Maradona, Bilardo, and doctor Donato are all in Madrid. Sergio Aguero y Jonás Gutiérrez are both injured and they’re not sure if they will be able to play. What do you all think? Can we do it? Or is Argentina futbol in trouble? I just think there are ups an downs and this is just another one of those downs. It’s not the first time this has happened. It happens with all great futbol countries.

Game time is:

21:00 UK
Santiago Bernabeu Stadium
Spain v Argentina

Porteros: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar, NED) y Mariano Andújar (Catania, ITA).

Defensas: Gabriel Heinze (Olympique Marsella, FRA), Martín Demichelis (Bayern Múnich, GER), Cristian Ansaldi (Rubin Kazan, RUS), Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle, GBR) y Nicolás Pareja (Espanyol, ESP).

Medios: Javier Mascherano (Liverpool, GBR), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid, ESP), Ángel Di María y Pablo Aimar (Benfica, POR), Jonás Gutiérrez (Newcastle, GBR), Esteban Cambiasso (Inter, ITA) y Maxi Rodríguez (Atlético de Madrid, ESP).

Delanteros: Sergio Agüero (Atlético de Madrid, ESP), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City, GBR), Lionel Messi (Barcelona, ESP), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Nápoles, ITA) y Gonzalo Higuaín (Real Madrid, ESP).

Hello everyone!

Here are the upcoming friendly matches that Argentina are going to play:

14.11.09 Spain Argentina
16.12.09 Argentina Czech Republic
03.03.10 Germany Argentina

These are very important matches for us. Maradona has to show that he is truly capable of coaching the national team. I still have confidence and faith in him. I think there will be some changes in coaching staff, player shuffling, etc. What do you all think? Messi scored again today and Masherano played well too. Mascherano has said he is relaxed and now that Argentina is qualified he can focus on Liverpool. I think he will return to his best form. It’s just a matter of time.

In another news our Sub 17 national team has defeated Honduras 1-0 in the FIFA Under 17 World Cup being played in Nigeria. Our next match is on Tuesday against Germany. Take a look at the link if you want more information on this tournament.

Maradona has stated that he is confident in Di Maria and loves the way he plays. I agree with him on this one. He has also said that he has noticed the play of Javier Saviola and is keeping the doors open for him.

So there you go guys. Enjoy yourselves and remember to keep it clean!

love you all!

Julian

El Diez will be hoping to win his second game as manager after defeating Scotland 1-0 last year. While an official lineup has yet to be announced as of 8:22PT, it has been confirmed that Lionel Messi will make his Maradona-era debut, as will Sergio Agüero.

As usual, please post your comments on the match below, as well as any streams you may find showing the game. Good luck, y Vamo’ Argentina!

Possible Starting Lineup:
Juan Pablo Carrizo
Javier Zanetti, Martín Demichelis, Gabriel Heinze, Emiliano Papa
Maximiliano Rodríguez, Javier Mascherano, Fernando Gago, Jonás Gutiérrez or Carlos Tevez
Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero

While many of the names come as no surprise (Mascherano, Messi, Agüero), the selection of Walter Samuel certainly is, with the former Boca Juniors player making his first appearance with the national team since September of 2006.

The list does not include players currently playing in Argentina such as Juan Román Riquelme and Juan Sebastián Verón, who could be called in this week, though they would have to miss the start of the Clausura season which begins February 6th.

In other news, the Argentina Under-20 squad will face Ecuador tonight in the South America Under-20 Championship. They will need at least a draw to qualify for the final hexagonal group stage if they are to advance to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt. I’ve provided a link below, which should be at 6PM ET/3PM PT.

Full List For France Friendly:

Goalkeepers: Juan Pablo Carrizo (Lazio), Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar)

Defenders: Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Gabriel Heinze (Real Madrid), Daniel Díaz (Getafe), Nicolás Burdisso (Inter Milan), Walter Samuel (Inter Milan)

Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid), Maximiliano Rodríguez (Atlético Madrid), Jonás Gutiérrez (Newcastle), Luis González (Porto), Ángel Di María (Benfica)

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona de España), Sergio Agüero (Atlético de Madrid de España), Carlos Tevez (Manchester United de Inglaterra), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli de Italia), Lisandro López (Porto de Portugal), Germán Denis (Napoli de Italia)

Link for Argentina vs Ecuador U-20 Game

Watch live video from Futbol Mundial on Justin.tv

With Maradona-fever running rampant in Glasgow, all eyes will be focused on Hampden Park tonight. What began as an otherwise meaningless friendly has become a worldwide event that will have fans and critics looking not only to see how Diego manages in his debut, but more importantly, to see if he can raise the level of play and confidence of the squad ahead of the next round of World Cup Qualifying.

I’ll post updates throughout the day; as always, please leave your comments, as well as any streaming links, below. Good luck to Diego and Argentina, and good luck to all.

UPDATED: Starting Lineup
Carrizo
Zanetti, Demichelis, Heinze, Papa
Mascherano, Gago, Maxi Rodríguez, Jonás Gutiérrez
Lavezzi, Tevez.

Diego Maradona today released his list of 20 players to be called up for the November 19th friendly against Scotland, his first official act since becoming head coach.

At a press conference this afternoon, el Diez, standing between Carlos Bilardo and Julio Grondona, sounded quite confident in his selection, saying of the upcoming match against the Scots, “there are no friendlies, rather international dates where the prestige of the nation will be defended.”

When asked about what his expectations of the other men who will make up his coaching staff, he boasted, “Absolute loyalty. Iron strong. That they be ready to work and take orders from the number one head: me.”

One notable absence from the list below is Lionel Messi, who will not participate in the friendly as part of an earlier agreement between AFA and FC Barcelona.

Keepers: Juan Pablo Carrizo, Sergio Romero

Defenders: Nicolás Burdisso, Fabricio Coloccini, Martín Demichelis, Daniel Díaz, Gabriel Heinze, Javier Zanetti

Midfielders: Ángel Di María, Fernando Gago, Luis González, Jonás Gutiérrez, Javier Mascherano, Maximiliano Rodríguez, José Sosa

Forwards: Sergio Agüero, Germán Denis, Lisandro López, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Carlos Tévez

Your thoughts on the list? Excited? Disappointed?

Argentina Starting XI:
“Pato” Abbondanzieri
Gonzalo Rodríguez, Gabriel Heinze, Nicolas Burdisso,
Pablo Zabaleta, Javier Mascherano, Fernando Gago, Maxi Rodríguez
Lionel Messi
Sergio Agüero, Julio Cruz

Subs:
Sergio Romero, Javier Zanetti, Martín Demichelis, Jonas Gutiérrez, José Sosa, Ever Banega, Fernando Cavenaghi

Coco Basile will be starting the following:

Roberto Abbondanzieri
Nicolás Burdisso, Martín Demichelis, Gabriel Heinze
Javier Zanetti, Javier Mascherano, Fernando Gago, Maximiliano Rodríguez
Lionel Messi
Sergio Agüero, Julio Cruz

Though Mexico is a team currently in transition, they should present a formidable challenge to el albiceleste, and if recent history is any indication (Maxi Rodríguez in the 2006 WC; Messi in the 2007 Copa America), there could be some beautiful goals on display.

While I still question some of the starters (Cruz looked weak against Egypt, and until Carrizo is available, the inclusion of Pato speaks for itself), this should still be a very entertaining and telling performance.

If anyone is attending the match, please leave your comments, pics, and videos below.

Again, the game will be shown live and for free on Telemundo at 2PM ET. Check your local listings for the exact channel. If you can’t find it, or it isn’t available on your cable network, I’ll try to find a streaming link.

For those who haven’t already seen, the starting lineup is as follows:

Oscar Ustari
Pablo Zabaleta, Julián Federico Fazio, Emiliano Insúa, Cristian Ansaldi
Fernando Gago, Ever Banega
Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain
Sergio Agüero, Ezequiel Lavezzi

So with that in mind, I want to ask everyone here how you want this blog to approach this massive summer. This space has always been dictated by those who come here to read or leave comments, and I want you to choose how best to use this site to follow the games.

So what would people prefer – more original content from the writers (there are three of us technically), or more along the lines of what we do now, essentially fewer posts with more space for discussion in the comments? Live-blogging? More discussion on the podcast?

I do have one person who will be attending the game in New York against the USMNT who will act as a correspondent and give his personal thoughts (yes, I ripped it off from Ives’ blog). I’m still hoping to be in San Diego in time for the friendly against Mexico, so if anyone plans on going please let me know. Also, a few of you have mentioned about your own personal Argentina sites and Facebook groups – please post URL’s so I can keep a list.

While I wait to hear from everyone, please check out my post on The Offside main page on the Copa Libertadores, where I try ever so subtlety to suggest that it beats the boring-ass Champions League any day of the week.

Chau.