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A Look at Argentina’s Poor Record Without Messi

Lionel Messi, the greatest player in football currently, has had a great international career and hopes to play his last world cup this year with the expectations of winning it. However, Argentina’s recent few matches were played without him as he had tested positive for Covid after the New Year and was resting and practicing for his club Paris Saint Germain.

The Argentinian has had a bad season so far at PSG but that can be accounted for by citing the adjustment period and the poor management at the club with too many stars in Di Maria, Neymar, Mbappe, Ramos, Veratti and now Messi. 

Argentina’s track record with Messi started improving significantly in the recent decade and resulted in a Copa America, Messi’s first trophy with his country. However without Messi, Argentina have been an easy team to gamble against.

Since the debut of the left footed GOAT, Argentina have won 115 of their 158 matches boasting a 72.78% win percentage. However, without Messi, they’ve managed to win only 30 matches out of 50+ matches played. The record isn’t that bad, but when you consider the fact that most of those wins came earlier on when there were other great forwards available in Kun Aguero it seems like a point of worry. 

With Angel di Maria not in the same form he used to be, it remains to be seen who will take over when Messi retires from international football. However the young generation in Martinez and Ocampos seem to be getting ready to play more games for Argentina than ever before.

A preview Into Barcelona’s New Attacking Line-Up

FCBarcelona made big signings this January transfer window considering their limited budgets and ability to adjust the wage bill accordingly. 

The first signing came in the form of Ferran Torres from Manchester City. The young Spanish Sensation, used to playing for Pep GUardiola over in the Premier League and under Luis Enrique in the National side can pick up Barcelona’s style within a game if played right. 

The second signing was the Spanish winger Adama Traore, who departed the club back in 2017 for better pastures at Wolverton Hampton over in the Premier League. Now he returns under the Xavi Era and hopes to bring back the glory of old as Barcelona sit 5th in the La Liga looking to qualify for next year’s champions league.

The third and final signing of the month came at the last hour as in a Hail Mary, Barcelona struck a deal with Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal and got the former Arsenal captain Pierre Emerick Aubemayang on a free transfer. The french man follows in the legendary footsteps of former Arsenal captains moving to Barcelona like Thierry Henry and Cesc Fabregas both of whom won trophies with the Blaugrana. 

Now with the likes of Torres, Aubameyang, Traore signed and the likes of Pedri, Frankie de Jong, Luuk De Jong, Ansu Fatti, Braithwaite and Ousmane Dembele it remains a confusing point as to how Xavi will line up his team and what formations will he prefer now with so many options available.

However Fatti, Sergio Roberto, Eric Garcia, Umtiti and Alex Balde sit on the shelf with their own respective injuries and expected returns ranging from Mid February to Mid April.

Barcelona Accuse Former President of “Serious Criminal Behaviour”

FC Barcelona as a club have gone through a lot in the past couple of years. Their former president was kicked out and replaced after it was made public that he was messing with the financials of the club and had put the club in a position of debt of $1.52 Billion.

On Tuesday, Barcelona and lawyers appointed to research the Bartomeu activities revealed in the forensic report that “payments without cause, payments with a false cause or disproportionate payments were found”.

Laporta added that “it could not be ruled out that there was unfair reward for those people responsible for these payments”.

“It’s not about pointing fingers or describing the management of the previous board as better or worse, that’s not it.“It is about transferring information to the authorities that investigate crimes and clamp down on this sort of behaviour, which is very serious criminal behaviour. If I had to define it all in one word, it would be: disloyalty. Because it is money from the members of FC Barcelona. That money cannot be abused or given away as if it was yours.”

The report also revealed irregularities such as lawyers being paid €7 Million for “supposed signings”, agents being paid not 5% but 33% in fees and €15 Million for refusal of young players which wasn’t even needed.

The club’s new management has done some changes and has even reduced the wage bill by €159 Million post the new Presidential elections. Barcelona have also managed to reduce their €1.5 Billion debt to almost something near €700 Million trying to get back to the Barcelona of old undr the Laporta and Xavi era.

January Transfer Window ends with a Bang for Barcelona

FC Barcelona just landed a shark with their impressive last minute deal with Arsenal as they have agreed to take one of Mikel Arteta’s leading men and former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on a free transfer.

The Blaugrana have made two picks this January with the first one coming in the form of a former Barcelona and current Wolves winger Adama Traore as they look to strengthen the wing attack by the team.

They have also let the time run out on the transfer window with Dembele still on their wage list that means either the club will terminate Ousmane’s contract or with the arrival of his former Dortmund team mate Aubameyang, Dembele will decide to take the wage cut to and stay at the Camp Nou.

Former Spanish Champs, Atletico Madrid have also managed to make a last minute signing in the form of the Mozambican defender Reinildo Mandava. Meanwhile current La Liga leaders look to sign Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint Germain by the summer and have reportedly agreed to all the terms and just await the end of the season and the summer window to open.

With the likes of Real and Atletico in a league of their own right now for the future, Barcelona have also shown interest in a key summer signing when it comes to one of the best players in the world right now in Eerling Haaland. The Borussia Dortmund player has snubbed the likes of Chelsea and more to confirm his dream of playing in Spain for clubs such as Barcelona. Pique, the Barcelona defender and legend has confirmed that Haaland is a target with talks going on and possibly he will be at the club within the next year.

Narendra Modi Wants to Build A Modern Football Stadium With FIFA Specs in Ladakh

The Indian Prime Minister came out yesterday to talk about the future plans in regards to Ladakh and sports. A plan to create a football stadium and running tracks in Ladakh as one of the largest open stadiums with space for 30,000 spectators.  Narendra Modi said,

“Friends, today I want to share with you one such information about Ladakh which you will definitely be proud to know about. Ladakh will soon be blessed with an impressive Open Synthetic Track and Astro-Turf Football Stadium. This stadium is being built at a height of more than 10,000 feet and its construction is going to be completed soon. This will be the largest open stadium in Ladakh where 30,000 spectators can sit together.”

“This modern football stadium in Ladakh will also have a synthetic track with 8 lanes. Apart from this, there will also be a hostel facility with one thousand beds. You will also like to know that this stadium has also been certified by FIFA, the biggest organization of football,”

“Whenever such a big sports infrastructure comes up, it brings great opportunities to the youth of the country. Alongwith such an arrangement, movement of people from all over the country takes place, tourism gets promoted and many employment opportunities are created. The stadium will also benefit many of our youth in Ladakh,” said PM Modi.

Anurag Thakur, the Union Minister of Youth and Sports loved this decision by the prime minister and even tweeted in joy saying, “Respected Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, it is a very pleasant experience to see your policies to promote sports and sportspersons coming to fruition. Today everyone associated with sports is feeling this change. @kheloindia There is a revolution in the field of sports. At an altitude of more than 10,000 feet in Ladakh.”

The Wonder Kid who Rejected Manchester United Twice to Join Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

“It is a hard decision when you are young.

“I cannot say it was the right decision, or the wrong decision. It is hard for me to say, but what I experienced in the year after Manchester United.

“I won the cup with Molde and then I got to play in the Premier League.”

It’s hard to make these decisions when you are a teenager who’s being headhunted by the best clubs in the world. However that’s exact;ly what a young Mats Møller Dæhli did 9 years ago when he rejected the red 2 times.

“I went on many trials from 12, 13 until I was 16,” he told MEN Sport. “I think it was four trials. It was really special, I had three very nice years there. It was tough, but I have really good memories and being there on trial and getting signed is an amazing feeling.”

The promising young star started out with Tottenham, trained with Chelsea as well but eventually signed with a regional club in his home country in Norway, Lyn. 

At the age of 12 he was talent spotted by scout John Vik, who watched the youngster for a further 10 matches before using his contacts to recommend that United sign the young hopeful before other top sides became aware of his ability.

“I received tips about four extraordinary talents in the Oslo area four years ago. I saw everyone several times and thought Mats stood out already as a 12-year-old in Lyn,” Vik stated.

Vik was not the only Norwegian impressed by his compatriot. All those years after watching Ole Gunnar Solskjaer set up two of United’s five goals against Tottenham, the legendary striker was also well aware of Dæhli.

“I have seen Mats several times before, including at the Statoil Academy in Kristiansund,” Solskjaer said. “In my opinion, he is on a par with the greatest talents in other European levels in his age group. He has made a very good impression in United. They will bet on him.”

The youngster finished the season with the club’s U18 side before he was promoted to the reserve team for the next campaign and excitement grew surrounding the top teenage talent.

Ferdinand turns back to the clock to reveal the Torres Style of Play

Back in the day when Fernando Torres was striking goals against Manchester United and Rio Ferdinand for Liverpool, Rio had a tough time alongside his team mate Vidic as the two center backs struggled to keep up with the young Spaniard”s style of play

“Trust me. Listen, strikers were playing out on the wings sometimes because they didn”t want to come up against us, it was mad!

“There’s always going to be that one player in your career who’s difficult. He might not be the best player on the planet, but his style is made to hurt your style. And Torres might have just been that for Nemanja.

“He’s someone he found difficult to play against. And he”s probably the only player I”ve seen consistently give Vida a hard time, and he got sent off in a couple of the games didn”t he, early on in the games.

“But listen, Torres was a great player and when he was in his pomp when he was at Liverpool, he was one of the best strikers about. He was a devastating striker. But with me one-v-one, he didn”t cause me any problems if I”m honest.”

 “One of my hardest strikers to play against when people ask me — other than the ones that are obvious, like [Cristiano] Ronaldo and [Lionel] Messi — was Kevin Davies. You would never expect that.

“But he was always tough to play against for me, always caused me the most problems. He always was physical, just obstructing you all the time. The ball might be over there [away from you] but he’s grabbing you and all this stuff.

“So you would never expect that, but Torres would have been that for Nemanja probably. But we never really spoke about it.”

Di Maria Leads Argentina into a 2-1 Win In Chile

In the absence of Lionel Messi and their Coach due to Covid related issues, the Argentinian side visited one of their South American neighbours, Chile.

As the two teams took their sides in the Stadium Zorro Del Desierto, Argentina were in a comfortable position as they had already qualified for this year’s world cup later in October and November.

As far as the possession and passing went, Chile looked much better and had much more control of the ball as compared to their rivals. For Chile every game was a must win as they were below the likes of Peru and Colombia at 7th.

If one PSG star couldn’t make it another one found a stage to shine as Angel di Maria struck early on at the 9th minute with one of the greatest goals of the South American qualifiers this year. Chile’s Brereton Diaz equalised pretty soon as the clock hit 20 minutes with an assist by Nunez.

What followed was a war of tactics between the two sides with Argentina getting the lead by a goal by Lautoro Martinez the striker.

After being dropped in June for a bit, Di Maria has earned his spot back and has scored for Argentina 3 times since the summer now. “When Leo (Messi) is there, everything is always much easier,” Di Maria said. “The important thing is to continue working in this way and give more joy to the Argentines.”

Details on Messi’s Argentina Absence Revealed

Lionel Messi, the greatest player in the world, missed out on Argentina’s important World Cup Qualifiers recently as he had tested positive for Covid-19 post his New Year break.

He has not been included in the Argentina squad for the Chile and Colombia matches coming up in the upcoming weeks.

Argentina have their spot already assured for the World Cup in Qatar later this year, however, Messi could use some on pitch time with the team in order to be at their best level come the World Cup itself.

“Clearly we would love to have Messi here with us,” Scaloni explained

“I spoke to him and he told me that Covid hit him hard. It is key for him to get well, and that is why I decided that the best option was for him to stay at his club.”

Messi however did appear on his Instagram live and greeted everyone during the festive season.

Scaloni himself won’t be coaching Argentina for the Chile match as he himself has tested positive and will be isolated at least until the next match.

“The question of the armband is logical enough,” Scaloni added. “Angel has been in the national team for many years and he is a guy who transmits a lot to his team-mates, he is loved and that’s all there is to it.

Closed Gates Result in 8 Deaths During AFCON Match

The African Cup of Nations saw its Round of 16 being played this week as Cameroon hosted the Islanders Comoros and beat them to reach the Quarter Finals.

However, the match also saw a massive crowd. A crowd too big for the stadium itself. After the end of the match, it was revealed that 8 people were actually killed under the crush after the police opened the gates as a stampede broke out. 38 other people were reportedly injured heavily as well.

“If (the gate) was open, (spectators) would have walked through and it was closed for inexplicable reasons,” CAF president Patrice Motsepe said during a press conference on Tuesday.

“If that gate was open as it was supposed to we wouldn’t have had this loss of life.”

“There is zero tolerance, absolute zero tolerance in the circumstances which could result in people being injured at a stadium or losing their lives.”

The government of Cameroon also released a statement saying, “Facing this tragedy, the seriousness of which has provoked emotion and consternation, the Head of State [Paul Biya] sends his saddest condolences to the badly hit families, as well as his wishes of a speedy recovery to the injured, to whom he sends the profound compassion of the entire nation,”

“The thoughts and prayers of the global football community are with the victims, the ones who have been injured in this incident, and all the staff of both CAF and the Cameroonian Football Association at this difficult moment.”