Stat of the day: Argentina redeemed!
A reshuffled Argentine national team, led by FC Barcelona star Lionel Messi, surged to a 3-0 victory over Costa Rica yesterday, momentarily silencing their critics and propelling the squad into the next round of the competition. As always, Optasports was on hand to document some of the interesting statistics around the Argentine victory.
Despite his failure to score in his last 14 appearances for Argentina [with 34 shots on goal since the 2010 World Cup!], Messi created 7 goal scoring opportunities in the match last night, the most of any player in the tournament this year.
Messi’s favorite partner in attack so far is Sergio Agüero, who has scored 5 goals in his last 5 appearances with the team. In contrast, Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuaín registered 8 shots in the Costa Rica match without scoring, a record of inefficiency in this year’s Copa.
Despite their generally lukewarm performances so far, Argentina lead the competition with an average of 70% ball possession. Was last night’s match a turning point for the team?
Source: OptaSports; Image: Reuters Pictures
Messi has nothing to prove. But his team-mates have.
so true…
i still believe that argentina can win this cup only if aguero keep on starting 11 and messi will be the next player of the year for several more year. viva messi
'Despite his failure to score in his last 14 appearances for Argentina [with 34 shots on goal since the 2010 World Cup!], Messi created 7 goal scoring opportunities in the match last night, the most of any player in the tournament this year.' Yeah…. and who scored vs. Brazil and Portugal recently? Batista?
those were friendlies , not official matches
Right, the statement is a bit misleading. He scored in the Portugal friendly as well, with a penalty late in the game. It should state official matches only.
Messi just need a good support.. It was great to see Aguero pointing at Messi even when he scored the goal
Leo, we never stopped believing in you. The best of luck furthermore!
Nothing to get over excited about, it was Costa Rica's U-23 team. It's a step in the right direction, byt they've got a long way to go.
Be wise an write sensible things here. Barca is known for gud morals.
7 goalscoring chances?
That's what we gets with Xavi and Iniesta in 20 minutes 
!
well, Argentina played really well as a team, its not just Messi
i liked De Maria and how he was fighting for every ball and also Gago
Aguerro could be the best Striker for barcelona, with Messi, Xavi and Iniesta wow
we dont really need Sanchez, he cost 40 million??? we can pay 45 and get Aguerro
Aguerro > Sanchez + 5 million
Higuain!! what was wrong with him??
he could score in this game at least 2-3 goals if not more oO
Messi, De Maria, Gago and Aguerro should play together and I like Pastore, i hope he can play with Messi
Im a bit afraid Messi is going to go in to a wall! He have played 65 matches and the few times, he dont perform, he get attacks all over him! Messi should get 2 or 3 weeks longer rest than most of the other players! If we get Sanchez we have the luxury to sometimes rest the great Messi against weaker teams!
Did you guys see the game against Costa Rica, If Higuain where in shape he would have scored three goals. But i still think Higauin is a better choice cause he can run with out the ball. Tevez is selfish, I think! Higuain i like despite he is a Madrid player, hehehe Messi should have 5,6,7 assists by now!
OT: Are there any dutch fans here?
LAF magazine's latest issue has an interview with Xavi and ex-Barca player Giovanni van Bronckhorst. http://www.lifeafterfootball.eu/
I would really appreciate it if someone could scan or translate it for us:D
I'm Dutch . I'll have a look at the interview .
OT : Here is an interesting article that dispels the myth that Jose Mourinho has Barça's number . Nothing can be further from the truth .
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/763097-five-re…
Nice read. Well, I'm from Suriname but I'll try to translate it as accurate as I can for you. Here we go:
The WC XAvi about his realionship with Zlatan Ibra; You have people who just only come here to work and even to compete with a teammate. We don't do that here. The teamwork in the group has always been good. Maybe there has been 3 or 4 who couldn't adapt. But here you have to, otherwise you gonna make a fool of yourself. Zlatan thinks of us as low-profile players. He meant it as a critic, but it was a complement to me. What is a star nowadays? We are the best team in the world, but therefor we don't have to act differently. Football makes your personality, the media does that and if you believe it you wll be at fault. You have to be yourself, akways.
About the final of WC 2010, Xavi to Gio:
We thought this will be a heavy match, a fight for the ball. But Holland gave up on their own style and therefor looking for counters. I think they thought they were the minors. They began to kick us early on, we didn't understand that. I went to Mark van Bommel and asked: Mark what are you doing now. He hasn't even responded and was entirely gone …….
Well that's about it, glad I could help.
*relationship*
Hey, thanks a lot! As I said already, I really appreciate it because I know the world cup stuff wasn't the best memory for you guys..
The final was Gio's last match as a player but Xavi is always being himself
I like the anecdote about him and van Bommel.
Btw, the whole interview isn't online. Does anyone have a copy of the mag? I'm curious about the rest of it.
As a Dutch I was very disappointed in the performance of Holland and the rough tactics used by the coach . Players like Nigel De Jong are a disgrace . Most people in Holland were embarrassed with the behaviour of some of the players during the final , especially De Jong and Van Bommel . It was ironic that Spain were better at voetbaltotaal than the Dutch who invented it 40+ years ago . Spain was a deserving winner !!
If you don't have Google Translate already , here is the approximate Dutch-English translation . Google Translate is a useful tool but NOT a perfect one .
" In the new LAF has former international Giovanni van Bronckhorst an animated meeting with his former teammate at Barcelona, Xavi Hernández. The world about the collaboration with Zlatan Ibrahimovic: "You have people who just come to work, even competing with another player entering. We do not. The relationships in the group has always been good. Maybe there are three or four who have not been able to adapt. But you should say so, otherwise you stand a fool. Zlatan Ibrahimovic found us but low-profile players. He meant it as criticism, but I just saw it as a compliment. What is a star? We are the best team in the world, but that we do not have to be different. Football is a character of yours, the press does, but if you start believing in it, you're wrong. You have to stay forever. "
'The Netherlands felt inferior before'
Course, comes the World Cup final in 2010 was raised. Xavi against Gio: "We thought: it is a tough game, a battle for the ball. But the Netherlands did on his own playing style, trusted more on the counter, I think because they felt inferior before the inferiors. They also began to kick rapidly, that we do not understand. I went to Mark (Van Bommel, red) and asked Mark what are you doing? He did not agree, it was completely gone … "
thanks a lot!
Oh yes I usually use Google Translate but it didn't work well for me this time.. maybe it depends on languages?
I really want to know how Gio answered Xavi in the rest part of it:S
Exactly, thank you! I don't understand the readers sometimes… but never mind! I know that Barca is much more superior than the ARG NT and any other team! Even Spain, who comes closest to Barca, is not better than Barca!
not even close…Alves and Messi make a BIG difference
u forgot King Abi dude……
The biggest difference is lack of x. alonso, he disturbs Xavi all the time in the national team and pushes Iniesta away.
messi's scored against Spain, portugal, albania and brazil in the last 14 games. They may have been friendlies but they were still official international matches, so the goals cont.
Since when are friendlies not official matches? They are endorsed by FIFA and are taken into consideration when they determine the country rankings! OptaJoe got their facts wrong! Unless they meant competitive matches? But Leo scored in 4/5 friendlies since the WC so those goals should count.
And the thumbs down just continue to come… Wonder if the people who gave me thumbs down really think Messi creates less goalscoring chances with Iniesta and Xavi than with Gago and Masch?!
Messi looked so much more composed on the pitch and he played very well (think some commentator called it "happy feet"). Whatever happened behind closed doors helped. I am also happy that Argentina showed Messi some love. ^_^
Maradona played a big part in this.. i'm glad he decided to talk good about Mess, even in his worst day of his life(his mother was in hospital).. Maradona opened everybodies eyes and the and batistas.. look now, Messi is playing amazing now..
Maradona and Messi top2 best players of all time FOR ME..
Although Maradona can be a dickhead sometimes , his support for Messi was worthy of praise . I always thought of Maradona as the best player of all times , until Messi wins a WC that is . Another reason that makes me admire Maradona is the devastating manner he responds to Pele's idiotic remarks . Not only in football but also in trash talk , Maradona wins EVERY time !!
LOL 3-0 win over an olympic Costa Rica squad.. thats not impressive.
I hope Argentina will get to the finals… Messi really deserve to win the copa..