There is so much hype going into the Brazil versus Argentina match that it is tough to even decide where to begin. Arguably the most heated international derby on the planet, every time Brazil and Argentina meet it’s a special occasion. This Thursday’s match, however, has some extra plot elements that make this particular encounter a unique and spicy affair.
Does Sebastian Pol think he's a ninja? We think Sebastian Pol thinks he's a ninja.
Pol, an Argentinian striker who plays for Chilean club Audax Italiano, got heated during Italiano's match against Universidad Catolica, and, well, he did this:
For Argentina, a nightmarish World Cup qualifying campaign somehow managed to grow worse outside of an international break. In early September, Bolivia had managed to gain an unlikely 0-0 draw with Chile and a 3-0 victory over Peru in CONMEBOL qualifying. However, FIFA have ruled that Bolivia fielded an ineligible player in both matches, defender Nelson Cabrera, resulting in automatic 3-0 wins for both Chile and Peru.
A video has been circulating in the Internet this week and we would like to show it to you now. This is the Rosario Derby.
¡Recibimiento impresionante! Mirá la locura que se vivió en la salida de #Central, antes de disputar el clásico. pic.twitter.com/cuJDF4fmxo
— Rosario Central (@CARCoficial) October 23, 2016
France Football announced the 30 finalists for the 2016 Ballon d’Or award with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi the favorites to take home the award they’ve entirely dominated since Kaka won in 2007. Real Madrid have six nominees on the list, Barcelona have four and Leicester City’s dream season has resulted in nominations for Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy.
Mariga Eugenia Rocca, a female assistant referee whose experience includes multiple Olympic Games and Women’s World Cups, has reported being struck in the back of the neck by a player while officiating a men’s fourth division game in Argentina.
The Argentina Referee Association is backing Rocca’s claims and has submitted a report to the Argentina Football Association for their review.
Two years ago, Brazilian midfielder Anderson was at the end of his Manchester United career after being frozen out under manager Louis van Gaal. Oddly, Anderson had managed to stay on the Old Trafford books for over seven seasons without ever particularly impressing. He’s a four-time Premier League champion and winner of the 2007-08 UEFA Champions League with United, but he’s still widely regarded as a flop having arrived from Porto for €30 million in 2007.
Since 1987, Argentina side Club Social y Deportivo Liniers have been playing their home matches at “The Bulldozer”, just outside of Buenos Aires. For nearly 30 years they’ve been playing on a crooked, wonky pitch that features one half that’s much shorter than the other.
Google Maps images clearly revealed something not quite right about the pitch, and the Argentina Football Association (AFA) is now threatening the club with closure should they not rectify the field’s blemishes.
One of the major developments in the world of football over the past week has been the deployment of the “green card” in Italy’s Serie B to reward players for acts of virtue, including admitting to having taken a dive in order to win a penalty or free kick.
It’s hard to imagine that only a few months ago we were considering the possibility of Brazil missing a World Cup for the first time since the tournament began back in 1930.
Well, the tables have turned for the Selecao as well as for everyone else in South America.
The Chileans looked like the stronghold of the continent after claiming two consecutive Copa Americas. Now their mojo seems to be gone as they have lost two and tied one of their last four matches.