News of Dan Edwards

Dan Edwards

Argentina's players reacts after losing the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup final football match between Argentina and Morocco at the National Stadium in Santiago on October 19, 2025.

Plenty to be proud of Albiceleste youth fall short at final hurdle

22-10-2025 22:54 It was so near and yet so far for Argentina as they battled in vain for what would have been the nation's seventh FIFA U-20 World Cup title. But it bears repeating as many times as necessary: results are not the be-all and end-all of youth football.

by Dan Edwards

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Argentina need real tests ahead of World Cup defence

17-10-2025 08:42 There’s no doubt that this is still a very good Argentina team, but why on earth are Venezuela and Puerto Rico lined up for friendlies ahead of the World Cup?

by Dan Edwards

River Plate's head coach Marcelo Gallardo.

Football in Argentina

Pressure on Gallardo builds amid River's poor form

08-10-2025 23:46 Marcelo Gallardo's job at River Plate is probably safe for as long as he wants it, but a failure to get the team going again would start to make his position uncomfortable for the first time.

by Dan Edwards

TRIBUTE TO MIGUEL ÁNGEL RUSSO

We'll miss you, Miguel

08-10-2025 23:43 Charismatic, easy-going and more often than not spotted on the touchline with a smile on his face, Miguel Ángel Russo was an old school symbol of Argentine football who was able to adapt enough to stay relevant almost three decades into the 21st century.

by Dan Edwards

Celebrations for the Under 20s national side.

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Albiceleste Under 20s give us a glimpse of football’s future

03-10-2025 16:52 The Under-20 World Cup in Chile, which Argentina have opened with back-to-back wins, is showing off football's latest innovation, FVS (Football Video Support) and the so-called ‘Green Card.’

by Dan Edwards

Celebrations as Racing Club progress to the next phase of the Copa Libertadores.

Football in Argentina

Racing ramp up the intensity for crunch set of fixtures

26-09-2025 10:09 Gustavo Costas and Racing Club are in a period that could make or break their entire season.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

On and off pitch woes for two of Argentina’s Grandes

18-09-2025 17:27 The future looks bleak for San Lorenzo and Independiente without serious changes in their fortunes and, above all, administration.

by Dan Edwards

Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi eyes the ball during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Argentina and Venezuela at the Mas Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires on September 4, 2025.

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Miss Messi when he's gone? We miss him already

12-09-2025 06:10 Lionel Messi gave the Monumental crowd and Argentina a suitable send-off against Venezuela. That’s the good out of the way; now, I'm afraid, we have to cover the bad…

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Violence has no place in football, but clubs have responsibility

28-08-2025 13:42 The disgraceful scenes during and after Independiente's aborted Copa Sudamericana clash against Universidad de Chile have brought both clubs and football in South America into severe disrepute.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Racing and Vélez leave fans singing in the rain

21-08-2025 19:04 Two sides battle through the wind and puddles to set up a mouth-watering Copa Libertadores quarter-final tie.

by Dan Edwards

Football in Argentina

Is Marcos Rojo a problem or solution for Racing?

15-08-2025 12:46 La Academia are in desperate need of calm heads and a new system to compensate for the loss of Maxi Salas.

by Dan Edwards

Tough times for Russo and Riquelme at Boca Juniors.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Boca’s horror story nightmare

07-08-2025 15:47 Things could not look bleaker for Boca Juniors at the moment but the malaise does seem to exceed Miguel Ángel Russo or any one coach.

by Dan Edwards

Rosario Central's forward Ángel Di María celebrates after scoring a penalty goal during the Liga Profesional de Fútbol 2025 Clausura Tournament between Rosario Central and Godoy Cruz at the Gigantes de Arroyito Stadium in Rosario, Argentina, on July 12, 2025.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Di María's rapturous return pick of Clausura opening weekend

16-07-2025 09:31 There is no respect for rank around the Liga Profesional de Fútbol. Even World Cup winners with extremely distinguished careers are not exempt from getting their bones rattled from time to time. And Di María would not have it any other way.

by Dan Edwards

Football in Argentina

Clausura kick-off: Potential for surprises and upsets sky high

11-07-2025 10:00 As the second half of the top flight gets underway with a second title on the line, there are two teams – at least – under immense pressure to topple reigning champions Platense.

by Dan Edwards

Maxi Salas had already been in the Millonarios’ sights prior to the Club World Cup, but that interest has gone into overdrive in the wake of River’s elimination.

FOOTBALL TRANSFERS

River rile rivals by breaking bank for Racing’s Maxi Salas

04-07-2025 07:15 Release clauses have long been understood to have a merely symbolic value in Argentina, an upper limit to negotiate for a player without forcing the seller’s hand – executing it is considered a breach of ethics and the unwritten code.

by Dan Edwards

A Boca Juniors fan cheers for his team at the FIFA Club World Cup.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Boca's best efforts fall well short of expectations

26-06-2025 19:14 Boca’s boisterous fans deserve better than this current crop. As has so often been the case with the Xeneize, hope turned to despair and ridicule in the blink of an eye.

by Dan Edwards

FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP

South American giants ignite Club World Cup

19-06-2025 14:28 On this side of the Atlantic Ocean at least, the Club World Cup has got off to a roaring start. So far, so good for Argentina's teams at FIFA’s flagship tournament.

by Dan Edwards

Football

Flying Argentina’s flag on the international stage

13-06-2025 18:09 Back-to-back tests against Chile and Colombia give reigning world champions perfect chance to blood a few new faces; Boca and River head to the US to fly the national flag at the Club World Cup.

by Dan Edwards

Celebrations in Saavedra, Vicente López and one half of Rosario.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Coming home as a champion

06-06-2025 06:26 For the people of Saavedra and Vicente López – and one half of Rosario – it feels like football has returned after years of wandering in the wilderness.

by Dan Edwards

Football in Argentina

Unfancied Huracán and Platense go for glory in top-flight final

30-05-2025 13:27 Ten reasons you should ignore the haters and watch the Liga Profesional de Fútbol Apertura final.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Platense’s ‘brothers’ target play-off glory after eliminating River

23-05-2025 18:11 The ‘Squid’ prove to be slippery customers for the aristocrats of nearby Núñez; Drilled by the curious coaching duo of Sergio Gómez and Favio Orsi, Platense are Argentina’s new giantkillers.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Muniain inspires San Lorenzo, year after switching Bilbao for BA

16-05-2025 09:45 Unpaid wages, FIFA embargoes, deceased pontiffs, presidential bribery scandals: nothing seems to be able to distract the Cuervo from their mission to grind out results and keep slogging forward.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL & MOTORSPORTS

Put aside the injustice and prepare for top flight play-off mayhem

08-05-2025 16:27 Enjoy the thrills and spills of this next month of winner-takes-all mayhem; Argentina sure to develop a fresh case of F1 Francomania.

by Dan Edwards

Gago pays the price for Superclásico defeat.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Restoring Xeneize to glory will take more than firing and hiring

30-04-2025 17:21 Until Juan Román Riquelme takes a long, honest look in the mirror and faces up to the real problems the club he presides over faces, the challenge of restoring the glory days appears to be beyond even the most accomplished of coaches in world football.

by Dan Edwards

Francis & Football

Not so saintly behaviour at Pope’s beloved San Lorenzo

25-04-2025 09:04 An unseemly mess has broken out at Francis’ favourite football club – it is impossible to escape the irony that this storm broke right at the moment the Cuervos' most ardent fan finally passed on.

by Dan Edwards

Inter Milan's Argentine forward Lautaro Martínez celebrates with supporters after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich at the San Siro stadium in Milan on April 16, 2025.

FOOTBALL: CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Tale of two Martínez – Lautaro progresses; ‘Dibu’ knocked out

16-04-2025 22:35 Two of Argentina's World Cup winners. Emiliano Martínez and Lautaro Martínez, both flew the flag in the Champions League quarter-finals, though their experiences could not have been more different.

by Dan Edwards

Football

Gallardo remains untouchable, but questions should be asked

12-04-2025 07:12 Almost a year after his triumphal return to the Monumental, Gallardo and River Plate cannot help but be concerned at how the team is performing.

by Dan Edwards

COPA LIBERTADORES

Copa Libertadores opens group phase in typically explosive fashion

03-04-2025 00:16 It's likely too early to tell, but are we witnessing a changing of the guard in South American football?

by Dan Edwards

Argentina's midfielder #08 Enzo Fernández celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Argentina and Brazil at the Mas Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires on March 25, 2025.

International football

Rout of Brazil shows 2026 World Cup hopes are very much alive

28-03-2025 12:39 Tuesday's showing against Brazil, in particular, was as strong a statement of intent from Lionel Scaloni’s side as one could wish to envision.

by Dan Edwards

Argentina's midfielder Thiago Almada celebrates after scoring during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Uruguay and Argentina at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo, on March 21, 2025.

International football

Qualification all but sure as Scaloneta gets revenge in Montevideo

22-03-2025 09:32 This version of La Scaloneta continues to get the result when it matters most, taking revenge for the Celeste's stunning victory in the Bombonera almost 18 months ago.

by La Scaloneta continues to

Football fans take part in a protest of pensioners against the government of President Javier Milei in Buenos Aires on March 12, 2025.

FOOTBALL & POLITICS

Football fans put rivalries aside to stand up for pensioners

13-03-2025 00:39 As this week’s protest against President Javier Milei's government proves, supporters are willing to put aside their differences to fight a perceived injustice.

by Dan Edwards

Vélez Sarsfield coach Gustavo Quinteros.

Football in Argentina

Vélez Sarsfield: From success to staggering slump

08-03-2025 06:00 The reigning Liga Profesional champions are sinking without a trace in 2025 with little sign of respite on the horizon for now.

by Dan Edwards

Boca Juniors coach Fernando Gago consoles his players.

Football in Argentina

Gago on ropes after Boca's stinging Libertadores defeat

28-02-2025 09:30 Not only will there be no Libertadores for Boca this year, there will be no Sudamericana either. Tuesday’s humbling and historic defeat to Alianza Lima will take some getting over.

by Dan Edwards

Estudiantes embark on spending spree with US billionaire Foster Gillett’s support.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Just what is going on with Estudiantes and Foster Gillett?

14-02-2025 13:30 After a January of reckless spending, serious doubts have emerged over US businessman Foster Gillett's economic dealings, raising questions about just what exactly is going on with their shadowy financier.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Unbeaten Independiente desperate to end long dry spell

07-02-2025 09:40 More than two decades have passed since Independiente were last crowned champions of Argentina. Will 2025 be their year of redemption?

by Dan Edwards

Boca Juniors and River Plate are among the teams competing for the title.

Football in Argentina

Time will tell if money talks in top flight

30-01-2025 23:38 One of the joys of this league, after all, is its ability to constantly surprise us.

by Dan Edwards

Liga Profesional de Fútbol

New season, more teams, new stars, same dream

24-01-2025 06:40 After a lively start to the transfer window in Argentina, there’s certainly no shortage of contenders for this year’s title(s).

by Dan Edwards

Estadio José María Minella in Mar del Plata.

Football in Argentina

Summer football has forsaken its spiritual home

17-01-2025 11:54 (Disclaimer: The following column is full of unabated nostalgia and old-man-yells-at-cloud aimless ranting. When asked for an explanation, the author professed that it is very hot in Buenos Aires right now and that has him in a foul mood. For actual up-to-date information, please consult elsewhere in today's newspaper)

by Dan Edwards

Football in Argentina

Estudiantes embark on spending spree with US billionaire’s support

09-01-2025 21:23 Estudiantes have arrived to shake up the hornets’ nest with a series of audacious transfer bids, bankrolled by billionaire US national Foster Gillett, in a financial offensive which has dragged the conflict around private ownership of clubs back onto the agenda.

by Dan Edwards

2025 – YEAR IN PREVIEW

What lies ahead for Argentine football in 2025

03-01-2025 07:59 Your (tongue-firmly-in-cheek) guide to what lies ahead for Argentine football in the next 12 months.

by Dan Edwards

Vélez Sarfield players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Liga Profesional de Fútbol title at the José Amalfitani stadium in Buenos Aires on December 15, 2024.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Vélez may have stumbled to finish line, but are worthy champions

18-12-2024 15:55 If ‘El Fortín’ can keep this side together and strengthen in the summer, they have a great chance of fighting for honours again in 2025.

by Dan Edwards

Football in Argentina

Tripartite showdown guarantees exciting end to gruelling season

13-12-2024 13:33 Not since 2014 have three teams reached the final day of the season with the chance to win the domestic title. Vélez Sarsfield, Talleres and Huracán are separated by just two points at the top for a showdown that promises drama.

by Dan Edwards

Racing Club fans celebrate the team's Copa Sudamericana win.

THE MAGIC OF FOOTBALL

Joy, ecstasy, relief – and so many tears

29-11-2024 12:00 The tens of thousands of Academia fans who travelled to Paraguay for the Copa Sudamericana final all had one singular goal: to see Racing Club win a continental crown for the first time since 1988. And our dream came true.

by Dan Edwards

Argentina's forward Lionel Messi fights for the ball with Peru's forward Alex Valera and Peru's defender Luis Advincula during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Argentina and Peru at the La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires on November 19, 2024.

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Argentina top World Cup qualifying group – but are they running on fumes?

21-11-2024 17:36 If the Albiceleste, as some of the more hysterical sectors of the sporting press have begun to hint, is entering a crisis, it is an extremely curious kind of crisis.

by Dan Edwards

Argentina's coach Lionel Scaloni gestures during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Paraguay and Argentina at the Ueno Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asunción on November 14, 2024.

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Paraguay's anti-Messi approach pays off with Argentina win

15-11-2024 14:36 Paraguay inflict a rare defeat on Lionel Scaloni's charges, giving their World Cup 2026 qualification hopes a huge boost.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL & POLITICS

Gustavo Costas gives soul to Argentina’s exhilarating spectacles

08-11-2024 00:45 Grizzled coach Gustavo Costas provides a connecting thread as Racing end three-decade drought to reach club's first continental decider in 32 years.

by Dan Edwards

FORMULA 1

Franco Colapinto, Argentina’s new star attraction, draws fans to F1

01-11-2024 07:34 As anyone who has ever driven in Buenos Aires or negotiated the monolithic speedway that is the Panamericana highway out of the capital can attest, racing is in Argentina’s blood.

by Dan Edwards

COPA LIBERTADORES

River need a miracle after Libertadores humbling

25-10-2024 09:58 Tuesday's disaster in the Estadio Mineirão demonstrated the scale of the task ahead for Marcelo Gallardo.

by Dan Edwards

International football

Dominant Messi in no rush to walk away from Argentina

19-10-2024 09:32 Tuesday night’s 6-0 thrashing of Bolivia proved to be another dream evening for Argentina's evergreen talisman, who once more rolled back the years to leave his audience spellbound and wanting more.

by Dan Edwards

Argentina's midfielder Rodrigo De Paul and Venezuela's midfielder Yeferson Soteldo fight for the ball during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Venezuela and Argentina, at the Monumental de Maturín stadium in Maturín, Venezuela, on October 10, 2024.

International football

Albiceleste take the positives from a waterlogged clash in Venezuela

10-10-2024 23:19 The most remarkable thing by far about Argentina's otherwise wholly unremarkable stalemate against Venezuela is that the game went ahead in the first place.

by Dan Edwards