soccer120: ARGENTINA

Showing posts with label ARGENTINA. Show all posts

Lionel Messi comes out of retirement

By Unknown 22:11:00 ARGENTINA, MESSI, MESSI RETIRES

Lionel Messi has rescinded his decision to quit as captain of Argentina, reversing his decision in June to retire from international soccer.

The Barcelona forward said he would not play for Argentina again after the team lost to Chile in the final of the Copa America in the United States. However, in a statement on Friday, Messi explained that he wanted to continue representing his country as he preferred “to help from within”.

“I consider there to be a lot of problems in Argentine football and it’s not my intention to create another one,” the 29-year-old said. “There are a lot of issues that need to be resolved in Argentine football but I prefer to help from within and not to criticise from the outside.

“A lot of things went through my mind on the night of the final and I gave serious thought to quitting but my love for my country and this shirt is too great,” the player said. Messi will be named in new coach Edgardo Bauza’s squad to face Uruguay and Venezuela in 2018 World Cup, South American qualifiers to be held in the first week of September.

Bauza was in Barcelona on Thursday for a meeting with his team captain. Meanwhile, Messi has lost in three consecutive finals while on duty with the Argentina national team.

Honduras sends Argentina out of men’s football event of the Rio Olympics

By Unknown 00:53:00 ARGENTINA, NEWS, OLYMPIC 2016, Rio 2016, Rio 2016 Olympics

Argentina are out of the running in the men’s football event of the Rio Olympics having failed to get the needed win over Honduras on Wednesday.

Argentina needed to win to stay in contention in Rio but the South Americans could only force out a 1-1 draw agaisnt the Honduras team that have now progressed to the quarter finals alongside Portugal who finshed top in Group D with 7 points.

In dramatic fashion, Bryan Acosta and Angel Correa missed penalties either side of half-time for Honduras and Argentina respectively, only for Antony Lozano to make it third time lucky.

Mauricio Martinez’s injury-time goal was too little too late as the Albiceleste crashed out.

With the 1-1 draw, Honduras have repeated their feat of four years ago when they made it this far in the men’s football event in London.

Watford Reject Shanghai SIPG's £38m Bid For Odion Ighalo

By Unknown 07:56:00 ARGENTINA, NIGERIA, Odion Ighalo, SUPER EAGLES, TRANSFER

Watford Reject Shanghai SIPG's £38m Bid For Odion Ighalo

Lavezzi to miss Copa final after fracturing elbow

By Unknown 00:53:00 ARGENTINA, COPA AMERICA

Ezequiel Lavezzi will miss the Copa America Centenario final after it was confirmed he suffered an elbow fracture in Argentina's semi-final win over the United States on Wednesday.

Lavezzi, who scored the game's opener inside four minutes, was forced off in the second half of their 4-0 win against USA after landing awkwardly when he tumbled over an advertising board in Houston.

The Hebei China Fortune forward leapt up for a header but was too close to the hoardings, appearing to land badly on his neck.

After being taken away on a stretcher, medics confirmed the 31 year-old suffered a radial fracture in his left elbow.

The injury will need surgery, ruling Lavezzi out of the Copa America final on Monday (AEST).

Argentina will be hoping to end their 23-year wait for a major trophy in the decider, where they will meet either defending champions Chile or Colombia.