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Argentina ready to unleash anger
(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-08-11 10:14
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Argentina's Lionel Messi (C) passes the ball during team training at the Carlton House resort in Maynooth, Ireland, August 10, 2010, ahead of their international soccer friendly match against Ireland on Wednesday. [Photo/Agencies] |
DUBLIN - Argentina will be desperate to take out its World Cup anger on the Republic of Ireland in Wednesday's friendly in Dublin, according to Giovanni Trapattoni.
Trapattoni's Ireland will provide the opposition for Argentina's first game since its shock 4-0 quarterfinal defeat against Germany in South Africa.
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Maradona was sacked as coach soon after the World Cup and has been replaced by his former international teammate and Under-20 boss, Sergio Batista.
Though speculation has continued that Maradona may yet return to management, the man who will definitely be in the Irish dugout, Italian veteran Trapattoni, believes the Argentina players will be desperate to return to winning ways with or without him.
"I think Maradona selected the players. This is his selection and with (Carlos) Tevez, with (Diego) Milito, (Javier) Mascherano and (Angel) Di Maria, I think the spirit is there," Trapattoni said.
"I am sure this team will play with a bite. They'll be looking for a win. They don't like to lose. They will be angry after what happened in South Africa.
"I think they will be hungry because I thought they were one of the three or four teams that could have won the World Cup and, after this disappointment, I said to the players we have to expect a hard game."
Argentina, which will stay in Co Kildare's Carton House resort for the duration of its visit to Ireland, has named its star players for the friendly, with Leo Messi, Tevez, Mascherano and Gonzalo Higauin in the squad.
Manchester City striker Tevez will hope to rediscover his goalscoring form, but club teammate and Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given is looking forward to trying to stop him.
"He's a bubbly guy, and I think he knows more English than he lets on. He pretends he doesn't understand sometimes," joked Given. "But to be honest he's a really good guy."
Though Given will be pleased to see Tevez, he's disappointed Maradona won't be present.
"Diego's a legend, someone who everyone bows to, and rightly so because he was a fantastic player, and a bit of a character now he has turned to management," said Given.
"It's a shame he's not there, but Argentina still have many world class players and I'm looking forward to playing against them."
Ireland will be counting on Robbie Keane to get the goals to down Argentina, and Given paid tribute to his Ireland teammate, who will earn his 100th cap on Wednesday.
He said: "Robbie has been huge to Ireland over the years. His goalscoring record at international level stands alongside some of the best players in the world.
"Sometimes we forget that and underestimate how important Robbie is to the team.
"It's a great achievement to get that 100 caps, especially with the occasion of the new stadium. It's history in the making.
"It's great for Robbie as well as he can enjoy it more with it not being a competitive game."
Agence France-Presse