FIFA Club World Cup: Estudiantes-Barcelona preview

December 19, 2009

FIFA Club World Cup 2009 will conclude on Saturday at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, when Catalonia giants Barcelona face Argentina’s Estudiantes.

The kings of Europe will play Copa Libertadores champions in the tournament finale, as has been the case in the last four years.

With Europe running out as winners in the previous meetings, Estudiantes will be looking to reverse the trend as they bid to become the fourth South American side and the first Argentinians to win the FIFA Club World Cup.

And no one knows better the size of task at hand for the El Pincha than Juan Sebastian Veron, who was a member of the Boca Juniors side that went down 4-2 to AC Milan at Japan 2007.

However, Veron is not the only one as Barcelona have also tasted defeat in the final of the competition, having played second fiddle to Internacional three years ago.

Even the presence of the likes Ronaldinho, Deco and Samuel Eto’o in their ranks could not help the Spanish giants to avoid a defeat.

The urge to claim the only trophy missing from the cabinet, is greater and the Blaugrana goal scoring machine will be ready to go all guns blazing

After an impressive display against Atlante in the semi-final the Catalans now have their eyes fixed firmly on an unprecedented sixth trophy.

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WC qualifying bring questions of failed coaches

September 4, 2009

Diego Maradona, Carlos Quieroz and George Burley were rarely spoken of in the same breath as players, but they are all now united by fear of World Cup failure as coaches.

Maradona may enjoy the lingering status of national hero in Argentina, having memorably led the ‘albiceleste’ to glory on the pitch in 1986.

As for coach, however, the road has been a bumpy one in the 11 months since he succeeded Alfio Basile, thanks above all to a 6-1 hiding away to makeweights Bolivia but also a June loss in Ecuador which left Maradona’s men in the fourth and final qualifying place in South America.

After an initial bolstering of national sentiment on Maradona’s arrival, the Argentinians have actualy slipped below the third place in which they sat when predecessor Basile quit in the wake of a loss to Chile.

Fast forward four matches and the two-times champions are five points behind the Brazilians, four adrift of Chile, two behind Paraguay and only two clear of Ecuador.

And if Queiroz and Burley think their situation is precarious with Portugal and Scotland, Maradona could be forgiven for worrying as his team next face Brazil on Saturday.

Should the Brazilians win in Rosario, Argentina could face a humiliating failure to reach the finals in South Africa.

“I’ve been thinking about this game for some time – I’d like so much to be out there myself playing,” Maradona admitted.

Star man Lionel Messi, whom Maradona has long anointed as his on-pitch heir, insists the hosts will not be found wanting.

“We know it will be a tough game – they have great players. But so do we, so we can definitely win it. We know what is at stake.”

If history is on Maradona’s side – Argentina have not failed to qualify since 1970 – the burden of expectation weighs no less heavy on fellow under-pressure coaches Queiroz and Burley, while France’s Raymond Domenech’s future is by no means clear.

Portugal have enjoyed a relative purple patch in recent years with their run to the final of Euro 2004 on home soil and the World Cup semis two years later, but the 2010 team are struggling and that could mean curtains for former Real Madrid coach and ex-Manchester United assistant boss Queiroz.

With four games to go the “Seleccao” are seven points adrift of group leaders Denmark with just four games to go with only the group winners guaranteed a place in the finals.

Before the Portuguese think of wielding the axe they may reflect that the Danes have come back to form under Morten Olsen, a man the Scandinavians have stuck with through thick and thin for nine years.

Star man Cristiano Ronaldo admits that the Portuguese “are really feeling the pressure. That’s normal given what is at stake – but Portugal will be at the World Cup,” the Real Madrid man told AS sports daily in Spain.

Burley’s Scotland, once regular participants but who last reached the finals in 1998, are struggling and take on Macedonia hoping to stay in sight of a potential play-off place as Holland have already run away with their group.

Criticism rained down on Burley after last month’s 4-0 pasting in Norway which left the Scots third behind the Macedonians on goal difference.

Burley’s assistant Terry Butcher, who captained England to a 1990 World Cup semi-final, defended the coach on Thursday.

“I’m gutted for George in terms of the criticism. He lives for football, sees it the way he wants and disregards everything else. He just focuses on the job.”

But anything less than three points and the job may not be there much longer.

The possibility of a change of employment also hangs over French handler Domenech as Les Bleus host Romania needing a win to stay on the tails of leaders Serbia, whom they trail by five points – albeit with a game in hand.

French fans booed the side following a February home friendly loss to Maradona’s Argentina and sports daily L’Equipe says supporters have “fallen out of love” with their team.

“It’s a national principle,” scoffed Domenech regarding the booing. “One or several idiots start shouting out insults and the rest do the same without knowing why.”

Domenech insists that “I have an affinity with the players,” and shrugs off his public persona of a man who has to bear adversity and approbrium on his shoulders.

“If people chucked things at me, then I would start to ask myself some questions, though when I take the metro I’m not attacked…”

PARIS (AFP)

Tags: albiceleste, argentinians, brazilians, carlos quieroz, diego maradona, five points, george burley, heir, home soil, lionel messi, national hero, national sentiment, predecessor, purple patch, queiroz, raymond domenech, rosario argentina, star man, world cu

Maradona issues rallying cry ahead of Brazil

August 20, 2009

Diego Maradona is only considering victory for his Argentina side in next month’s pivotal World Cup qualifier against continental arch rivals Brazil.

With four games to go in South American zonal qualifying, Argentina are lying fourth in the last automatic qualifying spot for South Africa, with 22 points, five behind leaders Brazil.

Chile and Paraguay are in second and third.

Despite that precarious position, Maradona was in positive mood Wednesday, telling a press conference in Rosario where the September 5 tie is being held: “I’m only thinking of victory, I’m not considering defeat.”

Honours were shared with a goalless draw in the two countries’ first meeting on the road to South Africa in Belo Horizonte in June last year.

But this time Maradona believes the outcome will be different.

“We’re hungrier than Brazil,” insisted the Argentine football legend who this month was forced to dismiss reports linking him to the manager’s job at English Premier League side Portsmouth.

Maradona, who took over as Argentina boss in November 2008, spoke in reverential terms of Dunga’s Brazilian side which in June successfully defended their Confederations Cup title.

“The entire Brazil team makes me scared,” he admitted.

“They have a fantastic side but the best players must be Kaka and Robinho.

“I have the utmost respect for Carlos Dunga, he organises things very well.”

He concluded by issuing a rallying cry to his team who had to come from behind to edge Russia 3-2 in a warm-up to the Brazil clash last week in Moscow.

“We are all Argentinians and we’re going to be coming up against our biggest rivals.

“We have to remain united, otherwise Brazil can do us great harm.”

After Brazil, Argentina face another awkward assignment against the Paraguayans on September 9, with the two-time world champions’ remaining two qualifiers against bottom-of-the-table Peru and sixth-placed Uruguay in October.

BUENOS AIRES (AFP)

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Boca Juniors take third place at Audi Cup

July 31, 2009

Boca Juniors won the match for third place at the Audi Cup in Munich, beating AC Milan 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 result.

Thiago Silva put Milan ahead after 26 minutes, as the Italians looked to have recovered from Wednesday’s 4-1 defeat to hosts Bayern.

But the Argentinians scored through Lucas Viatri with just three minutes to go, and penalties were needed to decide which team was to finish third at this inaugural Audi Cup.

In the shoot-out, both sides had already missed one penalty when Milan’s Pato had the final spot kick saved by keeper Abbondanzieri, thereby handing the victory to Boca.

Jonathan Roorda

Tags: ac milan, argentinians, audi cup, Bayern, boca juniors, hosts, italians, Lucas Viatri, match, Milan, Munich, pato, roorda, shoot out, Silva, thiago silva, three minutes, victory

Libertadores: Cruzeiro beat Estudiantes, San Lorenzo crash at Universitario

February 20, 2009

Cruzeiro were handed a tough task by Estudiantes in Thursday’s Libertadores actions, but nevertheless managed to beat the Argentinians 3-0. San Lorenzo crashed to a 1-0 defeat at Universitario Lima.

The first 63 minutes at Cruzeiro versus Estudiantes went by without goals, but the Brazilians were then given a penalty kick. Fernandinho made no mistake from the spot to make it 1-0.

Kleber added a second in the 69th minute and scored another in the 73rd, but was also handed a second yellow card two minutes later and misses Cruzeiro’s next Libertadores match.

A penalty caused by defender Jonathan Bottinelli in the 20th minute, earned the San Lorenzo player a red card and former Premiership midfielder Nolberto Solano converted the opportunity to give his side a slightly surprising 1-0 victory.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: argentinians, Brasil, brazilians, crash, cruzeiro, Fernandinho, jonathan, Jonathan Bottinelli, Libertadores, Lima, Lorenzo, midfielder, mistake, penalty kick, premiership, roorda, San, san lorenzo, Solano, two minutes, universitario lima, victory, yellow card

S. America Under-20: Argentina held by Paraguay

February 1, 2009

Argentina and Paraguay held each other to a 1-1 draw in the first match of the final round at this year’s South American Sub-20 Championships, played in Venezuela.

Velez Sarsfield forward Jonathan Cristaldo put the Argentinians in the lead after 47 minutes but Hernan Perez, who plays his club football for Libertad, equalised on the hour mark.

The final round of the youth tournament consists of a six-team league. Other nations participating in this round are Uruguay, Brazil, Venezuela and Colombia.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: Argentina, Argentine, argentinians, brazil, club football, colombia, hernan perez, jonathan, match, MLS, paraguay, roorda, s south, uruguay, velez sarsfield, venezuela

S. America Under-20: Argentina eliminate Peru

January 24, 2009

Argentina clinched their first win of the South American Under-20 Championships in Venezuela, coming back from behind to beat Peru 2-1.

Peru had already lost their first two matches and only a miracle could help them at this point. The underdogs had a great start with Luis Trujillo opening the score after only three minutes.

But the Argentinians came back through Velez Sarsfield forward Jonathan Cristaldo in the 25th minute and Eduardo Salvio (Lanus) netted the winner with 14 minutes left to play.

Argentina now share second place in this group with Colombian, whom they are set to face on Sunday. Peru are out of contention and finish their tournament against Venezuela in two days from now.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda