Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni voiced concerns about the physical condition of his players while highlighting the importance of Lionel Messi after La Albiceleste booked their spot in the Copa America quarter-finals.
Papu Gomez was the hero for Argentina, with his 10th-minute goal sealing a 1-0 win over Paraguay on Monday and a spot in the last eight of the showpiece CONMEBOL tournament.
There was no rest for superstar captain Messi, who equalled Javier Mascherano s record for most Argentina appearances with his 147th cap, despite Scaloni s men backing up from Friday s success against Uruguay.
Messi has not missed a minute of Argentina s three Group A games so far, amassing 74 touches against Paraguay while winning 75 per cent of a team-high 16 duels.
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That´s for the media to say – Van Dijk parks thoughts of Liverpool title ambitions with focus on Net
Virgil van Dijk is focused purely on ensuring Netherlands complete the job and qualify for Euro 2020, not on Liverpool s Premier League title bid.
The Reds defeated reigning champions Manchester City 3-1 at Anfield on Sunday to open up an eight-point gap at the top of the table, with Pep Guardiola s side nine back.
Powerful centre-back Van Dijk was asked by Sky Sports whether establishing such a commanding lead made it feel like this season could see Liverpool end a 30-year wait for top-flight glory.
But Van Dijk will not look beyond Saturday s contest with Northern Ireland in Belfast, where a point will be enough for Netherlands to book their place in the Euros.
I m not gonna say that [it feels like Liverpool s year], he said.
It s something …
We’re halfway into the first legs of the Champions League Round of 16 with four highly intense matches behind us.
For those of you who might have missed this week’s results, here’s a look back at the Round of 16 so far:
Juventus 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur
FC Basel 0-4 Manchester City
Real Madrid 3-1 PSG
FC Porto 0-5 Liverpool
What we witnessed this week was four matches of brilliant football, fantastic individual performances and collective spirit that can only be found at the top stage such as the Champions League. And as anticipation slowly builds for the remaining four clashes next week, let us sum up these four games through as many things we learned this week.
Rio Ferdinand is right – Harry Kane is the Best Striker in the World
Manchester United leg…
Domenico Criscito gained redemption by breathing new life into Genoa s Serie A survival bid with a late penalty winner to secure a 2-1 success over Juventus.
Genoa captain Criscito erred from the spot in a 1-0 loss to local rivals Sampdoria on Saturday but got the better of Wojciech Szczesny with the final kick of the game from 12 yards in an incredible finale at the Marassi.
Paulo Dybala appeared to have Juve heading into Wednesday s Coppa Italia final on the back of a win, but Albert Gudmundsson equalised in the 87th minute.
Moise Kean inexplicably missed a chance to win it for Juve with the goal gaping, and Criscito took full advantage after Mattia De Sciglio tripped Kelvin Yeboah to spark scenes of jubilation.
After a first half of few chances…
Atalanta completed their battle back from the brink with a 3-0 win at Shakhtar Donetsk to secure Champions League progress in their final Group C game despite not winning any of their first four fixtures.
Gian Piero Gasperini s men needed Manchester City to avoid defeat to Dinamo Zagreb and for themselves to beat Shakhtar in Kharkiv, and the Italians did just enough while Pep Guardiola s men gave them a helping hand with a 4-1 victory in Croatia.
With both sides still in with a great chance of progressing, the first half predictably flittered between tense and entrancing, though Shakhtar looked brighter and will have been disappointed not to make the most of their chances.
Realising the onus was on them as the team that started the round bottom, Atalanta stepped …
Japan will go through to the 2019 Asian Cup knockout phase as Group F winners after coming from behind to beat closest challengers Uzbekistan 2-1, Tsukasa Shiotani s stunning strike sealing the turnaround.
The two teams went into Thursday s clash level on six points and, although Hector Cuper s men took the lead with a great goal of their own, Japan rallied and did just about enough to take the spoils and win the group.
All of the drama in the first half came in the last five minutes, as Eldor Shomurodov opened the scoring with a smart finish at the end of a brilliant solo run, only for Yoshinori Muto to level soon after – the Newcastle United forward s first goal for club or country since netting against Manchester United in October.
The superior quality of Ja…
French veteran Thierry Henry has brought down the curtain on a stellar career, announcing his retirement from football on Tuesday.
Henry, 37, ended his four-and-a-half-year stay with MLS club New York Red Bulls earlier this month ahead of his contract expiry at the end of the year.
The former France international, who won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 as he amassed 123 international caps, was linked with an emotional return to Arsenal.
But Henry Arsenal s all-time leading goalscorer with 226 goals has decided to call time on his career, making the announcement via his official Facebook page.
Henry will work as a pundit for Sky Sports next year.
After 20 years in the game I have decided to retire from professional football, Henry wrote.
What the papers say
Liverpool have identified their prime target when the January transfer window opens. According to the Daily Mirror, Fluminense’s Brazilian midfielder Andre Trindade will be at the top of their list.
Manchester City are turning their attention towards keeping hold of their talent. The Daily Telegraph reports the treble winners plan to open contract talks with striker Erling Haaland, 23, with Real Madrid showing interest.
Chelsea are also looking to secure one of their young stars, according to the Daily Mail. They are planning talks with Conor Gallagher, 23, as the England midfielder nears the final 18 months of his contract.
And Everton are also close to tying up Jarrad Branthwaite to a long-term deal, reports the Daily Mirror. Manchester U…
Bayern Munich defender Noussair Mazraoui faces a period on the sidelines after medical tests showed up an inflammation issue relating to his heart.
The Morocco international tested positive for COVID-19 at the World Cup, Bayern said on Friday.
He returned to the team for the Qatar 2022 semi-final against France after missing the last-eight clash with Portugal, but subsequent tests have shown Mazraoui has a mild inflammation of the pericardium, which is the fluid-filled fibrous sac surrounding the heart.
Bayern travelled without him on Friday to a training camp in Doha, and the club have not specified a timeframe for Mazraoui s absence from the squad.
Newspaper Bild has reported the 25-year-old former Ajax player could be out of action for four to six week…
Manchester United s dismal start to the season continued on Saturday with a 0-0 draw against newly promoted Burnley at Turf Moor.
Louis van Gaal was able to field Angel di Maria for the first time following his £59.7million move from Real Madrid, but United failed to impress once again despite occasional flashes of brilliance from British football s most expensive signing.
Having failed to beat Swansea City or Sunderland prior to a midweek League Cup humbling at the hands of MK Dons, Van Gaal s men produced another disjointed display and could have few complaints with the result despite being denied a late penalty when substitute Ashley Barnes appeared to handle a shot from Ashley Young.
Indeed, Burnley had opportunities to emulate the 1-0 victory they memorably…