2009 Champions League Final: LIVE

Now Ortega wants to return to the NT.

http://goal.com/en/news/585/argentina/2009/06/02/1301041/ariel-ortega-wants-argentina-return

Though he was a great player, looks like Maradona’s comment about “everyone has a chance” has been taken a little too seriously

Posted from  United States

I just wanted to take a pause before the summer club break to emphasize how well represented Argentina was amoung the winning clubs of Europe. I am not sure if there are any argys on the german champs but among the other major leagues we were well represented. I remember before the 2006 World Cup many of us were concerned that not many Argys were playing for a league winning side and that we might not have a winners mentality. I thnk that has all changed the past couple of years. Messi, Tevez. Lucho, Lisandro, Cambiasso, Burdisso, Zanetti, have all won the league title with thier clubs this year. Also note that last year Gago, Heinze, Higuain, and Demichillis won the league with their clubs. That gives us 11 players that have won on a major team in Europe in the past year that play for Argentina. I think the question as to whether we can have a winners mentality is not longer the worry it once was. Add to that all the players that experienced the Gold Medal and I think you have a team of winners.

I am very confident about these next two games. I expect a 3 to 1 at home and a 2 to 1 on the road.

Posted from  United States

By the way — Christian — I don’t think that anyone would argue that Manchester United represents anti-football. They have a strong, fast style that I have always enjoyed.

The complaint was against the tactics that they use against barcelona in the CL semifinals, which were the same tactics that Chelsea used, and which I consider cynical, especially considering the money and talent that these teams have at their disposal.

The two-league structure allows for these ulta-defensive tactics, but a one-game wins all final takes that option away, I think. At least with big teams like United who have some pride, and who wanted to be known as one of the great teams in history.

No one called United anti-football. That’s just not true.

Posted from  United States

Congratulations to a great striker. One who never complains.
One who is not too big but becomes huge when he’s in the box.
A player who gets along with everybody (including Riquelme !!!).
A very well deserved “Pichichi” to Diego “Cachavacha” Forlán (Uruguay).
What an example he is for fans of all ages and cultures.
Way to go, Forlán !!!!! You’re the best.

Posted from  United States

Wow, the was pretty classy and also extremely funny.

Posted from  United States

I’m pretty sure Maradona tested positive for steroids in the 94 world cup. Since when has it been a good thing that Maradona did drugs? And trust me if you do cocaine once your not hooked, not even close just look at George Bush and Barack Obama who both said they used cocaine but aren’t attached. You’ll have to do cocaine on almost an everything day basis. This guy also goes around spreading his words of hate to countries like the U.S and Great Britian. Maradona once said he hates everything that comes from America, this man also good friends with the communist dictator of Cuba. This man scored a goal with his hand and tainted the 86 world cup, we still could of won that game if he didn’t cheat. And 90% cry and bitch everytime someone like aguero or messi take a dive but the same people praise maradona. This is the national hero of Argentina, no wonder why people like albo and golazo are embrassed of him, its hard for people like PDP and day1star to relate because there not from argentina and don’t know how it is.

Posted from  United States

Forlan is wonderful. A truly great!

So bloody wat? That’s his opinion he has the right to it same as you and me, if he wants to hate america, so wat? Plenty of people do. Argentina has history with Britain, so if he dislikes the english, so wat?
So wat if he’s friends with Castro? Big Deal.
No-one said u can get hooked by taking it once, depends how u take it, also how much u take, and some people don’t have the willpower to say no, did he offer you drugs? Did he try to get others hooked? Did he rob and steal to feed his habit?
You’re making a big deal coz he’s famous and that’s it, most people who admire him, do so for his talent and ability, and a lot of people are fans of argentina due to him too.

Day1star, please don’t get upset. I respect your opinion.
I didn’t mean to start a problem.
I just think that Maradona could have helped Argentina win 2 or 3 more WCs hadn’t he been hooked on drugs and with that “almighty” attitude of his, which I’m so glad Messi doesn’t have at all.

That said, I’ll copy and paste what I wrote about Maradona, right above, on this same thread:

“Maradona was amazing to watch when he was 17 years old.
He didn’t have the swagger and the “know it all” attitude.
But he had a “1st step” like no one else ever had.
His legs were always a lot more muscular than Messi’s.
Maradona was very strong and had a very low center of gravity.
Watching him at that age was so impressive.
I’ll never forget how good he was.
Just wanted to set that part of the record straight.
I have never seen another player like him.”

Posted from  United States

I really dont like the discussion on Maradona but since it is already there I will put in my two cents. Those that love Maradona love him because of what he brought to the game. The good outshined the bad. He was not perfect nor was he a perfect player. He had bad games and he had good games but overall he brought joy to many through his art and determination. He was the little guy who beat the big guy. He was the guy from the wrong side of town that dribbled his way past the elitist bully. He was futbols Mozart. Watch videos of him as a kid. God blessed him with talents seen only seen once in a lifetime. This is what we love about Maradona!!

He was a star at a time when the rich and wealthy of the world abused drugs more than any other time. Most of the Rock Stars and Sports Atheletes of the late 70s and 80s would most likely have dabbled in some form of drugs. That is why it is hard to judge history after it is over. One of my favorite Heros is Mohamad Ali. He did not go and fight for his country which I do not agree with but his other victories and triumphs outwiegh that by so much. Such it is for me with Maradona. I have his poster on my wall for my children to see. I do not want them to follow everything he did but I do want them to know that this man was magic with the ball and his passion and love of country made heroes out of many an ordinary futboler.

Now my hope is that same passion can be passed on to this generation of incredible talent on the Argentine National Team.

Posted from  United States

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/gregory_sica/06/02/lionel-messi/index.html?eref=T1

Pretty basic article but from CNN website.

Posted from  United States

Rumour of the day. Lavezzi to real madrid along with Kaka. Wow Lavezzi Kaka and Higuain. That would be quite a combo.

Posted from  United States

Lavezzi would greatly benefit from a move, I think.

Posted from  United States

Carrizo might not start in goal and it might be Andujar.

Posted from  United States

Albo, i did read wat u wrote before, and wat i said wasn’t aimed at u but at argentuban. I know a lot of people who started to support argentina because of maradona, and most people don’t remember him for the handball or the drugs(except for the english that is), but for his amazing skills and the way he destroyed teams, and the beauty of watching him play.

How is a player worth $93 million dollars? Paying millions of dollars for any sport figure is quite a stretch but $93 million is insane!!! I can’t imagine how any sober businessman would regard spending that much money on a single player a good investment.
It’s not even guaranteed that acquiring Kaka, or any number of high profile players, would lead Real Madrid to conquer any competition, let alone the champions league.

Posted from  United States

Aimed at me? Did I miss something? Did you mean Argentina2010? I didn’t say anything about Maradona here.

Posted from  United States

Christian — I agree with what you say. United — some people say they were arrogant coming out the way they did, playing a more open style. But I think that they sort of had to do that to make a case for themselves as a truly great team. Just like Argentina do. Both sides have gifts in their team that other countries/sides just don’t have. It’s their moral duty to go for the glory. I know I sound maniacal, but, really, glory is bigger than the scoreline. At least it is for me. (and for you toom if your an argentina fan )

Forlan seems to me to be the nicest guy in football. If someone can count RIQUELME as a friend, you know he has to be a peach of a human being.

Mion…do u think buying galicatos by perez before was bad for business….well, it was more for business than football…Beckham made a lot of money for Madrid …..i m sure kaka will make alot of money for them too, leave football and trophies….they r all smart businessmen…do u think la galaxy buying beckham was bad business ???

Posted from  United States

nah to me zanetti is the nicest guy… he’s a doll!

Argentina 2010, I’m not sure you read anything i typed. it doesn’t matter where people are from. It’s easy to separate what people do on the pitch with what people do off it.

“i’m pretty sure Maradona tested positive for steroids in the 1994 world cup”

No he didn’t. He tested positive for ephedrine. There’s a big difference. please check your facts before typing.

Beyond that, i agree with toddutah. Surely Maradona’s abilities as a manager are of more relevance to our upcoming qualifiers than his past… ?

Posted from  Canada

Oops sorry, Argentuban, my apologies, i meant argentina2010.

it seems the starting line up will be:

andujar
zannetti-demichelis-heinze-papa
macherano-gago
veron
messi-tevez-aguero

well i don’t know my each of our nt managers are so stubborn, why can,t the learn heinze is a awful defender. the guy is nightmare waiting to happen, he is just as bad as roque-junior. the last time we played colombia we played with the 3 midgets and lost. why do we insist on playing them again. i would love to see burdisso for heinze and milito for tevez

hello everyone and thanks to u guys responses
thanks to argentuban and alexa

well…i’m in another car forum where they have football club…
and most of them hardcore mu fans…(i always lose the debate)<-aslo becoz of my poor english..hmm

and they don’t like messi and they think c.ronaldo is the best..
well…rmb messi outclassed c.ronaldo in last year semi-final..
he was the best player in the pitch…i think last year he play better than this year final

anyway messi still outclass c.ronaldo in this year final
^^