This is a nice cover in the Sports section of La Opinion, August 8, 2008.
Come on Messi!
This photo is of Messi in the Argentina 2-1 Ivory Coast game in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. I would have preferred the photo of Messi celebrating his 1st goal.
Do you read the Deportes section of La Opinion?
Messi showed in this game he's definitely the star of the tournament.
Messi deserved to be on the cover of this paper. 
They have excellent online coverage of the Argentinean soccer team and Tennis players in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
This photo is after the 2nd goal in the second half. Lautaro Acosta turned in the rebound of a shot by Messi for the winning goal in the 85th minute. Acosta then went to hug Messi.
I would have preferred the photo where Messi just scored and is pointing with his finger #1.
El Clarin, August 8, 2008
Bottom half
Messi shined and goals for the Argentinean triumph
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What did you think of this El Clarin cover?
Some photos of Leo Messi in action. Extraordinary today.
"Leo" Messi scored in the 43rd minute to give Argentina a 1-0 lead. His teammate Lautaro Acosta turned in the rebound of a shot by Messi for the winning goal in the 85th. Some photos of Messi celebrating the first goal:
- Which photo did you like? What did you think of Messi in the game?
What a game. I had such high expectations for Argentina in this game. Ivory coast sure knows how too put up a fight and stay motivated even after 80 minutes. Too bad it wasn't live on Telemundo. I had to wait to see it once it was over. I was looking for:
---- -Angel Di Maria- would this 2007 under 20- world cup champion play a few minutes?
He replaced Lavezzi, a forward on the left. Found El Kun Aguero easily, brilliantly unmarked himself from Ivory Coast defenders. I bet Batista will put him in the starting lineup, instead of Lavezzi.
---- - "Leo" Messi- how destabilizing can he be?
(The first goal opportunity he had, he scored. Enough said. Poor Kun Aguero had about 4 chances, and in 70 minutes wasn't able to score.)
---- - Juan Roman Riquelme- will he slow down the tempo of the game in the last 20 minutes, and not give enough service to the 3 forwards Aguero, Lavezzi, and possibly Di Maria
(By minute 70, Riquelme did slow down the tempo of the game. El Kun and Messi wouldn't get service and El Kun had to go beyond the midfield line to get the ball himself. The forwards too isolated from Riquelme and Mascherano. I agree with Telemundo's narrator, Andres Cantor, that Riquelme needed to be replaced so there would be more connection between the midfield and forwards. Evidently Argentina coach Batista kept him on the field becasue of his experience.)
---- - Lavezzi- great season with Napoli in the Serie A. Will he translate it in the Argentinean national team too?
(I didn't think so. Wasn't able to keep the ball on the left flank. Ineffective passes, wouldn't reach SErgio el Kun Aguero. Two chances to score, missed both of them. His substitute Di Maria, more dangerous in the left, could find El Kun Aguero with his eyes closed.)
---- - "Toque Toque" the beautiful short-passing style of the Argentineans.
(Very little, clear only in minute 10. From the midfield El Kun to Messi, to Zabaleta, to Lavezzi)
What was worrying is the lack of strikers, a Crespo, a Trezeguet type. In the last 20 minutes, the goals could only come from Di Maria, Messi, or El Kun Aguero. If they didn't unmark themselves, the goal opportunity was gone. Di Maria didn't really have someone to cross it to. The other goals could have come from Riquelme's free kicks.
Powerful partnership- Messi and El Kun Aguero
In the first half, El Kun could have scored at least 4 times. Unable to conver any of these chances. In the first 15 minutes, had 2 chances to score.
I expected plenty of goal opportunities by Chelsea's Salomon Kalou. Instead, it looked like it was captain Gervinho who played in the Premiership. He's really in Le Mans, 2nd division team in France's soccer league. Impressive.
Goals: Messi scored in the 43rd minute to give Argentina a 1-0 lead. His teammate Lautaro Acosta turned in the rebound of a shot by Messi for the winning goal in the 85th. Notice the 3 or 4 fouls Mascherano commited on Kalou!
Play by play: source: nbcolympics.com/soccer
First half
2 ZABALETA Pablo Foul committed
2' COULIBALY Kafoumba Foul suffered
2' COULIBALY Kafoumba Corner kick
2' COULIBALY Kafoumba Foul committed
MESSI Lionel Foul suffered
4' RIQUELME Juan Shot on goal
5' N GOSSAN Antoine Foul committed
5' MONZON Luciano Foul suffered
5' COULIBALY Kafoumba Foul committed
5' MESSI Lionel Foul suffered
6' AGUERO Sergio Foul committed
6' ANGOUA Brou Foul suffered
7' AGUERO Sergio Shot on goal
8' MESSI Lionel Foul committed
8' COULIBALY Kafoumba Foul suffered
8' BAGAYOKO Mamadou Foul committed
8' MONZON Luciano Foul suffered
11' COULIBALY Kafoumba Shot on goal
12' RIQUELME Juan Shots
15' WAWA Serge Shots
16' ANGOUA Brou Foul committed
16' AGUERO Sergio Foul suffered
17' ZABALETA Pablo Shots
18' GERVINHO Shots
19' DIARRASSOUBA Ousm. Viera Foul committed
19' LAVEZZI Ezequiel Foul suffered
19' GERVINHO Shot on goal
24' KALOU Salomon Corner kick
25' N GOSSAN Antoine Foul committed
25' LAVEZZI Ezequiel Foul suffered
28' AGUERO Sergio Shots
30' KALOU Salomon Corner kick
32' GARAY Ezequiel Foul committed on GERVINHO Foul suffered
33' LAVEZZI Ezequiel Shot on goal
33' MASCHERANO Javier Foul committed on KALOU Salomon Foul suffered
34' BAGAYOKO Mamadou Corner kick
35' GAGO Fernando Foul committed
35' COULIBALY Kafoumba Foul suffered
38' GERVINHO Offside
39' DIARRASSOUBA Ousm. Viera Foul committed
39' MESSI Lionel Foul suffered
40' RIQUELME Juan Shot on goal
42' PAREJA Nicolas Foul committed on GERVINHO Foul suffered
43' MESSI Lionel Goal
45 KALOU Salomon Cautions (Yellow card)
46+ BAGAYOKO Mamadou Foul committed
46+ LAVEZZI Ezequiel Foul suffered
Second half
47 LAVEZZI Ezequiel Offside
48' MASCHERANO Javier Foul committed on KALOU Salomon Foul suffered
49' MASCHERANO Javier Foul committed on KALOU Salomon Foul suffered
50' ANGOUA Brou Shots
53' CISSE Sekou Goal
54' KALOU Salomon Foul committed onGAGO Fernando Foul suffered
56' COULIBALY Kafoumba Foul committed
56' GAGO Fernando Foul suffered
56' MONZON Luciano Offside
59' MASCHERANO Javier Foul committed on KALOU Salomon Foul suffered
59' KAMBOU Herve Foul committed
59' MESSI Lionel Foul suffered
59' KAMBOU Herve Cautions (Yellow card)
61' AGUERO Sergio Foul committed
61' COULIBALY Kafoumba Foul suffered
62' AGUERO Sergio Cautions (Yellow card)
63' Argentina change: LAVEZZI Ezequiel Player out, DI MARIA Angel Player in
63' Ivory Coast change: N GOSSAN Antoine Player out, DJA DJEDJE Franck Player in
65' AGUERO Sergio Offside
66' GERVINHO Foul committed on GARAY Ezequiel Foul suffered
70 GERVINHO Foul committed on RIQUELME Juan Foul suffered
70 AGUERO Sergio Shot on goal
70 MESSI Lionel Foul committed
70 CISSE Sekou Foul suffered
71 CISSE Sekou Foul committed
71 MESSI Lionel Foul suffered
71 CISSE Sekou Foul committed
71 ZABALETA Pablo Foul suffered
72 AGUERO Sergio Shots
74 DI MARIA Angel Foul committed
74 Ivory Coast change: CISSE Sekou Player out, MOURA-KOMENAN Anthony Player in
75 MASCHERANO Javier Foul committed
75 KALOU Salomon Foul suffered
75 RIQUELME Juan Cautions (Yellow card)
76 KALOU Salomon Free-kick
78 GERVINHO Shot on goal
79 GERVINHO Shots
80 BAGAYOKO Mamadou Shots
80 Argentina change: AGUERO Sergio Player out, ACOSTA Lautaro Player in
81 DI MARIA Angel Shot on goal
81 DI MARIA Angel Shot on goal
82 KALOU Salomon Offside
85 MOURA-KOMENAN Anthony Shot on goal
86 MONZON Luciano Foul suffered
86 DJA DJEDJE Franck Foul committed
86 MESSI Lionel Shot on goal
86 ACOSTA Lautaro Goal
90 PAREJA Nicolas Foul suffered
90 COULIBALY Kafoumba Foul committed
91 COULIBALY Kafoumba Foul committed
91 MASCHERANO Javier Foul suffered
94 Argentina change: MESSI Lionel Player out, SOSA Jose Player in
Rate the Argentina players in this match:
Goalkeepers USTARI, Oscar Alfredo
Defender MONZON, Luciano Fabián
Defender GARAY, Ezequiel
Defender PAREJA, Nicolás Martín
Defender ZABALETA, Pablo Javier
Midfielder: GAGO, Fernando Rubén
Midfielder: MASCHERANO, Javier Alejandro
Midfielder: RIQUELME, Juan Román
substitute: SOSA, José Ernesto
Forwards: AGÜERO, Sergio Leonel "El Kun"
Forwards: MESSI, Lionel Andrés "Leo" -
Forwards: LAVEZZI, Ezequiel
Substitute: ACOSTA, Lautaro Germán
Substitute: DI MARÍA, Angel Fabián
- What players or plays did you like about this game Argentina 2-1 Ivory Coast? Did you watch it live?
Three more days for Argentina v. Ivory Coast in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. I hope Argentina can keep the gold medal just like in the 2004 Athens Olympics.
"La Selección del Checho Batista," the team of Checho Batista [Argentina coach] is one of the favorites to win, along with Brazil and the Netherlands. I include Serbia from Group A to go through to the quarterfinals and be the surprise team.
"La Pulga," (the flea) as 'Leo' Messi is called in Argentina, said in Spanish, on Sportia, by TyC Sports, on August 4, 2008, that "there were never any problems" with Juan Román Riquelme. "The relationship was always the same," Messi said. The media had speculated that there was a conflict after the tie with Ecuador during the qualifying games.
On winning the Gold medal:
"For me and for all the players it would be great to win. We came to win the godl medal. We're going to go slowly and hopefully we can achieve it."
About the conflict between Barcelona and FIFA:
"What I did was what I had to do. We hope this situation doesn't repeat itself. Batista understood me and my teammates also. They had no problems waiting for me."
source: www.jjoo.clarin.com
- Your thoughts on Messi's statements?
Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH has announced that Argentinean forward Lionel "Leo" Messi will be the face of PES 2009 title for PLAYSTATION®3, Xbox 360, PC-DVD, PlayStation®2, and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable), Wii and mobile phones across Europe.
Check out the screenshot on the right, Leo Messi, #18 Argentina jersey. Photo: screenshots.teamxbox.com
In the series Pro Evolution Soccer 2008. The game cover featured Cristiano Ronaldo and a local player (Michael Owen in the UK, Didier Drogba in France, Jan Schlaudraff in Germany, Gianluigi Buffon in Italy, Lucas Neill in Australia).
Check out the PES 2009 Messi Teaser trailer:
- Your thoughts on the PES 2009 Messi trailer?
I was just reading about Barcelona not letting Messi join Argentina's training camp. Messi is still with the club in Scotland! When I read this news, my jaw dropped.
On July 14, 2008, German club, Werder Bremen had made clear that they won't let midfielder Diego join the Brazil team for the Olympics. Diego accepted the decision and that was that.
Today, July 22, 2008, Diego, former FC Porto player, defied the club orders and left Germany to join the Brazil Olympic team in Singapor.
Klaus Allofs, on the Werder Bremen official website, said that he believes the clubs are not obligated to let players go with their national Olympic teams. Whenever they are more than 23 years old. "It's better for everyone to resolve this situation once and for all, so that it won't happen again."
I'm writing about it because Diego is one of my favorite players in the Brazil team. Brazil might be the other Olympic favorite with Argentina. At this point I think Diego will stay no matter what Werder Bremen says. Diego is not an untouchable in the senior Brazil team. Kaka, Ronaldinho and others are stiff competition.
Dunga didn't use Diego in the starting lineup in the last Copa America. This tournament is his chance to be in the starting lineup.
- So who's side are you on, Diego's on Werder Bremen's? What soccer player doesn't want to go to the Olympics to represent their country?
It's July 24, 2008. Day 4 of the Messi-going-to-the-Olympics- novel. No progress. Now Barcelona captain Carles Puyol said on Thursday on Barcelona's official website that the Argentina was "very important" for Barcelona when they'll disput the 3rd preliminary round of the Champions League.
"I hope that it gets solved and that he'll stay with us."
Ay-ay-ay. I don't blame Carles Puyol because he's supposed to say that as Barcelona captain.
However, as a professional player he needs to respect the 15 year old agreement that all players under 23 years old are obligated to go to the Olympics. The club can't prevent them from going. I can't believe how much Barcelona is stalling. Most of all, I can't believe FIFA doesn't get Messi on the airplance immediately. The games start on August 7th.
- Your thoughts?
I'm sure "Leo" Messi will play at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. I'm looking forward to the Argentina games in the Olympics. Meanwhile, Messi is still in St. Andrews, Scotland, in Barcelona's pre-season training. On July 21st, Barça arrived for their first training session.
This thing was solved. FIFA had presented Barca with a rule that overruled the club. Now Barça hit back with their own argument:
Barcelona asked FIFA directly to not let Messi go to the Olympics because they need him for the preliminary rounds of the Champions League.
Barça has the support of the "Liga Espanola de Futbol Professional" LPF, and of the European Association of clubs. These 2 organisms believe that the clubs are not obligated to authorize players to participate in the Olympics because it isn't in the official FIFA calendar.
FIFA has not yet responded.
Monica_Kun's thoughts:
I think Barça is being unfair for trying to overrule FIFA's 15 year agreement.
On July 21st, FIFA had told Barcelona it had not valid grounds/arguments to keep Messi with Barcelona's pre-season in St. Andrews, Scotland. Three days later, Barcelona has not let Messi go and is still in Scotland. Why can't FIFA enforce the 15 year old agreement and get "Leo" Messi on the airplane?
- What do you think of Barça's position for not letting Messi go?
I 
Here's a picture of me with the 2006 Argentina jersey and bandana.
I know 21 year-old Messi can be very crucial for the team in the Olympics. Today Barcelona had to give him permission to go because of 1 rule.
FC Barcelona didn't want to allow Messi. Reason:
Barcelona has to play the 3rd preliminary round of the Champions League in August, 1st leg: August 12, 13, 2nd leg, augst 26 and 27.
Barça also reminded them that the Olympics weren't part of the official calendar of the games stipulated by FIFA and therefore no obligation to let Messi go.
Olympics agreement that overrules what Barcelona wants:
The president of the CIO Jacques Rogge had to remind the club that 15 years ago there was an agreement signed by Samaranch et Havelange (then presidents of CIO and FIFA) stipulating that EVERY player under 23 years aold that isn't allowed to play in the Olympic games can only be used in their club until the end of the tournament [Olympics].
Barcelona -had no other choice- but to let Messi join the Argentina camp in Switzerland.
Where is Messi now?
St. Andrews, Scotland where Barcelona has its pre-season training.
The Argentinean FA, Asociación del Fútbol Argentino (AFA), announced that Messi is in the Argentina national team going to the Beijing Olympics. In the next hours Messi will go to Japan to join the national team and play in the friendly game before the Olympics start.
Here's the official list of the 18 players- Argentina national team:
Goalkeepers: Oscar Ustari (Getafe), Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar).
Defenders: Pablo Zabaleta (Espanyol), Ezequiel Garay (Real Madrid), Luciano Monzón (Boca Juniors), Federico Fazio (Sevilla) y Nicolás Pareja (Anderlecht).
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid), José Sosa (Bayern de Múnich), Ever Banega (Valencia) y Juan Román Riquelme (Boca Juniors).
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Ezequiel Lavezzi (Nápoles), Sergio Aguero (Atlético de Madrid), Angel Di María (Benfica), Lautaro Acosta (Sevilla) y Diego Buonanotte (River Plate). S
My thoughts:
What players are you looking forward to seeing?
Me- Leo Messi of course
Di Maria from Benfica. Lavezzi from Napoli. El "Kun" Aguero and that's it. El "Kun" Aguero pretty much had his place guaranteed in the starting 11. He was the star last summer in the under-20 world cup. Now after the great season Lavezzi had with Napoli, I wonder how much Lavezzi and Di Maria can "push" over his place.
I also want to see which of these players will be a revelation.
Argentina is in Group A and will face:
Ivory Coast- August 7
Australia- August 10
Serbia- August 13
- What do you think of this joint agreement between FIFA and the CIO to let players under 23 years to play at the Olympics. I think it's wonderful. What players do you like from the 18 called up?