Argentina Fans Club

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Argentina v Iraq (4-0)
18' Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan , ITA)
53' Roberto Pereyra (Watford , ENG)
82' German Pezzella (Fiorentina , ITA)
90' Franco Cervi (Benfica , POR)

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Argentina ease past Iraq as four players score first international goals

Argentina easily overcame Iraq 4-0 in a friendly in Saudi Arabia on Thursday with four players scoring their first senior international goals for the twice world champions while German Pezzella also found the net.

Argentina were without Lionel Messi, who is taking a sabbatical from international football, and fielded a new-look side that included one player making his debut and two others their first-ever starts.

The new boys were rarely troubled by an Iraq side that defended in numbers, but showed little threat in their opponent's half.

Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez, playing only his second game for the national side, put Argentina ahead after 15 minutes with a superb header from a Marcos Acuna cross.

Roberto Pereyra doubled their lead eight minutes into the second half when he took a pass on the edge of the box and swept a right-foot shot home after the Iraq defence opened up in front of him.

Defender Pezzella grabbed a third eight minutes from full-time when he headed home after a flick on at a corner and Franco Cervi added a fourth in injury time after a surging run from midfield.

"It wasn't easy opening them up but we managed it and we were patient and managed to score more goals," Pezzella said.

The win took Argentina's unbeaten run under interim coach Lionel Scaloni to three games.

Since taking over from Jorge Sampaoli after Argentina's poor performance at the World Cup in Russia, the South Americans have beaten Guatemala and Iraq and drawn with Colombia, without conceding a goal.

Argentina's next game is on Tuesday against arch rivals Brazil in Jeddah.

[Perumthachan]

Argentina ease past Iraq as four players score first international goals Argentina easily overcame Iraq 4-0 in a friendly in Saudi Arabia on Thursday with four players scoring their first senior international goals for the twice world champions while German Pezzella also found the net. Argentina were without Lionel Messi, who is taking a sabbatical from international football, and fielded a new-look side that included one player making his debut and two others their first-ever starts. The new boys were rarely troubled by an Iraq side that defended in numbers, but showed little threat in their opponent's half. Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez, playing only his second game for the national side, put Argentina ahead after 15 minutes with a superb header from a Marcos Acuna cross. Roberto Pereyra doubled their lead eight minutes into the second half when he took a pass on the edge of the box and swept a right-foot shot home after the Iraq defence opened up in front of him. Defender Pezzella grabbed a third eight minutes from full-time when he headed home after a flick on at a corner and Franco Cervi added a fourth in injury time after a surging run from midfield. "It wasn't easy opening them up but we managed it and we were patient and managed to score more goals," Pezzella said. The win took Argentina's unbeaten run under interim coach Lionel Scaloni to three games. Since taking over from Jorge Sampaoli after Argentina's poor performance at the World Cup in Russia, the South Americans have beaten Guatemala and Iraq and drawn with Colombia, without conceding a goal. Argentina's next game is on Tuesday against arch rivals Brazil in Jeddah.

athukazhiyumbo ariyaam, yethaartha sthithi enthaannu?

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athukazhiyumbo ariyaam, yethaartha sthithi enthaannu?

Brazil full squad undu , we are depleted and no Messi

[Perumthachan]

Brazil full squad undu , we are depleted and no Messi

iraq kaliyude highlights kandittu, brazil kaliyil d-boxnu chuttum vattam karangumennallaathe, goal adikkaan lesham budhimmuttum ennu thonnunnu....

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iraq kaliyude highlights kandittu, brazil kaliyil d-boxnu chuttum vattam karangumennallaathe, goal adikkaan lesham budhimmuttum ennu thonnunnu....

Our backline will be tested to the core ...the first real test for Scaloni & Co

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Diego Maradona criticises Lionel Messi's leadership
"He's a great player but not a leader. It's useless trying to make a leader out of a man who goes to the toilet 20 times before a game."

Argentina legend Diego Maradona has hit out at compatriot Lionel Messi, saying the Barcelona star is not a leader on the pitch and should not be considered a football god.

Maradona, who along with Brazil's Pele, is widely regarded as one of the best players of all time, claims Messi is one player at his club Barcelona and a different one with Argentina.

"We shouldn't deify Messi any longer," Maradona said in an interview with Fox Sports. "He's Messi when he plays for Barcelona. Messi is Messi when he wears that shirt and he's another Messi with Argentina."

"He's a great player but he's not a leader. It's useless trying to make a leader out of a man who goes to the toilet 20 times before a game."

The reference was believed to be in connection with Messi's extreme nerves before games that have seen him vomit ahead of some important matches.

Messi, 31, has claimed every possible honour with Barcelona and has won the FIFA World Player of the Year award five times.

But he has sometimes struggled to reproduce the same scintillating form when wearing the blue and white shirt of Argentina.

Messi has been on the losing side in all four of his finals with Argentina, three in the Copa America and at the 2014 World Cup and has not scored in four World Cup knockout stages.

After another disappointing tournament in Russia this year, where Argentina failed to get past the last 16, Messi opted to take a sabbatical from international football.

Maradona, who recently took over as coach of Mexican second-tier side Dorados, says Messi's break was a sensible one.

"I wouldn't call him up right now, but never say never. We have to take the pressure off him," he said.

Argentina beat Iraq 4-0 on Thursday with a new-look side, taking their unbeaten run since Russia to three games but they face a sterner test on Tuesday when they face Brazil in Saudi Arabia.

[Perumthachan]

Our backline will be tested to the core ...the first real test for Scaloni & Co

our backline will be tested for sure... oppositionte backline koodi test cheythaa mathiyaarunnu...
draw pidichaalum it will be an achievement for scaloni against tite's brazil...

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Diego Maradona criticises Lionel Messi's leadership

randu divasam munne messiye pukazhthiya manushyan aanu... seems like he keeps giving statements just to keep being in the limelight...

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Argentina - 0 - 1 - brazil