Argentina national soccer team fan

Angel Di María returned to Portugal and is training with Benfica. On August 26, 2008:

"Hopefully I can play more than last season. I want to show what I'm capable of."

About transfer talk: "My mind is with Benfica. What happens outside is not important."

In an interview with Argentinean radio Radio Mitre:
"I'm very good in Benfica and I'm comfortable there. Anyway, the offers that can appear for my transfer it's something I leave in the hands of my agent. For my part I only need to be calm and concentrate on playing soccer. If something convenient for me does appear, I might leave."

About being in Alfio Basile's list for ARgentina's next two WC 2010 qualifyers: "I'm very happy with the call up for the games against Paraguay and Peru, because it was an objective that I always fought for and finally was able to achieve."
Your thoughts on Di Maria staying after so much transfer talk?

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Pablo Aimar's Benfica not off to a brilliant start. The first game of the Portuguese league, they drew 1-1. They were losing at home until Nuno Gomes scored the equalizer in the second-half.

After the first week, Benfica is already in 10th PLACE!!! Both FC Porto and Sporting won their first game.

Spanish: El Benfica de Pablo Aimar no pudo ganar su primer partido en casa. Empezo perdiendo por 1-0. El atacante Nuno Gomes empato en el segundo tiempo. Los otros 2 grandes ganaron sus partidos. FC Porto - Belenenses, y Sporting 3-1 Trofense.

Your thoughts on Pablo Aimar's first game with Benfica?

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Here's a sports paper from Portugal where Angel Di Maria plays! Benfica fans I'm sure are proud of him.

Cover of A Bola, August 24, 2008

Right column- Di Maria gives the gold to Argentina


Your thoughts on this cover?

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El Mundo Deportivo chose Messi for the cover. A sports paper in Catalunya, natural for them to put Messi. Bravo!

Photo of Leo Messi kissing the gold medal after the medal ceremony.

Your thoughts on this cover?

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When the team wins, a photo of all the team is called for. Di Maria with the winning goal does deserve it this time.


Your thoughts on this cover of El Clarin, Argentinean newspaper?

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Argentina won the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. I agree with the cover of La Nacion, Argentinean newspaper, Argentine soccer is worth gold!

They deserved all that space on the front cover. I would have liked to see the photo of all the group with their gold medals.

Your thoughts on this cover?

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Angel Di Maria. I follow the Portuguese League and some Benfica fans are crazy about him before the Olympics started, I was curious to see how he did.

He started the first game as a substitute. Finished as one of the starting 11. Judging by the final, he took Ezequiel Lavezzi's place on the left side.

He was the best player in the first half. Unmarking himself, having some great runs down the middle, on the left side. Since Messi and El Kun were marked with two or three men, the final pass wouldn't always work. you had the impression he was the only one running. Except for Pablo Zabaleta as a right-back.

Gracias Angel Di Maria! Your goal got us the gold medal. Here are some pictures of Angel di Maria in Nigeria 0-1 Argentina, final, men's soccer 2008 BEijing Olympics.
August 23, 2008- Nigeria goalkeeper and Di Maria after he scored, celebrating. See the Argentina fans.

He would have played all 90 minutes I assume. When he laid down for what looked like heat exhaustion, he had to be replaced.

Why did the Olympics make the final at noon when the previous four games were in the evening? Might have been a different game if it wasn't for the heat.

August 23, 2008- Angel Di Maria holding the gold medal, 2008 Beijing Olympics, men's soccer.

Your thoughts on Di Maria on the final Nigeria 0-1 Argentina? Which photo did you like?

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Ready for Argentina's next 2 games? 2010 world cup qualifyers. Alfio Basile announced a 19-man list for Argentina's next 2 games. No 'Lucho' Gonzalez. Angel Di Maria in the list!! The other surprise was D'Alessandro!

Abbondanzieri (Getafe),
Carrizo,(Lazio),
Sergio Romero (AZ Alkaar)

Cambiasso (Inter),
Zanetti,
Burdisso
Zabaleta (Espanyol),
Coloccini (Newcastle),
Heinze (Real Madrid),

Gonzalo Rodríguez (Villarreal),
Demichelis, (Bayern Munique),
Gago (Real Madrid),
Mascherano (Liverpool),

Di María (Benfica),
D'Alessandro, (Internacional),
Messi (Barcelona),
Tevez (Manchester United),
Sergio 'El Kun' Aguero (Atlético Madrid) e
Lisandro López (FC Porto).

Your thoughts on this list?

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Argentina 1-0 Nigeria
Final, 2008 Beijing Olympics, 9pm USA Pacific Time LIVE on CNBC
11pm on Delay in Spanish, on Telemundo

Finally at a decent time 9pm. The other games at 3am were difficult to follow. I'm sacrificing my Friday night to see it live on CNBC then I want to watch it in Spanish. I hoped Telemundo would air it live too. Andres Cantor, Argentinean TV narrator, and Messi, Riquelme- the best combination on TV.

Was going to go to a local Argentinean restaurant. I just called and they said they were booked. I would have gone to chant with other fans!

-- 1st half All Nigeria. Nigeria knows exactly what to do. Put 3 or 4 guys around Messi. Close the middle. Riquelme hasn't even seen the ball. The only player who's been creating chances unmarking himself, running down the middle. Angel Di Maria. I wouldn't replace him with Lavezzi at all. I would replace El Kun with ACosta.

-- 2nd half- what a disappointment. By minute 70, Argentinean players started 'wasting time.' Sergio Romero got a yellow card, Riquelme didn't take a free kick quickly - yellow card. In Injury time, Riquelme also. Naturally the referee extended the game 50 more seconds. A bit lazy. At least 2 goals and ont just one. Why Monzon would allow so much space on the left side to Nigerians? Zabatela excellent going forward, outrun and beaten when he's defending on the left-side.

Changes- Lavezzi in the 91st minute? Why didn't Batista put him instead of Sosa? Another midfielder. I wanted another goal

Your thoughts? Final score? 3 key players for Argentina to win it? What did you think of the game?

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Friday, August 21, 2008- Diego Armando Maradona visited the last training session of the Argentina team before the final. It was open to the media for 15 minutes. Maradona talked with the team players, and a long talk with coach Batista who was a teammate of him in México '86 and Italia '90.

It's not the first time Maradona visited the Argentina team but the first time he went to a training session.

"Hopefully the boys can win the gold medal. Nigeria is a good team, we have to respect them, but I believe a lot in the team. They deserve the gold for all their effort and the energy they're putting in."

Source: Diario Ole

August 21, 2008- Leo Messi signing autographs at the hotel after the training session. Photo: EFE


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I love the first photo because Maradona looks like "one of the guys." Maradona such an idol for Argentinean athletes. A morale booster for these players.

The Messi photo is nice too.

Your thoughts?

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I love foreign languages and already speak four. This video is so interesting because it shows Messi's spectacular goal against Mexico narrated in 4 different languages.

01:00 - English- "Simply magnificent, that is perfection"

01:55 - Portuguese from Portugal (RTP) "Spetacolar o golo,"

02:40 - Arab-

03:00 - Arab or Turkish the host wasn't sure

Which one did you like the best?

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See the highlights of Argentina 1-0 Paraguay, Athens 2004 final. Goal by Carlos Tevez. THe goalkeeper was German Lux.

Narrated in Spanish by Andres Cantor.

Let's hope Argentina win again tonight!!!!!

Your thoughts on the video, 2004 Athens final?

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Preview: Argentina - Nigeria
FINAL 2008 Beijing Olympics

On Saturday all eyes will see if Argentina can win the gold for the 2nd CONSECUTIVE time. I want them to win it. It would be unbelievable if they can't beat Nigeria but can Brazil. Here's what captain Juan Roman Riquelme said in Spanish, August 21, 2008, on Diario Ole.

"I want to win to give happiness to the country and because it's my last opportunity. I wanted to be here. I was never in the Olympic games. I don't think I can be in another one"

About Brazil's victory:

"About Brazil, it was nice but it already passed. It won't be worth anything if we don't beat Nigeria and we stay with the gold medal. Just like when it wasn't worth anything the beautiful we played in the América, because then we lost the final with Brasil and everything fell apart."

"For me it's very important to arrive to the final, but we have to win it. Beating Brazil was very special for many reasons, but nobody will remember it if we lose the final."

Your thoughts?

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