Snak

Perú: Markarián vuelve a citar a Vargas

LIMA -- El volante Juan Vargas, cuyo nombre había sido puesto en duda por el técnico Sergio Markarián, fue convocado para los partidos que Perú disputará ante Uruguay y Venezuela por las Eliminatorias Mundialistas.

Markarián había dejado en duda hace unos días si convocaría a Vargas, de la Fiorentina de Italia, cuyo desempeño ha sido muy irregular últimamente, pero al parecer el entrenador tuvo dificultades para encontrarle un sustituto idóneo.

El técnico comentó recientemente que Vargas es un jugador de jerarquía que impone su presencia jugando por la selección.

Por lo demás, Perú citó a su tridente goleador conformado por Claudio Pizarro, Paolo Guerrero y Jefferson Farfán.

La selección peruana recibirá el 6 de septiembre a Uruguay y enfrentará como visitante a Venezuela el 10 de ese mes. Perú se ubica séptimo en la tabla de posiciones de la eliminatoria sudamericana con 14 puntos.

Los partidos ante Uruguay y Venezuela serán cruciales para las aspiraciones peruanas de alcanzar al menos el quinto puesto y tener la posibilidad de pelear un repechaje.

= CONVOCADOS:

- ARQUEROS: Raúl Fernández (Dallas FC, EEUU), Salomón Libman (César Vallejo), Diego Penny (Sporting Cristal), José Carvallo (Universitario)

- DEFENSORES: Carlos Zambrano (Eintracht Frankfurt, Alemania), Alberto Rodríguez (Río Ave, Portugal), Luis Advíncula (Ponte Preta, Brasil), Yoshimar Yotún (Vasco da Gama, Brasil), Santiago Acasiete (Cienciano), Christian Ramos (Juan Aurich), Edwin Retamoso (Real Garcilaso), Jesús Alvarez (Sporting Cristal).

- MEDIOCAMPISTAS: Juan Vargas (Fiorentina, Italia), Álvaro Ampuero (Pádova, Italia), Cristian Benavente (Real Madrid Castilla, España), Rinaldo Cruzado (Newell´s, Argentina), Luis Ramírez (Ponte Preta, Brasil), Carlos Lobatón (Sporting Cristal), Jhoel Herrera (Real Garcilaso), Josepmir Ballón (Universidad San Martín), Aurelio Saco Vertiz (Universitario).

- DELANTEROS: Claudio Pizarro (Bayern Munich, Alemania), Jefferson Farfán (Schalke 04, Alemania), Paolo Guerrero (Corinthians, Brasil), André Carrillo (Sporting Lisboa, Portugal), Paolo Hurtado (Paços Ferreira, Portugal), Yordy Reyna (Red Bull Salzburg, Austria), Raúl Ruidiaz (Universitario).

Soccer Roundup: Española’s nightmare continues, Colo Colo wins

Unión Española props up the bottom of the table with a fourth straight loss, while Católica and O’Higgins fail to create breathing space at the top.

Colo Colo 4-1 Iquique

After a slow start to the season, Colo Colo finally registered its first win with a dominant performance at home against Iquique on Sunday.

Colo Colo cannot be criticized for lack of effort in previous games. The team has consistently attacked opposition, often with terrific pace and purpose, though until now it has lacked the finishing touch. Head coach Gustavo Benítez will hope this newly found attacking prowess will help Chile’s most decorated club end its four-year silverware drought.

Iquique got off to the perfect start. Colo Colo’s backline was caught sleeping, and a cross fell to unmarked striker Cristián Bogado who fired in a half-volley from close range.

Angered by conceding so sloppily, Colo Colo tore forward for the equalizer, and drew no less than five saves from the impressive Rodrigo Naranjo in the first quarter hour. The goal finally came in the 17th minute, when a cleared corner fell to Gonzalo Fierro outside the box. The attacker set himself up with a deft first touch, and belted in a strike into the top left corner.

An onslaught followed, and Iquique relied heavily on Naranjo to keep the game level until the 44th minute. The keeper could do nothing to stop midfielder José Pedro Fuenzalida’s diving header, teed up by a sublime inswinging cross from striker Emiliano Vecchio.

Vecchio added a goal to his assist just one minute later, curling in a free-kick from 30 yards to make it 3-1.

Colo Colo did not sit back after the break, and hunted for a fourth. Were it not for the continued efforts of Naranjo, Vecchio and fellow striker Felipe Flores would have dished up a cricket score for their team. As it went, only one more goal came a minute from time, when Flores controlled a cross with his chest and spanked in the fourth from inside the box.

Both sides now have four points — Iquique is 16th and Colo Colo sits two spots above that on goal difference.

Ñublense 2-2 Universidad de Chile

Prior to its visit to the south, Universidad de Chile clocked up eight unreplied goals in its last two games, reminding fans of the soccer that at one time made the team one of the most feared in Latin America. Few expected “La U’s” match against Ñublense on Sunday would see the visitor’s go twice behind and feel relieved at a draw against such lightweight opposition.

The surprise result marked the return from injury of key attackers Sebastián Ubilla and Enzo Gutiérrez — whose last game was in February this year. Coach Marco Antonio Figueroa rested key players Johnny Herrera, Pepe Rojas and Charles Aránguiz, ahead of the team’s Copa Sudamericana fixture Wednesday.

If “La U” was disturbed by such chopping and changing, it should take nothing away from a Ñublense side that displayed great character. The team remained disciplined when off the ball for long spells, and took its chances when they occurred.

“La U” came close twice in the first half, denied by the woodwork and smart goalkeeping, and the game was goalless at the break.

The first goal came from nowhere. In the 52nd minute, a huge clearance from the Ñublense box flew down the field, and midfielder Ezequiel Videla had the “La U” defensive staff in despair when he let the ball bounce. The error allowed Ñublense’s Pablo Parro to rush onto the ball and finish smartly beyond debutant keeper Luis Marín.

The equalizer came ten minutes later, after keeper Lucas Giovini claimed a clearance only to spill the ball, allowing midfielder Juan Rodrigo Rojas to net from close range.

Ñublense went ahead once again just minutes later when striker Sebastián Varas finished off a counterattack, and the home side looked set to win it before giving away a penalty that striker Isaac Díaz converted in the 90th minute.

“La U” now sits seventh in the table, and Ñublense is second from bottom.

Universidad Católica 1-1 Audax Italiano

Universidad Católica remains league leader, despite failing to break down a spirited Audax Italiano side Saturday and dropping points for the second week running. With this result, both teams remain undefeated in the Apertura.

Italiano went ahead in the 33rd minute after an error from Cristopher Toselli. The goalkeeper handled a back-pass in his area, and midfielder Boris Rieloff scored from the resultant indirect free-kick. Italiano’s fortunes turned, however, in the second half, when midfielder Juan Cornejo received his marching orders for a bad tackle on Tomás Costa.

Down to 10 men, the visitors worked hard to cling on to their narrow scoring advantage, though the pressure was too great, and Católica rescued a point through substitute striker Matías Jadue’s header four minutes from time.

The draw sees Italiano move to sixth in the table.

Unión Española 0-2 Huachipato

The nightmare continues for Unión Española. With only one goal in four straight losses, the titleholders are fast gaining a reputation as an easy three points — Huachipato is the most recent beneficiary, nabbing an away win Saturday.

Española created several first half chances, though nothing came of them with strikers Lorenzo Faravelli and Sebastián Jaime low on confidence and short on ideas. Huachipato front man Lucas Simón was more clinical than his opposition counterparts, dispatching a beautiful header midway through the second half.

Substitute midfielder Mauricio Yedro doubled the lead with fifteen minutes to go, benefiting from weak goalkeeping to see his shot cross the line.

Española is rock bottom of the table, while Huachipato’s first win takes it 13th.

O´Higgins 1-1 Everton

O’Higgins failed to turn up the pressure on the top end of the table Friday, conceding the lead in the last minute at home to Everton.

The home team took the lead on the hour mark in bizarre fashion through striker Francisco Pizarro — his scuffed shot trickled in when keeper Gustavo Dalsasso assumed the ball was going wide.

O’Higgins looked to go top of the table as the game came to a close, though defender Alejandro López was guilty of a shocking own goal, heading the ball into the net over his keeper who was set to claim it.

Everton is fourth and O’Higgins drop to third behind Cobreloa on goal difference.

Cobreloa 2-1 Santiago Wanderers

Cobreloa continued its unbeaten run Saturday, moving to second in the league on goal difference after a home win over Santiago Wanderers.

Wanderers went down to ten men when midfielder Andrés Robles received two yellow cards within half an hour, and Jonathan Chaves put the home team in front with a penalty on 36 minutes.

Midfielder Cristián Gaitán doubled Cobreloa’s lead just after the break, and a while a late flourish saw Wanderers pull one back through Matías Donoso, the hosts clung on for the win.

Cobreloa is second on goal difference while Wanderers slide to tenth.

Universidad de Concepción 2-0 Palestino

Newly promoted Universidad de Concepción claimed its first win in the Apertura on Saturday, with an impressive victory over Palestino.

After threatening consistently, the home side went ahead in the 55th minute via a Gabriel Vargas penalty. Things got worse moments later for Palestino when defender Miguel Escalona was sent off, and there was no way back after Vargas’s athletic effort gave him a brace in the 71st minute.

Concepción is now 12th and Palestino sit at 9th in the table.

Rangers 2-2 Unión La Calera

Rangers could have gone top of the table with a win Saturday, though were lucky to come away with a draw, coming from behind twice against a superior Unión La Calera side.

Midfielder Maximiliano Bajter put the visitors ahead in the first minute, before attacking midfielder Sebastián Sciorilli equalized just before the half. Striker Rodrigo Gattas once again gave La Calera the lead in the 55th, though Rangers’ Esteban Ciaccheri pulled one back on the hour mark and the game ended square.

Rangers sit 5th on seven points, while Unión La Calera move to 8th.

Cobresal 2-0 Antofagasta

Cobresal bagged its first win of the season Sunday, sweeping aside Antofagasta with a goal in either half.

Midfielder Mariano Torres put his team ahead with a screamer from outside of the box on 36 minutes. Both teams had early miss-of-the-season contenders in the second half, before striker Fabián Saavedra doubled his team’s lead at the death.

Cobresal goes to 11th in the table, and Antofagasta is 15th.


Apertura upcoming fixtures

Aug. 23, 8 p.m: Ñublense vs. Unión Española
Aug. 24, 3:30 p.m: Santiago Wanderers vs. O´Higgins
Aug. 24, 6 p.m: Palestino vs. Universidad Católica
Aug. 24, 8:30 p.m: Audax Italiano vs. Cobreloa
Aug. 25, 12 p.m: Everton vs. Universidad de Concepción
Aug. 25, 3 p.m: Huachipato vs. Colo Colo
Aug. 25, 4 p.m: Rangers vs. Cobresal
Aug. 25, 4 p.m: Iquique vs. Unión La Calera
Aug. 25, 5:30 p.m: Universidad de Chile vs. Antofagasta

High demand from Chileans as World Cup tickets go on sale

Written by Camila Vilalva

Chile is among the countries with the highest amount of ticket applications as FIFA struggled to cope with demand.

Chile has yet to qualify for next year’s World Cup, though this detail did not stop the country’s soccer fans rushing to get their hands on tickets to the competition. After the first round of sales, Chile ranks among the top five countries regarding ticket demand for Brazil 2014.

FIFA, the international soccer governing body, opened the initial round of ticket sales Tuesday, which will run until Oct. 10. Upon opening sales, FIFA’s website crashed due to high traffic. The governing body announced on its Twitter page that more than 1 million ticket applications were submitted within seven hours. The tweet listed Chile among the top five countries with the highest number of applications.

Ticket applications are open until the October deadline and only then will all requests be collected and processed together. If the number of requests exceeds the number of tickets available, a lottery will be held to select applicants.

FIFA, however, warned fans against holding high hopes for tickets.

"There are more ticket applicants seeking tickets than there are tickets available for the general public," FIFA said. "There are vastly more ticket applicants seeking tickets than there are tickets presently available for the general public."

Requests were also high in all price categories for the semifinals, and 44 of the competition’s 64 matches have received an excessive amount of applications in cheaper category tickets only available for Brazilians.

Sales will reopen between Nov. 5 and 28, but during the second period the entries will be awarded to the first applicants that book online.

The third sales period will begin Dec. 8 after a draw determines where and when each nation will play.

Tickets for foreigners vary between US$90 for first-round matches to US$990 for the best seats at the final.

Currently, Chile sits at fourth place in the South American zone qualifiers. The top four teams qualify automatically to the World Cup, but Chile’s place is not assured as it still needs to play against Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador. Fifth place fights for a World Cup spot in an intercontinental playoff against fifth place from Asia’s soccer confederation.

Chile’s next match will be on Sept. 6 against Venezuela.

To apply for tickets, click visit the FIFA website.

Stortalentet Gabriel Barbosa scorede det afgørende mål, da Grêmio gæstede Santos på Vila Belmiro. Se højdepunkterne her: http://www.youtube.com/w…TOfAjbFJqNo

Og dog, ellers nogle sjove resultater i Copa do Brasil. Mato-grossense´erne Luverdense formåede 1-0 efter 3 røde kort (2 til Corinthians, én til Lurverdense) mod Corinthians. Copa do Brasil er mange klubbers eneste måde at få en Libertadores billet.

Jeg ved ikke helt, om KayOkay eller andre har haft dette oppe og vende.. Men Musa do Brasilierão er startet og finalisterne kan findes her: http://globoesporte.glob…eirao-2013/

Jeg må være ærlig at indrømme, at Criciuma pigen er min favorit.. Gud, i år er der mange labre kandidater.

Stortalentet Gabriel Barbosa scorede det afgørende mål, da Grêmio gæstede Santos på Vila Belmiro. Se højdepunkterne her: http://www.youtube.com/w…TOfAjbFJqNo

Og dog, ellers nogle sjove resultater i Copa do Brasil. Mato-grossense´erne Luverdense formåede 1-0 efter 3 røde kort (2 til Corinthians, én til Lurverdense) mod Corinthians. Copa do Brasil er mange klubbers eneste måde at få en Libertadores billet.

Jeg ved ikke helt, om KayOkay eller andre har haft dette oppe og vende.. Men Musa do Brasilierão er startet og finalisterne kan findes her: http://globoesporte.glob…eirao-2013/

Jeg må være ærlig at indrømme, at Criciuma pigen er min favorit.. Gud, i år er der mange labre kandidater.

Men heldigvis har både Gremio og Flamengo muligheder for at vende det i returkampen....i øvrigt rigtig god stil med Musa-linket, Criciuma er ganske godt repræsenteret, og kan da forstå hvorfor Samba er så begejstret for Vasco - vi mangler dog stadigvæk en musa-blog for de finkulturelle.

Liga MX Preview: Ortega starts Chivas reign, Morelia look to build

Juan Carlos Ortega will begin his reign as Chivas Guadalajara coach with a trip to Queretaro in round seven of the Liga MX season.

The 45-year-old was appointed on Monday to replace Benjamin Galindo, who was sacked following the 4-2 defeat against Puebla.

That result saw Chivas slip to 15th in the Mexican Apertura championship, as an own goal from Kristian Alvarez and then a Matias Alustiza strike helped Puebla to their first win of the campaign.

Ortega - who worked as a coach at the club between 2003 and 2009 - will be hoping to reverse Chivas´ slide when he takes charge for the first time against a Queretaro side who have won just once in their opening six games.

Elsewhere, Morelia will look to defend top spot when they take on America.

Carlos Bustos´ side climbed to the summit with a 2-0 win over Atlas last time out, extending their unbeaten run to four games.

America, meanwhile, head into the match in decent form themselves after three straight wins, the most recent 1-0 against Pachuca.

Unbeaten Santos Laguna will once again look to in-form striker Oribe Peralta when they face a tough trip to Tijuana.

The Mexico international followed up two goals for his country against the Ivory Coast with a brace in last weekend´s 3-0 victory against Tigres UANL as Santos Laguna climbed to third.

In other round-seven games, Toluca face second-placed Veracruz at the Estadio Nemesio Diez while Monterrey take on a Leon side coming off the back of four straight draws.

Strugglers Atlas and Pumas UNAM will both go in search of their first win of the season when they go head-to-head and rock-bottom Atlante must also snap a three-game losing streak if they are to overcome Pachuca.

Fifth-place Cruz Azul will bid for first away success of the season when they make the trip to Puebla, while Tigres UANL face a Chiapas side who have not beaten their hosts in league action in over four years.

FIFA receive over 2.3m World Cup ticket requests

FIFA received over 2.3 million World Cup ticket requests from more than 400,000 fans during the first 24 hours of online sales.

The governing body for world football had predicted that ticket demand would rival Germany 2006 when they went on sale this week.

"It´s always difficult to predict," said FIFA marketing director Thierry Weil. "But I truly believe that it will be more toward to what happened in Germany than in South Africa in 2010."

And that looks to be the case as they have already received more than 372,000 requests for the opening match in São Paulo, and more than 344,000 for the final at the Maracanã.

Brazilians continue at the top of the list, followed by Argentinians, Americans, Chileans and Colombians.

There are approximately 3.3 million tickets available for next summer’s tournament, and all applications made before October 10 will enter a random selection draw if there are not enough tickets available to fulfil all requests.

The sales of the leftover tickets will begin on 5 November on a first-come, first-served basis. Another phase will begin on 8 December after the draw is made.

Roma fans want Erik Lamela to stay

Erik Lamela stepped out at the Stadio Olimpico for possibly the last time as a Roma player on Wednesday as his move to Tottenham Hotspur continues to gather momentum.

Contrary to earlier reports that Lamela, 21, was already heading to London, the forward and his entourage were in the Eternal City as Roma’s director of sport Walter Sabatini led negotiations over a transfer which, unlike the sale of Pablo Daniel Osvaldo to Southampton, will not receive the Giallorossi fans’ seal of approval.

On a day when there were more jeers than cheers reserved for the Roma squad as they took to the field for a training session in front of around 25,000 supporters, Lamela found himself belonging to the minority of players the fans did still want to see in a claret and yellow shirt.

“Keep your hands off Lamela,” read one of the banners held up by supporters, who manifested their continued pain after last May’s Coppa Italia defeat to city rivals Lazio by repeating that they are “only supporting the colours” and not so much the players.

“Everybody gets emotional about these colours,” club captain and fans’ favourite Francesco Totti said. “All we can do is thank the fans who have always stood by us and have shown once again today the love they have for this shirt.

“We’ll try to do all we can, giving our utmost to pay them back with results. The Roma fans know what they feel and I know what they feel.”

Lamela’s girlfriend, Sofia Herrero, was not quite sure what to feel about the situation, however. After seeing the warm reception the Argentina international was given, she wrote on Twitter, before swiftly removing: “What a farce.”

As well as many of the players, new coach Rudi Garcia was also blanked by fans still mourning the loss of last May’s most prestigious of derbies.

“26-05-2013 the real truth is that we hurt you,” said a banner flown by Lazio fans above the Olimpico.

22 suspended during fixing probe

The El Salvador Football Federation on Wednesday dealt one-month bans to 22 top-level international players for their alleged involvement in a match-fixing scandal.

Federation president Carlos Mendez said the suspensions were provisional based on the ongoing investigation and current information.

"We don´t yet have a final decision, but we are investigating everything and will report to FIFA," he said. "We will give everyone involved in the investigation the right to an audience. This is provisional, it is not a sanction."

The banned players include Rodrigo Alejandro Martinez, Benji Villalobos, Ramon Flores, Emerson Umana, Carlos Carrillo, Carlos Romeo Monteagudo, Alfredo Pacheco, Dennis Alas, Mardoqueo Henriquez, Darwin Bonilla, Eliseo Quintanilla, Miguel Granadino, Rodolfo Zelaya, Dagoberto Portillo, Victor Turcios, Luis Anaya, Osael Romero, Ramon Sanchez, Christian Castillo, Marvin Gonzalez, Reynaldo Hernandez and Miguel Montes.

The matches under investigation are the 2-1 loss to the United States in Tampa in 2010, the 1-0 loss to DC United in Washington in 2010, losses to Mexico (5-0 at the 2011 Gold Cup) and Paraguay (4-1 in 2012)as well as an alleged attempt at match-fixing en route to the U20 Worlds.

Two of the players see action in Europe. Sanchez plays for Kazakhstan´s FC Vostok, Turcios with Finland´s Rovaniemen Palloseura. Turcios told ESPN Deportes last month that "there was pressure of match-fixing" at the 2013 Gold Cup.

Mendez´s investigative team in the federation includes Rafael Villacorta, Rafael Calderon, Manuel Aguilar and Julio Padilla.

Galeano habló de Independiente

MADRID -- Leonel Galeano, central argentino del Rayo Vallecano español, dijo que le hubiera gustado irse "de otra forma" de Independiente de Avellaneda, equipo en el que se formó y con el que la pasada campaña descendió a Primera B Nacional.

Galeano, de 22 años, declaró que si por él hubiera sido seguiría en Independiente, comparó el descenso de su equipo con el de River Plate en 2011 y aseguró que "quizá" el ´Tolo´ Gallego haya sido el técnico que más le ha marcado hasta el momento.

Viene de Independiente, que descendió la última campaña. ¿Cómo fue su salida del club?

La dirigencia no fue muy buena, ya que se han manejado mal ellos, no conmigo sino con muchos de los chicos. Han dejado sin contrato a dos y a algunos no les renovaron. En lo personal, la relación de mi hacia los dirigentes y a la gente muy bien. La salida no fue buena por el descenso. Es un equipo muy grande y fue un mal momento el que pasamos. Me hubiese gustado irme de otra forma, con el equipo en Primera.

¿Se hubiera quedado con Independiente en Primera B Nacional?

Si era por mí, hubiese seguido. Me quedaban seis meses de contrato, presenté la opción a quedarme y por una mala organización, porque había parte que estaba en desacuerdo y entre la dirigencia no había comunicación, a mediados de campeonato me dijeron la posibilidad de venir acá y no lo pensé. Es un paso para mi porque es una Liga muy linda.

¿Le sorprendió que Velez Sársfield saliera campeón y que Boca, con Carlos Bianchi y Juan Román Riquelme, hiciera tan mala temporada?

Hoy por hoy Boca está mejorando poco a poco pero no se acostumbra al que hemos visto años atrás. Es un club muy grande y sorprende que pierda un campeonato y lo gane Velez, que es un club muy organizado, que está muy bien desde las canchas y la organización. Por el tema de equipo sorprende, pero si miras por fuera de lo futbolístico no sorprende mucho.

¿Piensa que Independiente puede ser un caso parecido al de River, que descendió y en el ascenso ha salido reforzado?

Puede ser. Esperemos que sea este año, a mitad de curso, cuándo ascienda. No ha arrancado muy bien pero es acostumbrarse a una competición dura, competitiva y pareja. Creo que le va a salir muy bien y va a ascender en el primer campeonato que juegue y hará buena campaña en Primera.

¿Cuáles son las claves para un retorno a Primera?

Las claves son estar tranquilo, ser consciente del potencial, porque hay cantidad y calidad, y tener confianza, porque si escuchan mucho lo de afuera no logran estar a su máximo nivel. También saber unirse cada uno como equipo va a ayudar mucho para llegar arriba como merece.

Miguel Ángel Brindisi no pudo salvar al equipo la temporada pasada. ¿Es el técnico ideal para el ascenso?

Sí, es muy buena persona, un gran técnico. En un momento cuando estábamos abajo tuvimos una buena racha, nos dio la esperanza de mantenernos y por temas matemáticos no se dio. Creo que de muy buena manera le gusta jugar al fútbol.

Pese a su juventud lleva varios años en la elite. ¿Qué técnico le ha marcado más o recuerda con más cariño?

Quizá el ´Tolo´ Gallego, que fue el que me hizo debutar en Primera y me ha dejado muchas cosas. El ´Turco´ Mohammed es un gran técnico que he tenido y de Brindisi destaco la seriedad y tranquilidad que me ha enseñado.

Ha debutado con la selección aunque no ha tenido continuidad. ¿Ve el Rayo como un escaparate para regresar al combinado nacional?

Sí, aunque no es mi objetivo principal. Quiero hacer una buena temporada, tratar de estar al cien por cien, dar lo mejor y si uno hace las cosas bien llegará solo. No depende de uno, si no que debe demostrar que está preparado y la mejor forma es hacerlo con el Rayo.

¿Piensa que el Mundial de Brasil puede ser el de Argentina?

Lo veo con muchas expectativas. Tiene una gran selección, grandes jugadores y un buen técnico. Esta todo muy bien para lograr el campeonato y llegar arriba. Con la cantidad y calidad de jugadores que tiene puede dar pelea.

Lo pregunto porque desde fuera la selección de Maradona parecía más mediática y menos centrada en lo deportivo, y sin embargo ahora parece más unida, más compacta. ¿Cómo la ve?

Puede ser como dices. En el Mundial 2010 jugó contra Alemania, un rival fuerte, duro y ordenado. El partido se puso difícil y no se dieron las cosas. Esa selección tenía grandes jugadores y muchos de ellos estarán en el próximo Mundial. Hoy por hoy, para mi está más preparada, la mayoría de jugadores se conocen, y con este nuevo técnico (Alejandro Sabella) se puede lograr el objetivo.

Un pronóstico para la Liga Argentina.

Me han sorprendido varios equipos ganando que la mayoría no se esperaba. Están River, Boca y San Lorenzo que arrancaron muy bien y creo que el campeonato será para uno de esos. En la B creo que Independiente va a ascender y hará una buena temporada en Primera. Tengo toda la fe en ellos.

Todos los jugadores tienen algún jugador modelo en el que se han fijado especialmente. ¿Cuál es su referencia futbolística?

Argentino me gustaba Fabián ´el ratón´ Ayala por cómo saltaba e iba a cabecear. Después Paolo Maldini, un gran jugador con mucha clase, pero hoy por hoy los centrales de la selección de España Gerard Piqué, Sergio Ramos y Carles Puyol. Tienen mucha clase, mucha categoría y hay que mirarles para aprender y sacar cosas para uno después copiar.