International Football
ARGENTINA WORLD CUP TEAM TAKES SHAPE AS SAMPAOLI VISITS 28 PLAYERS
BY BOLAJI OKUNOLA.
Argentina national team coach, Jorge Sampaoli has concluded his European trip where he met with 28 players spread across six countries. Information gleaned by www.sportsvillagesquare.com from the official blog of the Argentine national team reveals that the bulk of the players are based in Spain.
Sampaoli, like the other 31 World Cup coaches, is running against time to pick 23 players who will feature for his squad at the World Cup where the team is drawn against Nigeria, Iceland and Croatia.
But before then, Sampaoli is preparing the team that will face Spain and Italy in March as Argentina opens its World Cup build up.
The coach is weighing all options to know which players to use for the two friendly matches and which ones should be excused.
But Sports Village Square gathered that Gonzalo Higuain is very strongly rumoured to be called-up for the two pre World Cup friendly matches.
It would be the first time the Juventus man makes the Argentina squad since Jorge SAMPAOLI first took over in June of last year. He was one of the seven Argentine players that the coach met in Italy.
While in France, the Argentina manager met with both Angel Di Maria and Gio Lo Celso but did not meet with Javier Pastore. El Flaco is presently looking at a move to Inter in Italy as he would like some playing time in hopes of getting called up for the World Cup.
Augusto Fernandez is another interesting name as he is strongly rumored to be moving to China, like Javier Mascherano who recently moved to Hebei Fortune.
Ramiro Funes Mori of Everton is presently injured and the coach spoke with him. The same goes for Manuel Lanzini who is also injured at the moment.
International Football
Two Moroccan football players lost at sea, says club official
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Abdellatif-Akhrif.png)
Two Moroccan players from top-flight soccer side Ittihad Tanger have been missing at sea since Saturday after strong currents drifted their small yacht, a club official said on Sunday.
They were in a group of five players from the club who went cruising off the northern city of Tangier when strong currents and heavy winds drifted their yacht away as they were swimming in deep waters, club deputy president Anass Mrabet told Reuters.
“Three players have already been rescued on Saturday, while research is still ongoing for the missing Salman Harraq and Abdellatif Akhrif,” he said.
The players did not have buoys on them when they jumped from the small yacht to swim, he said citing recounts by rescued players.
While Akhrif, 24, is already a full member of the squad, Harraq, 18, was about to move up to the senior team this year, Mrabet added.
Ittihad Tanger have been in the Moroccan top flight since 2015 and won the league title for the first and only time in their history in the 2017-18 season. However, they have struggled in the lower half of the standings in recent years.
-Reuters
International Football
FIFA launches ‘Football Manager’ World Cup with $100,000 in prize money
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/arsene-wenger.jpg)
FIFA will host its first ever FIFAe World Cup of Football Manager this year to crown the best virtual manager on the highly-popular video game, world soccer’s governing body said on Thursday.
FIFA is partnering with Sports Interactive, the developers of the game that has sold millions of copies and has also been used by several football clubs to scout players and opponents thanks to its extensive database.
Players will compete for $100,000 in prize money in the final event from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.
“This competition requires participants to demonstrate a profound understanding of football strategy and tactics,” said former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is the ambassador for the esports event.
“Success demands not only mastery of game mechanics but also in-depth football knowledge, making this format a fascinating blend.”
FIFA said in the inaugural year of the event, selected member associations will be invited to be represented at the final event.
Member associations from all six confederations are expected to be invited while players can sign up on FIFA’s website.
-Reuters
International Football
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio robbed at gunpoint
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/baggio.jpg)
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint at his home in northern Italy while watching his country’s match against Spain in the Euro 2024 tournament on Thursday, local police said.
Burglars broke into Baggio’s house near Vicenza, hit him on the head with a gun butt and locked him and his family in a room while they stole jewellery, watches and cash, daily Il Corriere della Sera reported. It said he suffered a deep wound.
“Luckily, the violence I suffered only resulted in a few stitches, bruises and a lot of fear. Now it is to overcome the fear,” Baggio was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.
Baggio, 57, played for clubs including Juventus (JUVE.MI), opens new tab, AC Milan and Inter Milan. He also played 56 times for Italy, scoring 27 goals, and is widely seen as one of his country’s all-time greats.
After the robbery, Baggio, widely known as the “divine ponytail”, was treated at a local hospital where he received stitches for the head wound, Italian media reported.
Italy lost to Spain 1-0 on Thursday and now must avoid defeat by Croatia to guarantee progression in the tournament.
-Reuters
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