News of Dan Edwards

Dan Edwards

Lionel Messi signs an autograph for a fan who ran onto the pitch during the international friendly football match between Argentina and Jamaica at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, on September 27, 2022.

All-conquering Argentina head to Qatar full of optimism

28-09-2022 22:23 The World Cup is almost here, and while stronger opponents lie in wait in Qatar, the numbers are all lining up in Argentina's favour. It is impossible not to feel optimistic.

by Dan Edwards

Boca Juniors' team coach Hugo Ibarra gestures during the Xeneize's match against Huracán at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, on September 19, 2022.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Five straight wins put battling Boca back in title race

21-09-2022 21:35 Boca Juniors should never, ever be ruled out of the running when a league title is on the line and they have proved as much by tearing up the table just when it most counts.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Can Atlético Tucumán break their province’s title duck?

19-08-2022 13:27 If the Decano can keep grinding out wins, the chance to make history as Argentina's first 'interior' national champion lies tantalisingly close.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Romero returns to Argentina as Boca’s No. 1

10-08-2022 22:21 Boca Juniors have finally clinched the marquee signing they were longing for: ex-Albiceleste, Racing Club and Manchester United stopper Sergio Romero.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Eduardo Domínguez falls short in Avellaneda

14-07-2022 21:38 Independiente coach gone after barely six months in the hotseat. Argentina’s ‘big give’ are toiling and the reasons behind abrupt changes in the case are clear enough. Could Marcello Gallardo be next?

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL

Battaglia pays the price as harmless Boca crash out of Libertadores

07-07-2022 01:03 Xeneize boss sacked by club, becoming the sixth subsequent coaching appointment to pay the price for failing to reclaim the Copa.

by Dan Edwards

Vélez Sarsfield's Lucas Janson celebrates with teammates after scoring a penalty against River Plate during their Copa Libertadores football tournament round of sixteen all-Argentine first leg match, at the José Amalfitani stadium in Buenos Aires, on June 29, 2022.

FOOTBALL

Libertadores knockout ties deliver heroes, thrills and surprises

30-06-2022 01:27 Two all-Argentine clashes draw the eye, along with Agustín Ross’s penalty-saving streak.

by Dan Edwards

New coach Carlos Tevez holds his new club's shirt up at a Rosario Central press conference, flanked by club officials Raúl Gordillo (left) and the team's vice-president Ricardo Carloni, at the Gigante de Arroyito stadium, in Rosario, Santa Fe Province, on June 21, 2022.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Tevez's uneasy arrival at Rosario Central points to roller-coaster ride

22-06-2022 22:25 Tevez's Central stint looks set to be a roller-coaster ride on and off the pitch – as usual the star is unlikely to ever be very far from the headlines.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Top-flight teams try to compete with transfer rumblings

16-06-2022 10:57 The rumblings of the rumour mill are creating some tantalising potential transfers, including Luis Suárez to River and Arturo Vidal to Boca. Meanwhile, Carlos Tevez looks set to step into coaching with Rosario Central.

by Dan Edwards

Supporters of Boca Juniors cheer for their team during their Argentine Professional Football League Tournament 2022 match against Arsenal at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, on June 5, 2022.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

New league season gets into the swing of things

09-06-2022 09:53 The dust has barely settled on the Copa de la Liga Profesional and we already have another competition upon us. Whoever is on top once the 27th and final game is played will take the title and succeed River Plate as champions.

by Dan Edwards

Argentina celebrate after their second goal during the 'Finalissima' International friendly football match between Italy and Argentina at Wembley Stadium in London on June 1, 2022.

‘Finalissima’: ARGENTINA 3-0 ITALY

Argentina’s Scaloneta leaves Italy shellshocked

01-06-2022 22:02 The road to Qatar has begun in perfect fashion, with a new piece of silverware and Argentina's first-ever victory on English soil.

by Dan Edwards

Boca Juniors' players celebrate with the trophy after defeating Tigre in the Argentine Professional Football League final match, at Mario Alberto Kempes stadium in Córdoba on May 22, 2022.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Season ends in familiar fashion as Boca see off Tigre to take title

25-05-2022 21:34 This year’s league campaign is over and another will soon be upon us. But first there’s the matter of the 'Finalissima' clash between Argentina and Italy.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL

Boca end Racing's hopes of Copa glory, but will fear Tigre

19-05-2022 14:13 To paraphrase an old gem, football is a simple game: 22 players kick a ball around for 90 minutes, and then Boca Juniors win on penalties.

by Dan Edwards

Tigre midfielder Sebastián Prediger (centre) celebrates after his side defeated River 2-1 in their Copa de la Liga Profesional quarter-final match at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, on May 11, 2022.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Tigre stun River, but no justice for Defensa in Copa quarters

12-05-2022 00:38 Plenty of stories in the Copa de la Liga Profesional quarter-finals – none more so than Tigre's shock victory over River Plate in front of a bemused Monumental.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Much-maligned Copa de la Liga Profesional reaches decisive phase

06-05-2022 09:55 Two teams in each group are assured of their place already in the play-offs, while the remaining challengers must wait until Saturday or Sunday evening to find out whether they will be joining them in next week’s quarter-finals.

by Dan Edwards

Racing Club slumped to a 3-1 defeat to Peruvian side Melgar in the Copa Libertadores.

FOOTBALL IN SOUTH AMERICA

Inconsistency rules for Argentina’s clubs fighting on two fronts

29-04-2022 16:39 Aside from Estudiantes, it's been another week of mixed fortunes for Argentina’s top teams.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Battaglia’s days at Boca may already be numbered

22-04-2022 14:26 Results themselves do not appear to be at the core of Boca's malaise. In the Xeneize's case it seems to be a case of lacking both style and substance.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Gago takes Racing from strength to strength – and the top of the table

08-04-2022 23:40 Coach’s success in Avellaneda will heighten the clamour for him to take over at Boca should results continue to disappoint at La Bombonera in the coming months.

by Dan Edwards

The Argentina line-up for the recent World Cup qualifier against Chile, pictured at the Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades stadium in Santiago del Estero, Argentina, on June 3, 2021.

Qatar 2022 World Cup

Pieces are falling into place for in-form Argentina ahead of Qatar 2022

01-04-2022 16:39 The Albiceleste is united, playing spectacular football at times and by all accounts having a great time doing it, and that is the sentiment that must be transmitted from here until the World Cup itself.

by Dan Edwards

Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates warm up during a training session in Ezeiza on March 23, 2022, ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifier against Venezuela to be held on March 25.

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Plenty of reasons to tune in for Argentina's clashes with Venezuela and Ecuador

25-03-2022 10:37 While in a competitive sense Argentina's next two World Cup qualifiers are next to meaningless, the clashes against Venezuela and Ecuador this week are of intense symbolic significance.

by Dan Edwards

It's Superclásico time – River Plate v Boca Juniors

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Superclásico to take centre-stage as derby weekend arrives

18-03-2022 10:56 A fine weekend of football is upon us as Argentina prepares for a tense 48 hours of rivals clashing in clásicos.

by Dan Edwards

Alejandro Garnacho and Luka Romero are two of the youngsters called up to the latest Albiceleste squad.

FOOTBALL

Youngsters draw the eye in latest round of Albiceleste call-ups

11-03-2022 10:54 Garnacho, Romero, Carboni, Geralnik, Paz and Soulé – are these the names of Argentina’s next superstars?

by Dan Edwards

Marcelo Bielsa has left Leeds United after three-and-a-half years in Yorkshire.

FOOTBALL

Bielsa leaves Leeds after a truly transformative journey

04-03-2022 12:41 Veteran Argentine coach fired by Premier League side after falling victim to awful streak of four consecutive heavy losses – but what a ride it was for fans in West Yorkshire.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL & POLITICS

‘This is a nightmare’ – ‘Terrified’ Argentine footballers flee Ukraine

25-02-2022 13:52 As much as many would like to deny the fact, football can rarely stay separated from politics.

by Dan Edwards

Plenty to report as football returns from its summer holidays

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Plenty to report, on and off the field, as football returns

18-02-2022 20:31 River and Boca bounce back after hiccups, 'Pulga' shines again and trouble in the stands… just another day at the office for this most unpredictable, chaotic, infuriating and enchanting of leagues.

by Dan Edwards

Thursday's victory over Chile was the 28th consecutive match the Albiceleste have negotiated without defeat; more than any other nation in the world right now.

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Argentina’s Scaloneta marches on, even without its Lionels

28-01-2022 15:41 Thursday's victory over Chile was the 28th consecutive match the Albiceleste have negotiated without defeat; more than any other nation in the world right now.

by Dan Edwards

Juan Fernando Quintero and Dario Benedetto: Returning heroes.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Returning heroes delight fans of Boca and River, but patience is required

21-01-2022 02:47 Dario Benedetto and Juan Fernando Quintero return home. If one of the Superclásico pair was to repatriate one of their past heroes, it made perfect sense for the other to follow suit. Nostalgia, though, can be a dangerous drug.

by Dan Edwards

The draw, a rather shadowy affair, did leave the more suspicious-minded wondering just how above-board the mysterious draw really was.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Mysterious draw caps off another round of football power politics

14-01-2022 03:29 The body responsible for organising Argentina's top flight revealed Tuesday that despite its rather misleading name, the Copa Liga Profesional, which will run during the first half of 2022, would in fact be nothing of the sort.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Covid again set for starring role as new season draws closer

07-01-2022 22:51 While beachgoers line up in their droves to get tested and take out their sweaty frustrations on medical personnel, though, footballers are conspicuous by their absence.

by Dan Edwards

Barracas Central go to great lengths to insist they are receiving no special treatment following promotion. The appointment of referee ‘Quichi’ Patia, however, who bears an uncanny resemblance to the AFA president except for an extravagant handlebar moustache and is chosen to officiate all of Barracas' games, raises some eyebrows.

2022: THE YEAR IN PREVIEW

What lies ahead for Argentine football in 2022

31-12-2021 13:30 Your (tongue-firmly-in-cheek) guide to what lies ahead for Argentine football in the next 12 months.

by Dan Edwards

'KUN' HANGS UP BOOTS

Aguero: From baby-faced wonderkid to one of game’s greatest goalscorers

18-12-2021 08:18 For Independiente, Atlético, City and Argentina alike, memory will endure of the kid from Bernal who reached the very top.

by Dan Edwards

Newell's Old Boys legend Maximiliano Rodríguez and River Plate's Leonardo Ponzio, along with Racing Club idol Lisandro López.

FOOTBALL

Veteran stars get fond farewells as new stars rise

10-12-2021 22:28 Newell's Old Boys legend Maximiliano Rodríguez and River Plate's Leonardo Ponzio among those to bow out, as a new generation prepares to step up in Argentina.

by Dan Edwards

BALLON D'OR

Even in the twilight of his career, Messi remains the man to beat

03-12-2021 22:08 Lionel Messi said it himself: Exorcising Argentina’s demons in Brazil and leading the side to Copa América glory was “the key” in winning him a record seventh Ballon d’Or.

by Dan Edwards

River Plate's players celebrate after clinching the title.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Relentless River clinch title, ending seven-year drought

26-11-2021 23:10 What at one point appeared to be a tense race to the finish for River eventually turned out to be a procession. Celebrations at a packed Monumental were echoed in Tigre, who secure return to the top flight.

by Dan Edwards

Argentina's coach Lionel Scaloni gives instructions to forward Lionel Messi, next to midfielder Ángel Di María, during a training session in Ezeiza, Buenos Aires, on November 9, 2021.

International football

Argentina face tough test against under pressure Uruguay

12-11-2021 01:13 Lionel Scaloni's Albiceleste troops are on a roll. Victory over Uruguay in Peñarol's Estadio Campeón del Siglo would leave them free to start looking ahead to Qatar 2022.

by Dan Edwards

International football

Scaloni looks to the future with surprise Albiceleste squad call-ups

05-11-2021 18:04 Argentina’s national team coach appears to be betting on the next generation for the upcoming clashes against Uruguay and Brazil.

by Dan Edwards

MARCELO GALLARDO

River reap rewards of their much-admired Muñeco

29-10-2021 22:01 Marcelo Gallardo has established himself as one of the football’s greatest tacticians during his time at River Plate. Luckily for the MIllionario – and Argentine football as a whole – the big clubs continue to look elsewhere.

by Dan Edwards

Boca Juniors eye a blockbuster end to league campaign.

FOOTBALL

Resurgent Boca eye blockbuster finish to league campaign

22-10-2021 22:07 Nineteen months on from the Xeneize’s Superliga title win, plucked right from out under the nose of River Plate, there’s a sense of déjà vu around La Boca. But have they left it too little, too late?

by Dan Edwards

Argentina's players celebrate at the end of the South American qualification football match against Peru for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, on October 14, 2021.

International football

Peru fail to disrupt the Scaloneta as Argentina march on

15-10-2021 00:37 If this Argentina team has one great virtue, and there are plenty to choose from, it is the unshakeable self-belief that courses through its veins.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL

Home crowd awaits for unbeaten Argentina

08-10-2021 00:03 After Italy's defeat to Spain on Wednesday the Albiceleste became the national team with the longest unbeaten record in the world, having last gone down at the 2019 Copa América to Brazil.

by Dan Edwards

SUPERCLÁSICO SUNDAY

The Superclásico is back – and this time, it's public

01-10-2021 20:54 Long-standing coronavirus restrictions mean that two years almost to the day have passed since supporters were last able to witness this showpiece fixture.

by Dan Edwards

SUPPORTERS ARE BACK

Football fans set to end 18-month Covid exile from stadiums

24-09-2021 21:47 After 18 long, quiet months, the moment has finally arrived: fans will flock back through stadium turnstiles from the start of October onwards.

by Dan Edwards

What is more, their coach, ex-Nacional boss Alexander Medina, has them playing some of the best football in the league, balancing attack and defence to perfection while making full use of the resources at hand.

ARGENTINE FOOTBALL

Rampant Talleres scale top-flight summit in style

17-09-2021 13:51 Talleres’ starting line-up is composed mostly of players who fell short at Argentina's more established giants and moved to Córdoba in search of a fresh start.

by Dan Edwards

Images from Argentina's clash against Bolivia, in which Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick. After the match, the players celebrated their Copa América win with fans, in the first match played before spectators in Argentina since March 2020.

International football

Messi shines as Argentina’s Copa heroes reunite with fans

10-09-2021 02:44 In South America the last two weeks have suffered no such shortage of controversy as the World Cup qualifiers – well, almost all of them – rumbled on.

by Dan Edwards

Lautaro Martínez celebrates his strike against Venezuela.

WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

Fine return to action for Scaloni's heroes

03-09-2021 03:16 Relaxed and confident Argentina see off Venezuela in the first of three World Cup qualifying matches in seven days.

by Dan Edwards

Football in Argentina

Fans can return to football, but will the players be there?

27-08-2021 23:08 Argentine fans were able to celebrate the prospect of finally returning to the stadium, only to discover that there may not actually be any players on the pitch when they do so.

by Dan Edwards

Football in Argentina

Boca and River’s woes representative of a wider slump

21-08-2021 20:07 Argentina’s two biggest clubs seem to be running a competition to see who can get themselves in a bigger mess.

by Dan Edwards

Lionel Messi poses with a PSG shirt on the pitch at the Parc des Princes.

MESSI MOVES TO PARIS

Messi’s hunger for more means star is sure to shine in City of Lights

13-08-2021 23:03 Argentina's Copa América hero has chosen a PSG side which will give him every tool necessary to keep fighting for the biggest honours.

by Dan Edwards

Boca Juniors' players celebrate after defeating River on penalties.

ARGENTINE FOOTBALL

Familiarity can breed contempt – for Boca, River and fans of football

07-08-2021 08:23 Despite the clash of Argentina's two most fearsome rivals this week, it was difficult to raise even the slightest enthusiasm for proceedings. The concerning fact is that such games have become all too common.

by Dan Edwards

Argentina's Olympic Games Men's Football team on Wednesday joined the long and growing list of competitors to fall short in Tokyo, as a plucky draw against Spain proved insufficient to qualify from Group C ahead of the Europeans and Egypt

OLYMPICS: TOKYO 2020 (in 2021)

So near and yet so far for Albiceleste in Tokyo

30-07-2021 22:17 The young talent in the next generation is out there, even if it was in short supply in Japan.

by Dan Edwards