FOOTBALL: Copa Libertadores Another chaotic Copa Libertadores clash? Normal service has been resumed. Today 16:12 Boca’s brawl in Brazil stole headlines across the continent this week... by Dan Edwards
Copa América Argentina overcome odds in Brazil – and inspire hope for future 17-07-2021 00:37 Victory over Brazil in the Maracanã represented a rare moment of joy in these troubled times – and the Albiceleste’s Copa América triumph will raise hopes ahead of Qatar 2022. by Dan Edwards
Copa América Argentina hope to upset the odds (and Bolsonaro) in Copa clash with Brazil 09-07-2021 17:57 Argentina will start the Copa América final against Brazil as comfortable outsiders after squeezing past Colombia. But the Albiceleste have grown in unity and confidence throughout the tournament, and with Lionel Messi in fine form, defeat is anything but inevitable. by Dan Edwards
Copa América Argentina on right track ahead of Copa América knock-outs 02-07-2021 14:44 After sailing through their Copa América group, Lionel Messi and Co now face Ecuador in the quarter-finals, aware that just one slip will be enough to send them home. by Dan Edwards
ARGENTINE TURNS 34 Lionel Messi: Elder statesman, but just as essential as ever 26-06-2021 00:30 The Barcelona and Argentina wizard turned 34 on Thursday, an age which usually signals the beginning of the end for professionals. The event was accompanied by an outpouring of tributes, acknowledgement of the towering impact Messi has had since first bursting onto the scene. by Dan Edwards
The Covid Copa Zero margin for error for Argentina in Copa América clash with Chile 18-06-2021 00:51 There are high expectations on either side of the Río de la Plata for today's Copa America derby, the first between Argentina and Uruguay in a competitive clash since August 2017. by Dan Edwards
NATIONAL TEAM Argentina lay foundations ahead of Copa América’s kick-off 11-06-2021 00:36 Draws in World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia remind the Albiceleste that there’s little margin for error. But there’s still grounds for optimism ahead of the Covid Copa in Brazil. by Dan Edwards
INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL Chile, Argentina warm up for Brazil's Covid Copa with 1-1 draw 04-06-2021 02:11 This week has seen a wave of activity in international football, most of which occurred far away from the confines of the pitch. But Thursday night's 1-1 draw keeps Argentina's unbeaten qualifier record intact and on track for a place at Qatar 2022. by Dan Edwards
FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA CONMEBOL ensures show must go on in Argentina 29-05-2021 11:17 When is a ban on football not a ban on football? Apparently, when CONMEBOL decides to flex its muscles. by Dan Edwards
ARGENTINE FOOTBALL Enzo Pérez dons the gloves as River overcome Covid catastrophe 20-05-2021 22:14 A rookie lining up in the Superclásico, and Enzo Pérez donning the gloves for a key Copa Libertadores match, all in the space of 72 hours – it has been an eventful week indeed for River Plate between the goal-posts. by Dan Edwards
FOOTBALL Boca bid to break River hoodoo in Sunday Superclásico 15-05-2021 12:18 Seventeen years almost to the day have now passed since Boca Juniors last got the better of River Plate in a knock-out tournament, in the 2004 Copa Libertadores. by Dan Edwards
CARLOS TIMOTEO GRIGUOL (1934-2021) Griguol may have departed, but El Viejo’s teachings will live on 08-05-2021 00:22 Carlos Timoteo Griguol, legendary coach of Ferro Carril Oeste, River Plate, Rosario Central and Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, died Thursday aged 86, after a month-long struggle with coronavirus. by Dan Edwards
FOOTBALL Argentine sides off to good start in Copa Libertadores ties 30-04-2021 02:18 A total of five Argentine sides currently occupy qualifying spots for the next round of the Copa Libertadores. by Dan Edwards
Football Vigilance and activism can blunt ambitions of greed 24-04-2021 09:33 For the past week, all football conversations were dominated by one particular theme: the Super League. by Dan Edwards
ARGENTINE FOOTBALL Spare a thought for the man in the middle 17-04-2021 08:19 Top-flight referee Mauro Vigliano found himself in the middle of media furore this week, after an honest error in the high-profile Racing Club-Independiente derby. by Dan Edwards
ARGENTINE FOOTBALL AFA’s restrictions may prove too little, too late for local football 10-04-2021 08:28 A costly shutdown looks inevitable for Argentina’s top flight, after more than 100 players test positive for Covid-19. by Dan Edwards
ARGENTINE FOOTBALL Tinkering leaves Argentina’s lower leagues stripped bare 27-03-2021 08:06 A stampede has formed at the AFA’s gates on Viamonte Street as clubs battle for one for a one-in-four-decade chance. by Dan Edwards
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC Long winter lies ahead for Argentine football 20-03-2021 07:12 One year on from the Covid lockdown, it would be comforting to think that normality, or something approaching it, should now be on the horizon. On this first anniversary, however, there is little optimism on that front. by Dan Edwards
FOOTBALL Boca, River gear up for another Superclásico without fans 13-03-2021 08:33 La Bombonera set to host its second derby match against River Plate in the space of two months – the atmosphere remains far from normal, but is another thriller on the way? by Dan Edwards
ARGENTINE FOOTBALL 'Pulga' Rodríguez deserves his dream move to Boca 06-03-2021 08:53 Out of every crisis arises possible opportunity. And at the Bombonera, a tantalising prospect: that local legend Luis 'Pulga' Rodríguez could finally receive his chance to shine at one of Argentina's biggest football institutions. by Dan Edwards
FUTBOL PARA TODOS Echoes of the past as football returns to TV Pública 27-02-2021 07:58 Last night Argentinos and Vélez locked horns in the first domestic match screened on the TV Pública for almost four years, a throwback to the ‘Fútbol para Todos’ era which appeared to have gone forever. by Dan Edwards
ARGENTINE FOOTBALL Emotions run high on opening weekend of season 20-02-2021 07:24 Ricardo Zielinski was one of 10 new coaches on display on the opening weekend, and each fared mixed fortunes. by Dan Edwards
BOCA JUNIORS Boca and evergreen Tevez aim big, amid unwelcome distractions 13-02-2021 09:29 It would not be a Boca pre-season without at least a few rumours of both Tevez's dissatisfaction and general unrest in the club camp. by Dan Edwards
LOCAL FOOTBALL Argentine football continues to come back in torrents 06-02-2021 09:16 The dust has barely settled on the Copa Diego Armando Maradona but in just one week's time, the 26 Primera teams will lock horns once more in a brand-new tournament. by Dan Edwards
ARGENTINE FOOTBALL Platense desperate to end 22-year stay outside top flight 30-01-2021 09:03 To teams and their fans stuck in the lower reaches of the football pyramid, every moment away from the promised land of the top flight can feel like an eternity. Platense know that sensation better than most. by Dan Edwards
COPA SUDAMERICANA Pepe and Pepo head Lanús’ push for second Copa Sudamericana title 23-01-2021 10:40 The financial devastation caused by the events of the last 12 months prompted Lanús to look even more closely at their young talent. by Dan Edwards
COPA LIBERTADORES Libertadores: River's heroics fall just short, timid Boca fail to get going 15-01-2021 01:25 Any hopes (or fears) of a repeat of 2018's Superclásico Copa Libertadores were extinguished over the course of 48 hours this week. by Dan Edwards
COPA LIBERTADORES Boca and River fail to get going in Libertadores semi-finals 09-01-2021 08:37 Xeneize retain hopes of advancing, although they will have to up their efforts significantly. For the Millo, only a near-miracle will secure passage to Rio. by Dan Edwards
2021: THE YEAR IN PREVIEW What lies ahead for Argentine football in 2021 02-01-2021 08:57 Your (tongue-firmly-in-cheek) guide to what lies ahead for Argentine football in the next 12 months. by Dan Edwards
A LA CANCHA What might have been: Sabella and Maradona in Sheffield 19-12-2020 09:23 Late footballer and national team coach Alejandro Sabella was a fans favourite during his time with English side Sheffield United – and he was nearly joined in South Yorkshire by Diego Maradona. by Dan Edwards
COPA LIBERTADORES Argentine sides remain in running as Copa Libertadores nears end 12-12-2020 10:00 By the time the Libertadores finally bids farewell to 2020 on the eve of Christmas Eve, there will be at least one Argentine team among South America's four top sides. by Dan Edwards
DIEGO ARMANDO MARADONA (1960-2020) Maradona: Out of this world 28-11-2020 07:35 Diego Armando Maradona, the popular icon that Argentina was crying out for, blessed us mortals with 60 years in his magnetic presence. But now, the ‘Cosmic Kite’ has finally been called back to his home planet. by Dan Edwards
A LA CANCHA Stormy waters in Avellaneda as sudden crisis engulfs Racing 21-11-2020 09:32 A run of defeats has plunged Racing Club into crisis. Such is the scale of the disaster that it now looks set to take with it one of the club's most beloved figures: Diego Milito. by Dan Edwards
WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS Argentina's perfect start cut short by ever-competitive Paraguay 12-11-2020 23:43 Argentina went into Thursday's World Cup qualifier hoping to extend their perfect start to the competition, but had to settle for a tense 1-1 draw against a combative Paraguay side by Dan Edwards
Liga Profesional de Fútbol Opening weekend overshadowed by Maradona’s health woes 05-11-2020 13:05 Top-flight football returned to Argentina last weekend, but most of the nation’s fans were focused on events in La Plata and row over River’s search for a temporary home. by Dan Edwards
FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA Top-flight football returns in Argentina, but Covid's presence looms large 30-10-2020 02:00 The long wait is over. After more than seven months of wistful stares at empty stadiums Argentine football is back, on none other than the 60th birthday of wayward legend and Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata coach Diego Maradona. by Dan Edwards
FOOTBALL Argentina’s footballing authorities pick a fight with Disney 24-10-2020 09:27 AFA and new-look Liga de Fútbol Profesional – a.k.a. the powers that be in local football – pick a fight with Mickey, Donald, Pluto & Co, with another broadcasting rights battle in the courts the only obvious outcome. by Dan Edwards
INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL Snarling skipper Messi sets tone for Argentina 17-10-2020 09:10 Lionel Messi was back to his vociferous best this week, and the Albiceleste captain's transformation from shrinking violet to snarling porteño cabbie stuck in rush hour traffic has been gestating for some time now. by Dan Edwards
WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS Little to shout about as Argentina see off Ecuador 09-10-2020 01:12 The stands were silent at the La Bombonera on Thursday night and Lionel Messi and Co responded with a suitably muted performance against Ecuador. by Dan Edwards
ARGENTINE FOOTBALL Renewal and re-invention: the secret to Gallardo’s success at River 03-10-2020 10:08 Coaching in the Primera División, even at one of the nation's top clubs, is often a thankless task, and one that only gets harder the longer one occupies a place on the bench. by Dan Edwards
FOOTBALL & CORONAVIRUS World Cup ties pose selection dilemmas for Albiceleste 26-09-2020 10:25 Putting out an Albiceleste XI for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers is an acute logistical and selection dilemma for Lionel Scaloni. But despite the difficulties, some of Argentina’s old-guard still can’t find a spot in the squad. by Dan Edwards
COPA LIBERTADORES Argentine sides return to action in Copa Libertadores 17-09-2020 23:52 All five of Argentina's Copa Libertadores participants were back in action in the continental competition this week, dusting off the cobwebs after the extended, seemingly endless absence forced upon them by the coronavirus pandemic. by Dan Edwards
FOOTBALL Bielsa ready to take on ‘best league in the world’ 12-09-2020 10:12 Two months have passed since Leeds clinched the Championship title and Marcelo Bielsa has been hard at work, preparing his side to take on England’s top clubs. by Dan Edwards
COPA & CORONAVIRUS Libertadores ties in doubt as 18 Boca players test positive for virus 05-09-2020 09:34 Wth Boca's first match against Paraguay’s Libertad less than two weeks away, serious doubts have emerged over how the club will be able to fulfil their fixtures. by Dan Edwards
END OF AN ERA? We need to talk about Lionel Messi 29-08-2020 10:20 Barcelona are entitled to seek a fair price for their prize asset, but they do not have the right to deny Lionel Messi the chance to seek his future elsewhere after such a long, glittering spell. by Dan Edwards
FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA Nacional's high-fliers mocked as AFA’s creates another monstrosity 20-08-2020 22:25 The men from Viamonte have done it again: just when you thought they couldn’t mess up the national game anymore, they’ve created another monstrosity, rendering a host of already played matches irrelevant in the process. by Dan Edwards
FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA Problem mount for Independiente as clubs return to training 15-08-2020 10:18 The case of El Rojo, one of the traditional 'big five' of local football, is emblematic of the struggles likely to become commonplace in this uncertain new world. by Dan Edwards
FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA First tentative steps toward ‘normality’ for the national game 08-08-2020 10:07 Argentine football's stars are finally preparing to shed the paunch and unwelcome kilos as they head back to training. by Dan Edwards
GRONDONA’S LEGACY Don Julio’s shadow still looms large over Argentine football 01-08-2020 10:01 Six years on from his death, Julio Grondona continues to live long in the public’s memory. That is a measure of his towering presence – but also the inability of his successors to clean up the mess he left behind. by Dan Edwards
FOOTBALL & THE PANDEMIC CONMEBOL forces Argentina to step up plans for return of football 18-07-2020 10:12 While many South American leagues have already retaken the field or are preparing to restart leagues, in Argentina even the return to training remains pending. That, however, hasn’t stopped CONMEBOL. by Dan Edwards
