Tag: Argentina

Tevez has no World Cup hopes.

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Carlos Tevez holds out no hope of being part of Argentina’s World Cup squad and prefers not to watch their matches on television, the Juventus striker said on Friday.

The 29-year-old, who has been in fine scoring form with 10 Serie A goals for juve so far this season, has been overlooked since Alejandro Sabella became Argentina coach in August 2011.

“If Sabella hasn’t called me up, I’m not going to phone him to find out why he doesn’t pick me,” Tevez told Argentina’s La Red radio station.

“Sabella must not be asked to call me up… Let him work in peace because it’s not easy for Sabella not to call me. I know there’s a lot of pressure especially from fans.”

The former Manchester City, Manchester United and West Ham United striker said he had a good relationship with the Argentina players and national team captain Lionel Messi.

“I have no problems with the group and I get on great with Messi. I don’t lose sleep over the World Cup. I don’t think I will watch it because it hurts me to see the national team, it’s bad for me,” he said.

Some media pundits say Tevez, who last played for Argentina in the 2011 Copa America quarter-final defeat by Uruguay, may not fit into Sabella’s tactical plans while others argue that he might disrupt the squad’s harmony.

Tevez was part of the Argentina teams that reached the quarter-finals of the last two World Cups in Germany in 2006 and South Africa in 2010.

Argentina, winners in 1978 and 1986, are in Group F with Bosnia, Iran and Nigeria at next year’s finals in Brazil which kick off on June 12.

(Reporting by Luis Ampuero; Writing by Rex Gowar)

Doustimeher urging for Fans support.

Ali Doustimehr declared said “it’s our fault, because the U-17 team should have at least grabbed 4 points from the two games played against Argentina and Canada. We could have wrapped it up and done the job there and then, instead we have put ourselves in this situation were qualification to the next round is a bit more difficult”.

Speaking in the pre-match press conference in Al Ain , UAE where Iran`s U-17 team is scheduled to meet Austria in the final game of Group Ali Doustimeher added “we have a tough task against Austria, “

“We lost great scoring opportunities against the Canadian, The players and the fans are still lamenting those wasted chances. Some players are still affected by that and still quite upset as we speak. It is not much use talking about it. Now our goal is to qualify and to do that we need to win rather than hope to qualify based on the best second teams results.

About the preparations and plans for the Friday game against the Austrians,  the U-17 coach said “Much of our preparation was in form of recovery and reducing the tension that was felt after the last game.  We had a good couple of days in the recovery phase.  We analyzed Austria based on the games they played and the European style they deploy and hence the training was adjusted as such to ensure we achieve our goal in the match”

 Asked what does he think about the other match played at the same time between Argentina and Canada and what does he hope the result would be?, He pointed out that it does not matter to him what is the outcome of that match. “For me , the match against Austrian is what matters. We MUST win this one. I would not even bother to check the results of the other game as I want to focus completely at the task in our hands, not a one that we have no control on” Doustimehr said.

 Regarding the attendance and the fans, the coach said he was quite impressed by the support of the Iranian fans in Dubai and he is very grateful for them for creating such a great atmosphere. “Our fans inspired us and we sincerely hope that similar numbers of supporters travel to Al Ain for this crucial match. We are very much counting on their support.”

Doustimehr , stressed upon the role of the fans and attendance in the stadiums. He said he was satisfied by the attendance figure in Dubai” Football does not mean much without fans, even if all the major players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Maradona and Pele lead two teams to play a game, under coaching of the likes of Ferguson and Jose Mourinho, without the fans such match is tasteless and loses all it value.”

“I am very pleased with our fans. In General the attendance of our matches have been very good, with a good mixture of Iranians , Arab and expatriate fans from different communities present.  Iran had a good support and hopefully they will come to Al Ain and support us again”

The last group matches on Friday will be played at the same time in Dubai , where Argentina will face Canada, and Al Ain where Austria will face Iran. Argentina is leading the table with 4 points , while Iran is third with 2 points from two matches. A win for Iran by any margin will assure them of qualification. Any other result will mean they have to wait for the result of the other groups.