Latest news with #Scaloni
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
🚨📋 La Roja squad: Gareca names his Chile call-ups
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here. The Chilean National Team is preparing for the double FIFA date of Conmebol Qualifiers, in the first days of Roja, led by Ricardo Gareca, currently at the bottom of the table after 14 rounds (in which they won only two games and lost eight), urgently needs to add points to keep the dream of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup alive. But they have a complicated double date: first, they receive Argentina led by Scaloni, which leads the classification with an advantage; later, they will have to travel to the height of El Alto to face Bolivia. 📋 La Nómina de #LaRoja 🇨🇱🔝Estos son los convocados para enfrentar a Argentina y Bolivia en la próxima Fecha FIFA, válida por las Eliminatorias CONMEBOL para la Copa Mundial de la FIFA 2026 🌎⚽️#SiempreConLaRoja#SomosLaRoja#Chile — Selección Chilena (@LaRoja) May 23, 2025 Goalkeepers Brayan Cortés - Colo Colo Lawrence Vigouroux - Swansea City Gabriel Castellón - Universidad de Chile Defenders Fabián Hormazábal - Universidad de Chile Felipe Loyola - Independiente Nicolás Fernández - Universidad de Chile Guillermo Maripán - Torino FC Benjamín Kuscevic - Fortaleza FC Igor Lichnovksy - Club América Paulo Díaz - River Plate Francisco Sierralta - Watford Gabriel Suazo - Toulouse FC Esteban Matus - Audax Italiano Midfielders Rodrigo Echeverría - Club León Esteban Pavez - Colo Colo Rodrigo Ureña - Universitario de Deportes Arturo Vidal - Colo Colo Luciano Cabral - Independiente Marcelino Núñez - Norwich City Charles Aránguiz - Universidad de Chile Vicente Pizarro - Colo Colo Javier Altamirano - Universidad de Chile Forwards Maximiliano Guerrero - Universidad de Chile Darío Osorio - FC Midtjylland Lucas Cepeda - Colo Colo Alexander Aravena - Gremio Víctor Dávila - Club América Alexis Sánchez - Udinese 📸 RODRIGO ARANGUA - AFP or licensors
The Independent
26-03-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
World Cup 2026: Who is through and how does qualifying work?
Argentina became the fourth team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup this week, with the holders beating Brazil 4-1 to go eight points clear at the top of the Conmebol qualifying standings. Lionel Scaloni's side joined Iran, New Zealand and Japan in having already sealed their places for the tournament, which will take place between 11 June and 19 July across Canada, Mexico and the USA. Those four join the three hosts – who have qualified automatically – as seven of the 48 teams to take part in the 2026 edition, which is the first under an expanded format introduced by Fifa. This format means that more clubs than ever will qualify from each of the seven main federations, but despite some spots already having been secured, some sides in Europe haven't even begun their qualifying campaigns. So, with the full 48-team tournament line-up not clear until over a year from now, The Independent takes a look at the state of play in qualifying around the world. Europe No Uefa countries have qualified for 2026 yet, though there's plenty to play for with 16 places available to European sides. European qualifying consists of 12 groups, with the group winners all qualifying automatically and the second-placed teams going into a set of play-offs that also includes the four highest-ranked Nations League group winners that have not already qualified. The winners of these play-offs will take the final four spots. Qualifying began for some sides earlier this month, with England winning their first two matches and Wales winning one and drawing the other. Other sides – those involved in the Nations League – will not start their campaign until September. And the group stages end in November, with the play-offs taking place in March 2026. South America The Conmebol group has long been regarded as the toughest World Cup qualification process, with all 10 member sides partaking in one large group where each side plays the others home and away. The process began as far back as September 2023, and sides are now 14 matches into the 18-game campaign. And Argentina became the first side to qualify shortly before they beat Brazil 4-1, with Scaloni's side taking one of six available places. The remaining five places are currently occupied by Ecuador, Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay and Colombia, with Venezuela five points behind Los Cafeteros with four games left. However, whichever side finishes seventh will enter the intercontinental play-offs (more on those below). Africa Qualification among Caf nations takes places across nine groups that consist of six teams each. Each group winners takes one of the nine available places. The process began in November 2023, with the group fixtures ending in October. The best four runners-up enter a play-off, with the play-off winners then entering the intercontinental play-offs! At present, with four matches to play, DR Congo, South Africa, Cape Verde, Tunisia and Algeria all lead their groups, along with Mohamed Salah's Egypt, 2010 dark horses Ghana, 2022 semi-finalist Morocco and Afcon holders Ivory Coast. Asia Japan and Iran have become the first to book their place in the Americas for 2026, and they occupy two of eight places. The process is in the third round at present, with the top two sides across three different six-team groups qualifying automatically. Each team has two matches left of the third round, with Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan and Australia currently in the automatic qualification places. After round three, teams who finish third and fourth in their groups go into the next round, where there is an additional chance for two more sides to qualify. Americas With the three co-hosts already through, competition has opened up for the six places available to Concacaf nations. The format has changed slightly, consisting of six five-team groups with the top two sides advancing to the third round. This next round then sees three four-team groups taking part, with the winners booking a place at the World Cup and the two highest-ranked runners-up going into the intercontinental play-offs. Oceania New Zealand have been the first benefactors of the expanded tournament, as they have automatically qualified for the 2026 edition via the only place available to Oceanic nations. Qualifying has already ended, with New Caledonia having earned a place in the intercontinental play-offs. These play-offs decide the final two teams to enter the tournament, and they consist of six teams – one from the Afc, Caf, Conmebol and Ofc, along with two teams from Concacaf. Each team will be ranked according to world ranking, with the two highest receiving a bye to the finals. The other four will compete in two semi-finals, with the winners then facing the top two sides. Whoever wins those two matches will take the last places ahead of the first match on 11 June.
Morocco World
25-03-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
Argentina vs Brazil: When, How to Watch & Score Prediction
Argentina and Brazil go head-to-head on Tuesday night in Buenos Aires, with both teams closing in on a spot at the 2026 World Cup. Kick-off is set for today at midnight Moroccan time (GMT), and fans can catch the action live on BeIN Sports Arabic, BeIN Sports English, M+ Liga de Campeones, and L'Équipe. Argentina lead the table by six points off second-placed Ecuador, while Brazil sit third and seven points adrift from top of the table after a rocky campaign. But with five games unbeaten, the Samba are back in business. Brazil's Raphinha has turned up the heat. The Barcelona winger has vowed to smash Argentina both on and off the pitch. 'We'll beat them up… Absolutely! Beat them up! On the pitch and off the pitch if we have to,' Raphinha declared in an interview with Brazilian legend Romario. The in-form star, who scored in Brazil's win over Colombia, is brimming with confidence. 'For sure, I'm going to [score a goal against Argentina]. I'm going in with everything I've got…' But history favours Argentina. The reigning world champions have not lost to Brazil at home since 2009. Manager Lionel Scaloni, however, has opted for a more diplomatic approach, playing down the rivalry. 'Warriors on the pitch, good friends off of it,' Scaloni said in Monday's press conference. 'I remember the image of Leo (Messi) with Neymar after the Copa America final on the steps of the Maracana; that's the image we have to keep. The best in the world and probably the second best together, being friends. That's the image we need. It's a football match that we both want to win. We all have a Brazilian friend. I know a lot of them. It shouldn't go beyond that. We don't have to give it much more thought.' Argentina will have to make do without Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, and Paulo Dybala, all sidelined with injuries. There is hope that midfield warrior Rodrigo De Paul will be fit in time. Defensive rock Nicolas Otamendi, who bagged the winner in the last meeting, will once again marshal the backline alongside Cristian Romero. Brazil, meanwhile, are also missing some key figures: Neymar, Ederson, and Alisson are all out, while Wolves' Andre is set to slot into midfield next to Joelinton. Goalkeeper Bento will make just his third international start. Predicted Lineups: Argentina Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; De Paul, Mac Allister; Simeone, Fernandez, Almada; Alvarez. Brazil: Bento; Vanderson, Marquinhos, Ortiz, Arana; Joelinton, Andre, Rodrygo, Raphinha, Vinicius; Pedro Predicted Score: Expect an ugly contest in Buenos Aires. There's an absence of superstar talent in both of these squads, but Argentina have been the best-performing nation on the planet since Scaloni took charge. Argentina 2-2 Brazil Tags: ArgentinaBrazilMessiRaphinhaWorld Cup Qualifiers
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Champions Argentina one step closer to WC qualification
Argentina, without their array of stars including Lionel Messi, have beaten Uruguay 1-0 away in convincing fashion in their South American World Cup qualifying match. Thiago Almada scored the winner with a powerful curled shot from the edge of the box on Friday, putting the defending World Cup champions one point away from a direct spot in the tournament next year. Argentina lead the round-robin competition with 28 points after 13 matches, and could secure their place with a home draw with Brazil on Tuesday. Coach Lionel Scaloni's team already are 15 points ahead of 7th-placed Bolivia, with only five rounds to the end of the competition. The last time the two powerhouses clashed, Argentina won 1-0 at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Earlier, Ecuador defeated Venezuela 2-1 to move into second place in South American World Cup, edging closer to reaching the tournament once again. Brazil are third with 21 points, one ahead of Uruguay and Paraguay. Colombia, with 19 points, own sixth position. The top six teams will secure direct berths to the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The seventh-place team among the 10 of the region will still have a chance to qualify through an international playoff. Argentina had to accommodate key absences beyond Messi. Lautaro Martínez, Lisandro Martínez, and Rodrigo De Paul did not play in Montevideo. Scaloni gave a place to Giuliano Simeone in the starting lineup, with Julián Álvarez and Thiago Almada up front. Uruguay, playing in a full Centenario Stadium against their arch-rivals, took the initiative and had the clearest chances in the first half. But Argentina managed to hold their ground and produced better opportunities after half-time. Almada's goal in the 68th minute, after Argentina had wasted several other opportunities in front of goalkeeper Sergio Rochet, still didn't push Uruguay forward as Marcelo Bielsa's team finished the match with only four shots on goal. "I was a little anxious, very willing to play and to show why I was making the squad," said Almada, a world champion with Argentina in 2022. "Now we have to rest and wait for this match against Brazil, they will rest one more day than us." Argentina coach Scaloni celebrated his team's performance despite so many absences. "We made a complete match, we absorbed the pressure. When we had to play, we did it. And when we had to defend, we did it too," Scaloni said in a press conference. "I am happy not only for our win, but also for how the team behaves." Ecuador, meanwhile, started the competition with a three-point deficit due to fielding Byron Castillo, who was actually Colombian and ineligible to play in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup. Now, they are close to qualifying. Enner Valencia, Ecuador's all-time top goalscorer, added another two to his tally. He broke through the Venezuelan defence in the 39th minute and scored with a powerful right-footed shot from an acute angle. In the first minute of the second half, Valencia added the second after a run on the left flank ended in a classy poach over goalkeeper Rafael Romo. Valencia could have had a third from the spot in the 69th but missed. Jhonder Cádiz scored for Venezuela in injury time. Venezuela have not won for nine straight games but remain in eighth place and still have a chance of qualifying for the first time in history.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Scaloni ‘couldn't force' Retegui to pick Argentina over Italy
Argentina coach Lionel says he could 'not force' Mateo Retegui to pick Argentina over Italy, but is happy that Alejandro Garnacho and Nico Paz chose the Albiceleste over Spain. Retegui is the leading scorer in Serie A this season with 20 goals in 22 appearances and recently contributed to Atalanta's 5-0 win over Hellas Verona by scoring four goals. Retegui made his senior Italy debut in 2023, picking La Nazionale over his native country, Argentina. 'We can't force anyone, nor can we stop a player from making his own choice, and Mateo has chosen Italy,' Scaloni told Gazzetta. 'This happens often now. Nico Paz and Alejandro Garnacho chose Argentina over Spain, and we are happy about that. But again, we cannot interfere in a person's decisions. After all, he is a footballer, but the person comes before the athlete.' During the same interview, Scaloni discussed other Argentinean stars playing in Serie A, including Lautaro Martinez, Paulo Dybala and Nico Gonzalez. Another Scaloni compatriot shining in Serie A is Lazio's Taty Castellanos. 'He has joined an important, strong team. Taty doesn't just score goals; he helps the team play, moves brilliantly, and is doing very well,' said Scaloni. 'The more he plays, the better he gets. They've entrusted him with a key role, and for a striker, that's crucial. Hopefully, he keeps going like this.' A former Lazio defender, Scaloni also shared his thoughts on the Serie A title race involving Inter and Napoli. 'It will be open until the end. A lot will depend on Inter's Champions League campaign. Inzaghi's team has the potential to go far in Europe, and obviously, the physical toll will have an impact,' he noted. 'That's where Napoli, who are having a great season under Conte, might have a slight advantage. It will be crucial to see whether Inter can hold up well on both fronts.'
