News of Dan Edwards

Dan Edwards

Boca Juniors' Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani celebrates with teammates after winning during the Argentine Professional Football League Cup quarter-final match between River Plate and Boca Juniors at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Cordoba, Argentina, on April 21, 2024.

Superclásico victory boosts Boca’s Copa hopes

25-04-2024 20:16 Boca's 3-2 victory over rivals River was a vindication of the work Diego Martínez has put in to whip the Xeneize into shape since taking over as coach.

by Dan Edwards

Superclásico: Boca Juniors v River Plate.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Copa drama sets up first Superclásico with both sets of fans since 2018

19-04-2024 11:23 The final round of Copa de la Liga fixtures brought a festival of gripping football which kept fans glued to their chairs.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Copa de la Liga Profesional qualification goes down to the wire

11-04-2024 21:58 Conceived in 2019 as a hybrid stopgap to plug a few holes in the fixture schedule, the Copa de la Liga Profesional has taken on its own life as a worthy tournament in its own right.

by Dan Edwards

Boca Juniors players wait to board a plane to Bolivia for their Copa Sudamericana clash against Nacional Potosí.

FOOTBALL

Boca’s trip to Bolivia turns into an Odyssey

04-04-2024 00:34 Logistical nightmares for Boca and River, but both return safe from overseas trips with good results from continental competitions.

by Dan Edwards

INTERVIEW

Agüero wants consistent criteria for use of VAR in football

29-03-2024 05:22 Former Independiente, Manchester City and Argentina star Sergio Agüero reminisces about winning an Olympic gold medal and tips wonderkid Claudio Echeverri to do well at his former club.

by Dan Edwards

Estudiantes had played less than half an hour against the Xeneize when Javier Altamirano suddenly went to the floor off the ball. It instantly became clear that the Chilean midfielder had suffered a serious issue, halting the game.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Altamirano scare sparks solidarity on pitch

22-03-2024 13:29 Every now and then, a timely reminder comes along that football, contrary to popular perception, is not more important than life or death.

by Dan Edwards

RUGBY SEVENS

Argentina's rugby sevens team soars to new heights

14-03-2024 11:45 Nation’s all-conquering rugby sevens team is burning bright and its stars are making a name for themselves.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Tevez’s spat with Tapia shows consequences of AFA’s chaos

08-03-2024 11:23 Carlos Tevez declared open rebellion against Argentine football's reigning powers this week after seeing his Independiente side held against Barracas Central, in a match peppered with dubious refereeing decisions.

by Dan Edwards

Boca Juniors v River Plate: Superclásico.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Superclásico takes centre-stage as derby weekend arrives in Argentina

22-02-2024 15:41 The weekend of clásicos is here and fans are licking their lips at the prospect of some tantalising clashes.

by Dan Edwards

Football

Argentina dare to dream of Olympic gold – will Messi be there too?

15-02-2024 15:38 Javier Masherano’s young side had to get to the Games in Paris first, and they did so in typically nail-biting fashion.

by Dan Edwards

Football

Newell's, Godoy Cruz make perfect start to Copa de la Liga

09-02-2024 08:56 The nation's top teams are battling through the heat to complete three rounds of Copa de la Liga fixtures in little more than 10 days.

by Dan Edwards

River Plate youngster Franco Mastontuano competes for the ball in a match against Barracas Central.

Football

River’s youth production line keeps churning out quality

01-02-2024 12:43 River's pre-season was dominated by the Claudio Echeverri saga, but another few gems – Franco Mastontuano, Agustín Ruberto and Ian Subiabre – seem to have rolled off the famous Millo assembly line.

by Dan Edwards

Carlos Tevez and Sergio Agüero share a chat.

SEASON PREVIEW

Agüero confident Tevez can spring a surprise with Independiente

27-01-2024 09:25 Ex-Independiente star believes the unpredictable nature of domestic football in Argentina opens the door for Carlos Tevez's side.

by Dan Edwards

Stars of this season? Ever Banega, Gabriel Ávalos, Claudio Echeverri will all be looking to make an impact in Argentina's Copa de la Liga Profesional.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Copa de la Liga Profesional returns – and anything could happen

27-01-2024 09:22 As we saw last year, the format of Argentina’s Copa de la Liga Profesional owes itself to the odd surprise. Forecasting what could happen is a fool’s game – and so here are some predictions.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL

Argentina’s Olympian ambitions put pressure on Mascherano

19-01-2024 11:34 Javier Masherano’s Argentina U23 team begin the road to potential Olympic glory on Sunday when the side takes on Paraguay

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL TRANSFERS

Familiar tale as football wonderkids are snapped up European clubs

11-01-2024 19:23 So far in January, much of the discussion has revolved around two budding stars who look set to be lost to Argentine football – Valentín Barco and Claudio Echeverri are on their way to Premier League.

by Dan Edwards

A complicated 12 months ahead for Mauricio and Juan Román.

2024: THE YEAR IN PREVIEW

What lies ahead for Argentine football in 2024

06-01-2024 07:40 Your (tongue-firmly-in-cheek) guide to what lies ahead for Argentine football in the next 12 months.

by Dan Edwards

Boca idol Juan Román Riquelme will be the club's president for the next four years after defeating former head of state Mauricio Macri in club elections.

FOOTBALL & POLITICS

Boca election result is a victory for Riquelme and clubs nationwide

22-12-2023 13:47 Ibarra and Macri proceeded in a desperate campaign to link Boca’s legendary ex-playmaker with some sort of shadowy plot to construct the Xeneize as the last bastion of evil Kirchnerism. Their gambit backfired.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Platense, Rosario Central head to scorching Santiago del Estero for final

14-12-2023 15:11 Santiago del Estero possesses a fantastic-looking, shiny new stadium, and it is in the Madre de Ciudades that the unlikely duo of Platense and Rosario Central face off in the final of the Copa de la Liga this Saturday.

by Dan Edwards

Boca Juniors fans demonstrate against the suspension of club elections.

Football in Argentina

Football briefly rears its head amid off-field scheming

08-12-2023 08:38 The action keeps on coming – the acrimonious battle for control of Boca remains in the spotlight, but Copa Liga play-offs and promotion clashes draw the eye back to the pitch.

by Dan Edwards

Boca Juniors supporters protest after club elections were suspended in the week.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Macri-Riquelme court stand-off can only harm Boca

02-12-2023 14:38 Clash of the titans delayed as Boca’s elections suspended by judge; Club’s VP cries foul and accuses ex-president of doing “great harm” to club’s supporters.

by Dan Edwards

EXCLUSIVE

‘Carlitos has the courage’ – Agüero impressed by Tevez’s start at Independiente

02-12-2023 10:16 Ex-Rojo favourite Sergio Agüero says his former Argentina international teammate Carlos Tevez has “handled the pressure well” in his debut season in Avellaneda.

by Dan Edwards

Fans of Argentina are attacked by Brazilian police before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualification football match between Brazil and Argentina at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 21, 2023.

CHAOS IN THE MARACANÃ

‘Always the same’ – Bittersweet win in Maracanã marred by ugly scenes

22-11-2023 12:10 National team coach Lionel Scaloni’s comments cast doubt over his future and delivered another twist in the tale to a stunning and shocking night in Rio de Janeiro.

by Dan Edwards

Juan Román Riquelme versus Mauricio Macri.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Boca gears up for the election to end all elections

17-11-2023 00:30 Vice-President Juan Román Riquelme will lock horns with former Xeneize chief and Argentine head of state Mauricio Macri in one of the biggest, potentially nastiest football election ever witnessed.

by Dan Edwards

Boca Juniors' defender Nicolas Valentini (L) and Boca Juniors' midfielder Vicente Taborda react after losing the Copa Libertadores final football match between Brazil's Fluminense and Argentina's Boca Juniors at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 4, 2023.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Boca must stop treading water after death of Libertadores dream

09-11-2023 17:19 A painful defeat in Rio de Janeiro spelled the end for Jorge Almirón and has left behind a lingering question: where do Boca go from here?

by Dan Edwards

Boca Juniors' head coach Jorge Almirón talks to the media upon arriving at Galeao Airport in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 1, 2023.

FOOTBALL

Boca head to Brazil seeking Copa Libertadores glory

01-11-2023 23:36 Argentina’s plan for world domination returns to the Estádio do Maracanã, where Boca Juniors are preparing for a Copa Libertadores final showdown against Fluminense.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL

Alejandro ‘Papu’ Gómez's bizarre post-Qatar fall from grace finally explained

27-10-2023 14:21 Facing a heavy ban for failing a doping test, Alejandro 'Papu' Gómez's suspension is likely to spell the end of his time as an Argentina player.

by Dan Edwards

Argentina's coach Lionel Scaloni speaks to forward Lionel Messi during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualification football match between Peru and Argentina at the National Stadium in Lima on October 17, 2023.

International football

Albiceleste continue to impress, with or without Messi

19-10-2023 16:56 Shorn of the team's heart against Paraguay, Argentina reacted by recreating him across the pitch. Against Peru, on the other hand, the system was king, centred around Messi.

by Dan Edwards

Argentina defender Nicolás Otamendi celebrates after scoring his team's first goal past Paraguay's goalkeeper Carlos Coronel during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualification football match between Argentina and Paraguay at the Mas Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, on October 12, 2023.

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Captain Otamendi makes it three in three for unstoppable Argentina

12-10-2023 23:57 The Albiceleste armband does seem to bestow superhuman powers on its bearer, and on Thursday it was Nicolás Otamendi who was the beneficiary as the defender scored one of the finest goals of his career to set Argentina on the way to another World Cup qualifying victory.

by Dan Edwards

Boca Juniors' Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani and goalkeeper Sergio Romero celebrate after defeating Palmeiras on the penalty shoot-out during the Copa Libertadores semifinals second leg football match between Brazil's Palmeiras and Argentina's Boca Juniors, at the Allianz Parque stadium in São Paulo, Brazil, on October 5, 2023.

COPA LIBERTADORES

Stars deliver as 10-man Boca edge through to Libertadores final

06-10-2023 11:23 What is this Boca Juniors team? One that never, ever says die – and one you most definitely do not want to tangle with from the penalty spot.

by Dan Edwards

Football in Argentina

Cancel your plans... Argentina's famous 'Round of Clásicos' is back

28-09-2023 08:20 Footballing rivals go head-to-head in the famous ‘Round of Clásicos,’ an invention that ranks right alongside the ballpoint pen, heart transplants and Lionel Messi in the pantheon of great Argentine gifts to the world.

by Dan Edwards

Huracán and Gimnasia players battle for the ball.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Buckle up, this relegation dogfight is going to be one wild ride

20-09-2023 23:21 Argentina’s relegation battle is becoming a dizzying roller-coaster ride, week by week.

by Dan Edwards

Bolivia's defender Roberto Fernández and Argentina's forward Ángel Di María vie for the ball during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Bolivia and Argentina, at the Hernando Siles stadium in La Paz, on September 12, 2023.

WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

Do-or-die mentality ensures La Scaloneta retains necessary intensity

14-09-2023 11:32 Argentina approach every match as if the fate of the world hung on its outcome, and that furious mentality – and no little class – saw them through a potentially tricky start to their World Cup title defence.

by Dan Edwards

Independiente's new manager, Carlos Tevez, waves to fans before the Rojo's match against Vélez Sarsfield.

FOOTBALL

Tevez's appointment injects life into the red side of Avellaneda

31-08-2023 11:39 Few expected to be watching Independiente fighting out a bitter battle against relegation with Carlos Tevez at the helm, but the ex-Boca star has his team looking more adventurous in the fight for survival.

by Dan Edwards

Tevez returns, a Copa Libertadores stalemate and Argentines star in America

FOOTBALL

Tevez returns, a Libertadores stalemate and Argentines in America

25-08-2023 12:28 Once again, it’s been a busy week for Argentine football – Carlitos has taken charge at Independiente, Acosta and Messi thrill the United States and two grandes clash in the Libertadores.

by Dan Edwards

COPA LIBERTADORES

Boca, Racing set for Copa Libertadores quarter-final clash

18-08-2023 14:20 Boca Juniors and Racing Club have been left to fly the flag for Argentina in the 2023 Copa Libertadores.

by Dan Edwards

Future superstars? Tomás Avilés, Alejo Véliz, Facundo Buonanotte, Ignacio Miramón

FOOTBALL

Clubs are snatching up Argentina’s youngsters at an accelerating rate

10-08-2023 23:11 With the best players moving earlier and earlier, Argentina’s clubs must compromise, picking up those either too young, too old or not good enough to play elsewhere, or else gamble that yesterday's wonderkid who flamed out overseas can rediscover his best form back home.

by Dan Edwards

Argentina's women wave to fans after their exit from the Women's World Cup.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

River live to fight another day, but early exit for Argentina's women

06-08-2023 19:07 The biggest match of the past seven days for the Millonario, indeed one that may shape the rest of this season, occurred midweek with a huge comeback victory in the Copa Libertadores,

by Dan Edwards

He is without question the star attraction; a fact underlined by an embarrassing episode after his substitution on Tuesday with Inter 4-0 up against Atlanta United, when scores of fans followed his lead and filed out of the stadium.

Football

Messi magic marvels Miami

28-07-2023 20:46 Even at 36, he is clearly at the top of his game, an asset that any club in the world would give almost anything to possess.

by Dan Edwards

River Plateclinch the First Division championship in the first time of asking for new coach Martín Demichelis, in another league to their rivals.

Football

New coach for Millonarios, but victory song remains the same

28-07-2023 17:31 River Plate clinch the title at the first time of asking with new coach Martín Demichelis.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL

A look at Argentina’s Copa Libertadores last-16 competitors

07-07-2023 06:53 Yes, if Boca and River both win all three of their next ties they will meet in the final; and yes, it would be in the Maracaná, but there are plenty of other hopefuls still in the competition – not least Argentinos and Racing.

by Dan Edwards

Lionel Messi pays tribute to Juan Román Riquelme and Maxi Rodríguez.

Football

Messi helps Román and Maxi serve up two unforgettable shows

29-06-2023 09:15 Way back in 2006, Lionel Messi was already sharing a World Cup stage with Juan Román Riquelme and Maxi Rodríguez. Never one to forget his roots – and some 16 years on – the Albiceleste skipper pulled out the stops for their fond farewells.

by Dan Edwards

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Asian jaunt leaves Argentina and Messi with plenty to ponder

23-06-2023 01:00 Lionel Messi is irreplaceable, but with any luck the collective spirit and unity he has helped foster in the Albiceleste will ensure that the glory days will continue.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL

In a rush to the not-too distant future

15-06-2023 13:48 Martín Demichelis has River Plate on an imperious path to title, but there’s no rest for anyone in modern football – everyone keeps looking ahead.

by Dan Edwards

MESSI ON THE MOVE

Benefits of Miami as clear as day for Argentina's captain

09-06-2023 08:25 After years of putting his body on the line for both club and country at the top level, Messi now has the chance to extend his career and become, like Pelé, a sterling ambassador for the game stateside.

by Dan Edwards

Argentina's youth team coach Javier Mascherano reacts after losing against Nigeria during the Argentina 2023 U-20 World Cup round of 16 football match between Argentina and Nigeria at the Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario in San Juan, Argentina, on May 31, 2023.

FIFA U20 WORLD CUP

Critics swift to descend on Argentina’s youngsters – and their coach

01-06-2023 13:48 The dream is over for Argentina's young hopefuls. Coach Javier Mascherano is under fire, but beyond the hysteria, there were signs of promise in the Albiceleste's campaign.

by Dan Edwards

Alejo Véliz, the '9' of the Selección Sub 20, celebrates a goal.

FIFA U20 WORLD CUP

The kids are alright

25-05-2023 00:51 The young Albiceleste and their coach still need to keep improving, particularly at the back, if they are to hold any hope of repeating the nation's past U-20 World Cup triumphs.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL

Can Bielsa drag Uruguay into this century?

17-05-2023 23:22 Ignoring Argentine dominance of the world game just keeps getting harder...

by Dan Edwards

DERBY MADNESS

Superclásico controversy can’t detract from Boca’s failings

11-05-2023 20:43 Put aside the penalty controversy and it’s clear Boca are still not up to the task when facing River – lots for Jorge Almirón to ponder in the weeks and months ahead.

by Dan Edwards

Football in Argentina

Rookie bosses ready for unpredictable River-Boca Superclásico

04-05-2023 15:14 Nine years and a month have passed since the last time River took to the field against Boca Juniors without Marcelo Gallardo leading them out. But ‘El Muñeco’ is gone now, leaving both sides in the unusual situation of having two rookie coaches centre-stage in Argentina's most celebrated club fixture.

by Dan Edwards