Argentina - players.bio

The other Lionel, Argentina's Scaloni pits his wits against Van Gaal

DOHA : It is no secret that Argentina's dreams of a third World Cup triumph lie largely on the shoulders of Lionel Messi but another man bearing the same first name is also integral to the hopes of the Albiceleste.

World Cup heavyweights gear up for quarter-finals

Brazil, France and other World Cup heavyweights started the build-up to their quarter-final matches in earnest on Wednesday after Portugal made a huge statement of intent against Switzerland.

’No small teams anymore’, FIFA chief hails best group stage

DOHA: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has hailed the group stage of the Qatar World Cup as the “best ever” and said the number of upsets and geographic breadth of the teams progressing indicated that football was becoming ever more global. Former champions Argentina, Spain, Germany and Brazil all suffered shock group-stage losses and Africa, Asia and North America were represented in the last 16 along with traditional powerhouses South America and Europe. Infantino said the matches — “played in beautiful stadiums” — had already attracted a TV audience in excess of two billion viewers.

'No small teams anymore', FIFA chief hails best group stage

DOHA : FIFA President Gianni Infantino has hailed the group stage of the Qatar World Cup as the "best ever" and said the number of upsets and geographic breadth of the teams progressing indicated that football was becoming ever more global.

Defibrillator allows driven Dutchman Blind to play in World Cup quarter-final

DOHA : Netherlands defender Daley Blind would be quite entitled to pinch himself in disbelief when he walks out against Argentina in Friday's World Cup quarter-final.