing today that he will rest Juan Román Riquelme and Sergio Agüero, and replace them with Diego Buonanotte and Angel Di María, respectively. Both Riquelme and Agüero are currently holding one yellow card each, and Batista will take no chances with the squad on pace to retain its gold medal.

Who Argentina will face in the next round is anyone’s guess, with the United States, Nigeria, and the Netherlands all still alive in Group B. Look for details soon on where you can watch the game this Wednesday.

Group A, Match 2
Argentina 1 – 0 Australia

Scoring Report:
ARG: Ezequiel Ivan Lavezzi (76)

Argentina Starting XI:
Oscar Ustari
Pablo Zabaleta, Federico Julian Fazio, Ezequiel Garay, Luciano Fabian Monzon
Fernando Gago, Javier Mascherano, Lionel Messi, Juan Riquelme
Ezequiel Lavezzi, Sergio Aguero

Substitutions:
Angel di Maria for Aguero (61st)
Jose Sosa for Lavezzi (87th)
Lautaro Acosta for Messi (93rd)

Current Group A Standings and Points:
Argentina 6
Côte d’Ivoire 3
Serbia 1
Australia 1

Back home, the 2008 Apertura kicked off its season, with current champions River Plate looking somewhat shaky in their 1-1 draw with Colón. Rivals Boca Juniors had no such trouble, even with playmaker Riquelme unavailable, as they cruised to a 4-0 thrashing of Gimnasia (J). Racing Club, who were very nearly relegated last season, haven’t seemed to improved after a 2-0 defeat to Lanus, while Rosario Central and Estudiantes played the game of the weekend in a 3-2 match in favor of Central.

2008 Apertura Week 1 results:
San Martín (T) 2 – 0 Huracán
Gimnasia 0 – 1 Newell`s
Arsenal 3 – 0 Argentinos
Rosario Central 3 – 2 Estudiantes
Banfield 1 – 2 Godoy Cruz
Vélez 0 – 0 Independiente
Colón 1 – 1 River
Boca 4 – 0 Gimnasia (J)
Racing 0 – 2 Lanús
San Lorenzo 0 – 1 Tigre

Leave your comments below on who you think Argentina will face in quarters and your thoughts on this past week’s Primera fixtures below.