We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
It's all on the line for the hosts of Copa America 2011 as Argentina meet Costa Rica in a must-win affair tonight amidst rumors that there will be wholesale changes to the starting eleven. Join me from around 8:30 pm onward to see if they can pull off the win.
posted by The Blue Devil @ 7:21 PM
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
109 Comments:
Univision is continuing its blackout policy on the Argies - no coverage of the match tonight.
Fortunately, I've dialed up ESPN coverage of the match here:
http://nwxyz.blogspot.com/
Tevez, Lavessi, Cambiasso are all out tonight.
DiMaria, Higuain and Aguero all in.
The usual tickertape routine before the match. An electric atmosphere in Cordoba.
You can already sense that there's no messing about tonight. Real cut and thrust move there between DiMaria and Higuain.
This is the same bobbly pitch that did Brazil no favors on Sunday.
A win tonight would carry the Argies through second but a draw would really throw things up in the air. Argentina would end with 3 points and both Brazil and Uruguay are currently in third place in their respective groups with one to play. Something's got to give.
Things have settled down now after a hectic start. The Ticos have absolutely nothing to lose tonight. They'll be expected to crush under the weight of Argie expectation but anything better would be a historic triumph.
I think you're right Bob. I'd seriously worry about walking the calles of Buenos Aires right now if I were Batista. He's called up all the right guys tonight and if they can't take care of the Ticos, he might as well ask the Saudis for asylum.
Messi looks like he's taken the criticism to heart. On this showing, Cesc might take his place.
Evening, mate. I agree. This is life or death for this current incarnation of the Argentinians.
I know - you just don't see him making those same Messi type runs from the right cutting inside. It's almost as if he's waiting for Xavi or Iniesta to pass him the ball.
Oh - nice move there. Long ball over to Aguero who volleyed nicely back to Higuain. He controlled but couldn't keep the volley down. Difficult skill there.
Messi's dumped on his bum by Elizondo. Free kick out wide right now.
I see Zanetti, Di Maria, Arguero, Messi, Higiuin, all forward thinking players. Batista has stayed with Gago who to my eye in no-where as special as he's made out to be on the Guardian.
Aguero is looking very lively out wide left.
Lovely run there by DiMaria before he's upended. Corner now.
This is a much more determined performance from the Argies. But if this pressure does not yield a goal in the first half, the dread might just be too much for them to deal with.
Perfect case in point. That Aguero shot looks like they mean business, but the replay makes him look like he rushed it and dragged it ineffectually wide.
Here finally are the lineups:
Argentina: Romero, Zanetti, G. Milito, Burdisso, Zabaleta, Masch, Aguero, Messi, Gago, DiMaria, Higuain.
Subs: Carrizo, Andujar, Pareja, Garay, Rojo, Cambiasso, Biglia, Pastore, Banega, D. Milito, Lavezzi, Tevez.
CR: Moreira, Acosta, Gaitan, Calvo, Cubero, Elizondo, Leal, Mora, Salvatierra, Martinez, Campbell.
Subs: Alvarez, Carvajal, Fajardo, Gatgens, Madrigal, Zuniga, Arauz, Valle, Brenes, Castro.
I agree - if we get to half-time, the nerves are certainly going to set in.
Decent pop there from Martinez.
Oh - Higuain hit the keeper's feet with a one-on-one shot.
Diego Milito is money. What the hell is Batista playing at by leaving him on the bench? Criminal.
I don't understand that at all. Why play two water carriers like Mascherano and Gago and leave Diego on the bench.
Referee not impressed with that flop from Messi in the box. The replay shows that he fell acrobatically over his leg.
Ohhhh, the dread is setting in. Look at that blatant dive by Messi. Their minds are totally screwed up by this pressure.
The half-hour mark comes. One or two chances but no breakthroughs yet.
I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't see a Mano a dios attempt if this keeps up.
Burdisso's header is one way for them to go. Set pieces to the big guy, anything at this point.
Oh - first Arsenal warm-up on Wednesday against a Malaysia XI.
Speaking of big men, what about that Abby Wambach. LUFC could use a bit of muscle like that up front. Crikey!
Are they trying to feed Di Maria through the middle on deep runs? Put him wide where he's fantastic.
Nice ball through from DiMaria to Aguero who popped up on the right. Shot was from a tight angle, though.
Good spot on the AFC. I would have thought they'd be hitting my inbox hard with offers of a 3 quid offer to watch the highlights. But nothing yet.
Now, DiMaria's gone over. Pathetic diving going on now. Get on wi' it!
Every time the Argies get tackled, they go over. Your M-O-D prediction would get good odds now.
Acosta seems to be gobbling up every errant ball that comes in from the Argie front line.
Oh Sergio!
The referee isn't being conned by the diving, though. All they're doing is wasting time at this point. The Ticos gladly knocked the ball out of play and then got it back when DiMaria went over there.
Haven't watched any of the womens' games tbf.
Have a look at Abby's two goals from yesterday. The way that she muscles the keeper off the ball for the equalizer is vintage!
Oh Gonzalo!
The Ticos need to take more advantage of the limited set pieces they'll get in the Argie half. Make that clown Romero come out of his goal-he wants to.
Wasted corner there.
Great tackle by Duarte there. I thought Aguero was in.
Oh - Higuain blasts over again!
WTF Aguero? That's a terrible touch for a pro.
WTF Higuian? That's just crap with the goal gaping and a very second rate keeper to beat.
Batista's booking his flight to Riyadh.
I don't see a single Argie that's enjoying his football out there. If only this was England they were up against, this would be fun. It's a bit sad against Costa Rica.
Calvo picks up a yellow there. Dangerous position for the free kick.
His coffin that he sleeps in will count as both of his bags.
The ref doesn't seem to have his aerosol with him tonight.
GOAL! Right on the stroke of half time Aguero mops up an easy tap in.
1-0!
La Volpe almost rope-a-doped his way into the half. All to do now for the Ticos.
There goes the half-time whistle. Cruel on the Ticos; they'll have to readjust their game plan. The Argies seems to have reacted as if the match is over already. 45 minutes to play.
Make of this what you will because I found it on Wiki, but "Milito has statistically averaged just over a goal every two appearances, over the course of his 10 year professional career." What must he have done to have been so criminally overlooked?
I don't get it - is it his familial relationship to the previous manager?
No that's Sergio that's Diego's son-in-law, isn't it?
That's a dumb pass from Aguero.
Brenes has replaced Calvo, who was booked at the end of the half. Attacking move.
And Madrigal has also come on. Not sure who he replaced yet.
No changes from Batista yet.
Getting really tired of DiMaria's shit at this point.
Messi is blocked off the ball. Duarte picks up the yellow. Should have been mere obstruction and an indirect free kick really.
I think he did take a kick there. Now Messi, he was clocked.
Messi hits the top of the wall with his free kick. Poor.
You just knew that was going no-where the way Messi approached that. I'd let Higuian just welly it and take the corner.
DiMaria goes over again in dramatic fashion. He needs a booking.
Di Maria might just kill grass the way he's blocking photosynthesis tonight.
GOAL! Aguero again! Clinical pass through from Messi and nice finish.
2-0!
More like it. A phenomenal pass from the tricky midget and a good finish from Aguero.
That should about do it.
The Argie fans showing the Mexicans how to do the "Oles." The El Tri fans were doing it at 0-0 in the 3rd minute during the Gold Cup.
It's enough to win, but they could really do some damage and probably handing out a hiding to the Ticos would boost squad morale.
5 minutes into the last Mexican game their fans were doing the wave. They're muppets.
Agreed. What the hell? No footie fan culture there? They're as bad as Yank fans.
It's over, La Volpe. Give as many who haven't played yet a game
WTF, that's a rock-solid penalty claim for Higuian.
Higuain seems to be aiming at a target some five yards over the goal.
Another one on a flippin' plate goes begging from Gonzalo. But is Diego Milito putting in his shin pads yet? I don't think so
Half an hour left.
3-0! DiMaria! Another great ball from Messi.
Keeper beaten at the near post, though.
Yeah, that's it. Another opportunity carved out by Messi emphatically finished off by Di Maria.
Put that Koran back on the shelf Batista, but still handy just in case.
This only gets the Argies a berth in the Quarters, probably against Uruguay. I don't fancy them continuing on despite this effort. It is the Ticos after all. No reason to get excited yet.
Absolutely. I think the Uruguayans could frustrate and hit on the break. Suarez is overdue.
Messi is starting to express himself a little bit now. Nice to see because he's class.
Nice stuff there from Aguero down the side.
I admire Higuain's motor. For as big a brute as he is, he's run the full 75 minutes now.
I just thought of something. This could be the USA that the Argies are making monkeys out of tonight. If we'd not chickened out and declined the invitation to this tournament.
Oh - that would have been a super goal for Messi.
Training pitch stuff now for the Argies.
Did you get booted off the Blogger system again?
Aguero's come off to a hero's welcome. He's been excellent tonight. Definitely worth the call up.
Lavezzi comes on for him for the last five minutes or so.
Oh - Messi should have made it 4-0 there!
Good chance for Messi. Should have gone in and that would quiet down the mob. He's been a different man this half.
Who's the blondie that came on when Higuain went off?
Good evening BD and Gooner. I am Starbucks ,joining you for the closing stages of the match.
Romero with a sharp save, but the Ticos aren't offering him that tantalizing one just out of his reach. Just float one for him to rush out onto and there's joy there.
Evening, MUR! How's your Dallas trip been?
Welcome Dave. I've got two words for your response to the Scholes piece.... ready? Jack Wilshere. Boom!
The free kick by Campbell wa sdeflected over for a corner . That was close.
Lavezzi just makes sure that he won't be considered for the next match, as if there were any question about it.
I am back in Harlingen. How are you Bob and Steve? I am actually a Wilshere fan. I just wish he would work on his temper.
That's it boys. There's a queue for the computer so I'm off. Cheers!
And that's the final whistle just as I'm starting to have some trouble with the satellite feed through p2p.
An emphatic victory tonight and all smiles in Cordoba. But - I'll say it again. It was Costa Rica. 3-0.
Cheers, mate. Talk to you lads soon.
I guess that's it as Argentina defeat Costa Rica 3-0.
Cheers lads.
Post a Comment
<< Home