With the continued dramz surrounding clubs letting their players play in Beijing, Messi proved why he is so valuable. In their opening round match against the Ivory coast, the dimunitive playmaker notched one and set up one to beat the Ivory Coast 2-1. Barcelona might be raclling this dude before the Olympics are over, but it’s clear Messi is going to put his stamp on this while he is in Beijing.

FIFA has reiterated it’s stance Wednesday, demanding all players under the age of 23 (or 23 at the time of the Olympics) MUST be released from their club commitments.

“The single judge determined that the international match calendar is not of relevance in establishing whether clubs are obliged to release players,” FIFA said in its statement.

“In view of the longstanding and undisputed practice (since 1988, clubs have always accepted the release of Under-23 players for the competition), he deemed that recourse to customary law is justified.”

(more…)

FC Dallas is rumored to be attempting to cement their new “relationship” with River Plate by offering former Argentine national and current River Plate striker Ariel Ortega a multi-year deal at $1.5 million per year. Ortega would use up Dallas’ DP slot (with greater success than Denilson, hopefully). Ortega is said to be leaning towards accepting. Ortega would join Dario Sala, Pablo Richetti, and Juan Toja in the FC Dallas lineup of former River Plate guys in Frisco - a team nicknamed “River North” amongst local fans. Ortega is 34, known to be somewhat mercurial and not averse to the occassional post-game adult beverage. He does put the ball in the hole though, and did score River’s only goal in the last Boca-River match.

Image via TheOffsides

Last night The Wifey and I caught up and had dinner with our Argie brethren, Lucas and Andres at Zip Sushi over in the Arts District.

Thankfully this time Lucas kept his shirt on, but I think he convinced The Wifey to let me go to Argie with his this year for the Newell’s v Rosario Central derby.

If you haven’t gotten down there to check the scene out, I definitely suggest it as it’s a pretty amazing place to hang out.

25 year old Argentinian Jonas Gutierrez might be following the path that Scotland’s Andy Webster has forged after buying out the remaining two years on his contract from La Liga’s Real Mallorca and heading to Premiership side Newcastle.

The only problem with that is that the players contract is co-owned 50% with Argentina’s Velez Sarsfield, who are claiming the player was on loan and is owned compensation if the player is to be sold.  Since Gutierrez hasn’t been “sold”, Sarsfield want the player back in training camp on July 9th and claiming the player is theirs again due to terms of the original agreement.

Mallorca originally had the chance to sell the player to Harry Redknapp’s Portsmouth, but wanted more than the 8 Million Pound that was first offered. After that original amount was turned down, Gutierrez walked in to the directors and dropped the cash to buy out the remaining two years after being there for three years (where the Webster ruling kicks in).

Now Mallorca is playing the cash strapped, poor me club after losing out because of selfishness.

via Sky

“Because of our financial crisis, this could really damage us. In fact, it has come at the worst possible time,” said Grande.

“This matter is not closed because the club has decided to go to FIFA to reclaim our right. The minimum we want to recuperate is the £8million Portsmouth offered us in the winter.”

Is there any chance Mallorca and Velez will get anything? We’ve already seen what can happen when players force the clubs hands after refusing to allow players to move on when the proper offer comes in, rather than being held hostage by the club for more money.

image via Football

Even though there were no goals, Brazil v Argentina is never disappointing.

Up next, September 6th with Chile vs Brazil and Argentinz vs Paraguay.

Are we finally starting to gain just a little respect in the supporters department?

Is American Soccer Cross - Pollination starting to take place in the United States?

FC Uptown

image via Soccer

DOUBLE UPDATE -  Barcelona Sporting Director Txiki Beguiristain has made it very, very clear that they will do everything possible to stand in the way of Leonel Messi representing Argentina at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

“The regulations will decide. If they protect us he will play the Champions League qualifier, if not, we are obliged to let him go to the Olympics.

It isn’t the player’s decision and we understand the regulations favour us.”

The second leg of Barcelona’s Champions League qualifier will take place on either 26th or 27th of August.

UPDATE - Messi has just confirmed that he WILL be going to the 2008 Beijig Olympics.

Champions League with Barcelona or the Olympics with Argentina? Hmmmmm.. Can you imagine having such a dilemma?

That’s what Leonel Messi, the best 20 year old in the world is having to choose between (and it doesn’t look good for the club) as Barcelona didn’t qualify straight through as they didn’t finish 2nd in La Liga. Barcelona will have to play the Champions League qualification matches on August 12th 0r 13th and the return leg would be either August 26th or 27th.

Argentina’s opening match is on August 7th in Shanghai against Ivory Coast (damn, what a game that’s going to be) and the final is on the 23rd, which Argentina will play in (Yup, mark it!).

image via DailyMail

Talk about clinic…..that sh*t was too easy.

The best part about the game is when we scored the third goal, I didn’t even celebrate.

That’s when the Mexico fans got even more pissed that I didn’t even acknowledge the goal!

There were 68,498 people at the game last night and I think about 68,400 were Mexican.  The parking lot was half full when we got there at 4:45 p.m. for an 8:00 p.m. kick off.

Mexican flags, carne asada and improptu games of soccer breaking out all over the parking lot.  And there we were, our little sect of 6 Argies cooking chorizo and drinking wine.  My uncle thought I was crazy to be wearing my Argentina jersey but after going to Newell’s/Central in Rosario a few months ago this didn’t seem too bad. After all, in Argentina they throw piss and rocks and here they were throwing popcorn and ice.

The favortie chant of the night was “Puto, Puto, Puto” but I didn’t hear too much out of them after the first goal, the second, the third and definitely not after the fourth.

Argentina put on a fantastic display of soccer against a very formiddable opponent and the best player in the world put on a show all by himself.  Messi (Newell’s Old Boys) had a hand in three of Argentina’s four goals. He assisted the first and the third but what he did on the second was worth the price of admission all by itself.  After committing three defenders at the top of the box and squirting the ball wide to Julio Cruz, he ran into the box and got on the end of the cross that Aguero dummied to him for an easy tap in.

The goal was nowhere near as good as Maxi’s in the World Cup or the one where he chipped Oswaldo Sanchez in the Copa America in full stride from inside the eighteen but it’s definitely one that I won’t forget any time soon. What a great night!!!

Lucas

Yeah ladies, he’s single….

The second goal from Messi is outrageous.

Watch closely as he gets away from 3 defenders at the top of the 18, passes the ball, gets his feet taken out from under him, gets up without complaining quickly and sprints to the top of the six to use the inside of his left to kiss it far post, past the statue standing in goal known as Osvaldo.

The biggest difference in the match was Argentina’s reactions to loose balls in the box, movement off the ball and Mexico’s struggles with clearing the ball out of their defensive third.