Simeone to the rescue!

[Ben]

Argentina 2-1 Brazil

Brilliant absolutely brilliant. The Brazilians will say we were lucky along with 75% of the neutrals, the rest will say we deserved it, we did. We were the better team from start to finish and 85th minute substitute Julio Cruz scored the winner in the 96th minute of the 94 we were supposed to play XD

MOTM
Nicolas Burdisso

Another quality display from the on loan AS Roma defender. He scored Argentina's first and played well at the back.​

 

[Tobe2k10]

You should play buonanotee scoring for fun for my Sporting team.

 

[Ben]

Yeah, got my eye on him, not sure whether he would cope at international level though.

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Paraguay V Argentina​

Paraguay
Captain: Dario Veron
Key man: Oscar Cardozo
Argentina
Captain: Javier Zanetti
Key man: Javier Mascherano​

Odds: Paraguay 11/5 Draw 11/5 Argentina EvensF​

Sky sports
Will be a close game today, Paraguay are solid and organised but Argentina have something different. They come off a great win against Brazil and I think they will win today.
Prediction: Paraguay 0-1 Argentina ​

---------- Post added at 04:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:45 AM ----------

Paraguay 0-2 Argentina​

A very good result. First half never went our way though and I was a bit worried coming in at the break. So I went into my tactics and changed a few things and it came off for me. Brought Cruz on and again he finished the game off for me! ​

MOTM
Sergio Aguero

A fantastic display from the young man. Never put a foot wrong and showed his quality with Argentina's first goal!​

 

[Ben]

My next update will be for the games against Peru and Uruguay, my final WC qualifying games. Will probably be tomorrow, thanks

 

[Ben]

Simeone's squad!​

Diego Simeone has names his squad for Argentina's upcoming World Cup qualifying matches. Peru and Uruguay are the teams they come up against and with Argentina already guaranteed a play off spot, Simeone could experiment in either game.​

Goalkeepers: Abbondanzieri, Leo Franco, Romero
Good goalkeepers and no injuries at all now in this area. Won't have any quality goalkeepers until Romero and Ustari develop and even then they might not be a very high standard. Abbondanzieri is my current NO1.​

Defenders: Burdisso, Demichelis, Garay, G.Rodriguez, Zanetti, Ferrari, Insua, Heinze
Demichelis being back is the main news, he is still nowhere near match fitness but I want to give him some minutes as I feel he is my best defender. Ansaldi has a knock so I went for a fully fit Heinze as a replacement. Samuel is out for another 5 days so I left him out, Zabaleta is also now injured.​

Midfielders: Mascherano, Cambiasso, Gago, Aimar, Pastore, Di Maria, Jonas, Messi, Maxi
Veron, Lucho Gonzalez and Banega are my only midfielders but I would struggle to fit them into my formation tbh, don't play a central midfielder, just a holding midfielder. Good attacking threat as Messi returns and young, talented attacking midfielder Pastore comes in, if I experiment he will definately be used.​

Forwards: Aguero, Tevez, Higuain, Lavezzi, Milito, Cruz
Strong here again with any of these players able to change a game. Aguero is really starting to bloom now but Tevez's performances are quite concerning. Cruz never dissapoints me and adds a lot to the squad and the young players. Yet to play Lavezzi, he's playing well in Argentina though, 7.41 average ratings!​

Notable injuries:
Gabri Milito
Pablo Zabaleta
Juan Seb Veron
Lucho Gonzalez
Ever Banega
Javier Saviola​

Players left out:
Oscar Ustari
Cata Diaz
Fabricio Coloccini
Cristian Ansaldi
Luciano Galletti
Mario Santana
Andres D'Alessandro
Mauro Zarate
Diego Buananotte (Just noticed he cannot play though, because of the car crash he was in?)
Lisandro Lopez
Gonzalo Bergessio
Hernan Crespo
Fernandro Cavenaghi​

Superstars return!​

Martin Demichelis, Lionel Messi are the major players to come back from injury for Argentina. Demichelis has been told he is Argentina's best defender by Diego Simeone and Lionel Messi has been told he is their best player! So these 2 coming back will be massive for the South American nation. Walter Samuel is also thought to be back from injury but he is still not fully fit and Simeone didn't want to pick 2 central defenders who may be at a low fitness level. ​

 

[FoxyCFC]

Nice story mate, btw whats the skin? Looks really good might download

 

[Ben]

Argentina V Peru​

Argentina
Key man: Lionel Messi
Captain: Javier Zanetti
Peru
Key man: Jefferson Farfan
Captain: Juan Manuel Vargas​

Odds: Argentina 1/10 Draw 5/1 Peru 10/1
Sky Sports
Argentina shouldn't be troubled by Peru. They are the better side and should emphasise their superiority today at home, I predict the Argies to coast past Peru.
Prediction: Argentina 3-0 Peru​

---------- Post added at 01:22 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:19 AM ----------

Nice story mate, btw whats the skin? Looks really good might download

Thanks Skin is dominion mate, it's on this site. I will get the link in a minute if you want?

---------- Post added at 01:31 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:22 AM ----------

Argentina 3-1 Peru​

We were very good today and I can't have a go at the lads for not doing as good or better than was predicted before the match. We were better all game and deserved to win by more, we never put enough chances away though. Demichelis got 25 minutes, Messi played a full game and was quality.​

MOTM
Lionel Messi

First game back and he put in a MOTM performance. Scored out first goal to get us off and running, quality player!​

Argentina are going to South Africa!​

Diego Simeone has came into Argentina at a time of sheer desperation and he really has delivered. He has won all of his 3 qualifying matches as manager and drew in his other game, the friendly against Russia. In a recent press conference this is what he had to say: ​

'Diego, many people would say you have rescued Argentina's world cup campaign, what has been the key to your success?'
'I am very pleased with the players since I have been here, they are obviously the thing that wins us games, but the fans have also been very good and have not lost trust in the players'​

'Now you have got to the World Cup, how do you think you will actually do in the competition?'
'We should do very well. We have a great squad and brilliant fans and if we perform and play well we do have a chance of winning it, lets not speak about that yet though'​

'What sort of team will you play for your final qualifier with Uruguay?'
'Well we are through so there is no need to play out very best players, so I might use it to see how younger players will do at competetive international level'.​

'​

 

[Ben]

A close table, which we could win now :O

 

[Ben]

Uruguay V Argentina​

Uruguay
Key man: Diego Forlan
Captain: Diego Lugano
Argentina
Key man: Gonzalo Higuain
Captain: Javier Zanetti​

Odds: Uruguay 11/10 Draw 9/4 Argentina 10/11
Sky sports
Argentina are set to experiment against rivals Uruguay and will field a younger squad which is still very strong however Uruguay are still battling for a play-off spot. I think it will be a draw. It really could go either way.​

Uruguay 4-0 Argentina​

Simple. We weren't good enough. Even if I played a young second string side we shouldn't of lost by 4 goals! Suppose it was expected though, they needed this to have a chance of a play-off spot and with many young and inexperienced players on our side it wasn't that much of a surprise.​

MOTM
Diego Forlan

Run our defence ragged today. Without him, Uruguay might not of come close to a 4-0 win, a great performance which saw him score 2 goals.​

'Sorry' says Simeone!​

Argentina manager made a public apology after a poor result and performance against rivals Uruguay. He told the fans that he knows how it feels to lose against a rival and he was sorry for playing a young side. It doesn't get any easier for him either as he plays Spain next in a friendly, how will the Argies bounce back?​

 

[Slacky]

Nice story

 

[Ben]

Spain next!​

 

[Ben]

Simeone's squad!​

Diego Simeone has named his squad to face Spain in a friendly match. Both teams look set to experiment and it looks like Simeone is going to do exactly that.

Goalkeepers: Abbondanzieri, Vilar, Ustari
Vilar and Ustari are both playing very well in their respective leagues so I picked them over the likes of Leo Franco, Sergio Romero and Juan Pablo Carrizo. Mix of youth and experience and we are comfortable enough here.

Defenders: Samuel, Gonzalo, Demichelis, Otamendi, Zanetti, Campagnaro, Mareque, Ansaldi
Very strong at the heart of the defence but our full backs look quite weak. I hate playing 3 at the back though, especially against Spain so I will hold trust in these lads, Insua is injured.

Midfielders: Mascherano, Cambiasso, Nayar, Pastore, Piatti, A.Gomez, Messi, Perotti
Strong considering how many youngsters I picked here. Mascherano and Cambiasso add the experience, even Messi is more experienced than most of these, I wonder how they will cope with the step up to senior international football?

Forwards: Aguero, Zarate, Tevez, Bergessio, Lavezzi, Higuain, Villalva
Again very strong up front, even though I have left the likes of Julio Cruz, Diego Milito and Fernando Cavenaghi out. Lack of strength and height in here which could cause a problem though. Daniel Villalva is one of they youngest Argentina players ever picked at the age of 17, he is having a great season for River Plate.
​

17 year old Daniel Villalva, chose by Simeone for their friendly against Brazil!​

 

[Ben]

Some of the young players I have picked for the game against Spain ​

 

[Ben]

Spain 3-0 Argentina​

This sounds weird but what a performance from the lads. The stats suggest it was very even and it was, if not we were dominant! 62% possesion and near enough an even amount of shots. Awful scoreline though, Demichelis showed a bad example to young Otamendi and was at fault for 2 of the goals and I don't think I'll play Ustari again any time soon.​

MOTM
Iker Casillas

Supreme goalkeeping saw him somehow keep a clean sheet. He has proved time and time again that he is probably the best in the world!​

 

[Ben]

Argentina face Nigeria next and looking at the game against Spain, Argentina should win it. The game will be played at the Emirates stadium.​

Won't do a preview in these minor friendlies btw.​

Tevez injured!

Carlos Tevez is unavailable for Argentina after twisting his knee in a training session. He could be out for up to 2 weeks.​

Nigeria 3-0 Argentina​

Getting a bit ****** off with how opposition goalkeepers are all like ******* superman. We were at least as good as Nigeria but they kept breaking from our attacks and they hurt us just like Spain did. Think we will be playing a bit more defensive in the WC.​

MOTM
Obafemi Martins

His pace on the break was what hurt Argentina and he finished with a goal and an assist, a good performance from the speedy Wolfsburg striker.​

 

[fozzyliverpool]

Great story mate, unlucky about your recent results Hopefully Liverpool can win tonight and inspire you.

 

[Ben]

Great story mate, unlucky about your recent results Hopefully Liverpool can win tonight and inspire you.

Haha thanks mate, yeah hopefully, we were awful against Wigan. Update won't be til either late tonight or Saturday as I haven't got a game for 5 months oO)

World Cup draw!​

Group A
Italy
Croatia
Uruguay
Morocco ​

Group B​

England
France
Paraguay
Saudi Arabia

Group C
Holland
Ireland
Japan
Algeria

Group D
Spain
Australia
Switzerland
Ghana ​

Group E
South Africa
Russia
Chile
North Korea

Group F
Germany
Tunisia
Slovenia
Costa Rica

Group G
Brazil
Mexico
Greece
Ivory Coast​

Group H
Argentina
Denmark
USA
South Korea

Certainly not the easiest group but we should go through. If we beat Denmark on the opening day we should get at least 3 points from the final 2 group games. Our side has more quality than any of these 3 and the fans expect us to coast through here. Group B has caused excitement as France and England meet in the group stage, along with Paraguay who will challenge. Elsewhere group G has been names the group of death with Brazil, Mexico, Ivory Coast and Greece staking their claim to reach the second round!​

 

[Ben]

Argentina release new kits for the World Cup!
​

Below are Argentina's new kits for the 2010 World Cup. The Argentinian fans are said to be quite happy with them however they are concerned that the Argentinian FA have only released them to make money.​

 

[Ben]

Simeone's squad​

Diego Simeone has named his 26 man squad to face Germany in Argentina's final friendly before they go into the 2010 World Cup. It is a very strong squad as Simeone looks to gel the squad together.​

Goalkeepers: Abbondanzieri, Leo Franco, Vilar
A lot of experience here with all 3 keepers over 30 years of age, they are fighting for there places to go to the World Cup, especially Leo Franco and Vilar.​

Defenders: Burdisso, Demichelis, Samuel, G.Rodriguez, Zanetti, Zabaleta, Ansaldi, Mareque
Very strong, but again the full backs look a little weak, Insua is injured so Mareque gets a chance to battle for a place in the WC squad. Gabri Milito is back after a season-long injury but is severely lacking in match fitness and if any of these 4 CB's have a bad game he might go to the WC anyway.​

Midfielders: Mascherano, Cambiasso, Gago, Pastore, Di Maria, Messi, M.Rodriguez
Very strong here with Aguero often playing AM and Zarate my play on the wing. Brilliant defensively in the midfield and Messi can be a real match winner.​

Forwards: Aguero, Bergessio, Higuain, Zarate, Lavezzi, Tevez, J.Cruz, Milito
Possibly our strongest position, 8 forwards picked, 2 will probably be played further back, in the midfield but that still leaves 6 forwards battling for positions and at least 2 very good strikers are still left out!​

Notable injuries:
Ezequiel Garay
Emiliano Insua
Juan Seb Veron
Lucho Gonzalez
Ever Banega
Mario Santana
Alejandro Gomez
Javier Saviola​

Players left out:
Juan Pablo Carrizo
Oscar Ustari
Sergio Romero
Gabri Milito
Gabriel Heinze
Cata Diaz
Fabricio Coloccini
Nicolas Otamendi
Paulo Ferrari
Jonas
Luciano Galletti
Andres D'Alessandro
Diego Perotti
Lisandro Lopez
Pablo Aimar
Hernan Crespo
Fernando Cavenaghi
​

Decided to do a pre match as it is a big friendly going into the WC.​

Germany V Argentina​

Germany
Key man: Mesut Ozil
Captain: Michael Ballack
Argentina
Key man: Carlos Tevez
Captain: Javier Zanetti​

Odds: Germany EvsF Draw 9/4 Argentina 11/5​

Sky sports
Argentina have not won a game for a while however the big guns come back in today, with Tevez, Demichelis, Mascherano and other big names starting, it could go either way.
Prediction: Germany 1-1 Argentina​

Germany 2-3 Argentina
A brilliant second half comeback. Messi, Cambiasso and Aguero all took to the field and Messi was the real game changer. We had the best chances and took enough of them to deservedly win. Defending was quite poor again though so I think I will seriously consider bringing Gabri Milito to the World Cup. Demichelis got us the winner in injury time.​

MOTM
Lionel Messi

He basically won the game single handedly for Argenina, some truly breathtaking play from the young winger!​

 

[Ben]

Germany game and Argentina rankings graph screenies ​