They were two small Argentina players with the same enormous challenge -- to meet the expectations of a soccer-mad country. Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi have both proved themselves to be skilful giants on the world soccer stage despite their diminutive frames of 1.65 and 1.70 metres respectively.
Alejandro Sabella has been confirmed as coach of Argentina until the 2014 World Cup finals after Sergio Batista had his contract rescinded following a disappointing Copa America.
The summit is being attended by more than 30 heads of state and top officials from the European Union and invited guest countries and 14 heads of international organisations.
The AFA thanked 58-year-old Sampaoli and his assistants, who have also left their positions, for their services.
Pedro Ibarra and Agustin Alejandro Mazzilli scored two goals as Pan-American champions Argentina bounced back from a half-time deficit to trounce Malaysia 5-2 and top Pool B in the Champions Challenge hockey in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Lionel Messi marked his retirement about face with a goal to give 10-man Argentina a 1-0 win over Uruguay on Thursday that lifted them to the top of the South American qualifying group for the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia.
IMAGES from the FIFA World Cup Group D match played between Argentina and Iceland at Kazan Stadium on Saturday
Chelsea outplay Villa in FA Cup
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has been left out of the Argentina squad for the crucial World Cup qualifier clash against Brazil to be held at the Mineirao Stadium later this evening. The 28-year-old has been struggling with form in his recent international appearances including missing a penalty for Argentina during their 0-1 defeat at the hands of Paraguay in their last outing.
Argentina are odds-on favourites to win the Copa America for the first time since 1993 by beating Chile in Saturday's final.
Qatar returns to the spotlight on Friday little more than a year after the first World Cup held in the Arab world when the relocated and delayed 2023 Asian Cup gets underway amid a seismic shift in football's global order.
The number of assists is used as a tiebreaker to separate players who are level on goals scored. If they are tied on both counts, the winner is decided by who played the fewest minutes.
Argentina came out on top over France in the FIFA World Cup 2022 final at Lusail by 4-2 on penalties after both teams finished 3-3 at extra time.
After scoring, Messi stopped and pointed from the field at the team co-owner David Beckham, who was watching the game. The gesture was met with a wide smile from the former Manchester United great who helped lure Messi to the MLS despite a massive counter offer from Saudi Arabia.
Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis said Russia would be asked to join the peace plan discussions at some point in time but to bring Russia on the table would require mediation by some countries.
Lionel Messi intends to join Major Soccer League side Inter Miami as a free agent, the Argentina forward said on Wednesday.
Hundreds of Argentines protested in the pouring rain on Saturday, demanding that soccer star Lionel Messi return to Argentina's national team after he unexpectedly quit following a loss in the regional Copa America final.
Injured Lionel Messi will miss Argentina's 2018 World Cup qualifier away to Venezuela on Tuesday with a groin problem.
Aimar and Tevez add to Crespo's brace to give the South Americans a 4-1 win.
Following are the betting odds for the winners of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the top goalscorer at the tournament, which will be held in Qatar from Nov. 20-Dec. 18.
Lionel Messi at last came into his own at the Copa America as Argentina beat a defensive Costa Rica 3-0 with two goals from Sergio Aguero to secure second place in Group A on Monday.
Olympic gold medal-winning coach Sergio Batista was confirmed as expected on Tuesday to succeed Diego Maradona as Argentina's coach until the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Scaloni has helped get one over the Dutch Master at least once before when he was at Deportivo, who pipped Van Gaal's Barcelona to the 1999-2000 La Liga title.
Lionel Messi is not only Argentina's key attacking threat but he is also instrumental in helping the defence.
Franz Beckenbauer was for decades synonymous with Germany's success on the pitch, as player and then coach.
champions Argentina have suffered an ignominious early exit from the under-20 World Cup in New Zealand.
Esteban Cambiasso, Javier Zanetti and Gabriel Milito will make their Argentina comebacks against world champions Spain in a friendly at the River Plate stadium on Tuesday.
Argentina beat Venezuela 2-0 away in their World Cup qualifying match.
Messi mania highlights 'epic' year for MLS, Garber says
Diego Maradona's contract as national team coach has not been renewed by the Argentine Football Association (AFA), AFA spokesman Ernesto Cherquis Bialo said
Argentina beat the Netherlands 4-2 via penalties to enter the final of the World Cup on Wednesday. The teams were goalless at the end of 120 minutes, and extra-time in the second semi-final.
New Zealand, Nepal, Namibia and Scotland from other qualifiers complete the line-up.
Germany must beware of Argentina's attempts to provoke them during Saturday's World Cup quarter-final, German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger said on Wednesday.
Four years after his miss in a penalty shootout sent Argentina spinning out of the Copa America, Carlos Tevez slammed home the winning spot kick against Colombia to book his country's place in this year's semi-finals.
India wasted a dozen penalty-corners before going down 1-2 in a crucial match of the Champions Challenge men's hockey tournament.
Give us your take on Wednesday's games in the World Cup!
A Lionel Messi masterclass, netting a brilliant free kick before laying on two more goals, put Argentina's World Cup qualifying campaign back on track with a resounding 3-0 win over Colombia in San Juan on Tuesday.
Even as the Supreme Court's five-judge Constitution bench on Tuesday refused to grant legal recognition to same-sex marriages, there are 34 countries where marriage between same-sex couples is legally performed and recognised with the most recent country being Andorra.
The South Americans beat China for their second straight victory in the tournament.
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