Menotti: Messi-less Argentina may miss out on World Cup

World Cup winner fears Albiceleste will fail to qualify for Russia 2018

Argentina's 1978 World Cup winning coach Cesar Luis Menotti has never been one to mince his words and the 77-year-old believes his countrymen face an uphill task to even qualify for the next World Cup.

Major problems within the Argentine Football Federation are said to be a major contributor to Lionel Messi's premature retirement from international football.

"There are only five teams going from South America and without Lionel Messi [Argentina] run the risk of missing out," Menotti told La Nacion.

"Maybe we need to start preparing for Qatar in 2022.

"Argentina have had to parachute in Julio Olarticoechea to take charge of the Olympic team next month following Gerardo Martino's resignation, and Menotti was strident in his defence of the former Barcelona and Paraguay boss.

"I wouldn't give [Martino] any rubbish for quitting," said the ex-coach, "he and his staff weren't paid for months, so no wonder he went crazy!”

"He was right to go.”

The veteran also discounted the possibility of Marcelo Bielsa returning to take the helm after his move to Lazio collapsed last week.

"There was some speculation that [the Lazio job] fell apart because he wanted to come back here, but that happened because Lazio went back on their promises," stated Menotti.

"I don't think he's interested in the job.”

Diego Maradona has been a strong advocate for change in Argentina, although Menotti is less keen on the former attacker's outspoken outbursts.

"I don't really like to see this sort of thing," said the Rosario-native.

"I had to put up with guys like this too who I didn't like to listen to, like Diego Passarella and Americo Gallego."

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Diego Costa making mischief in pre-season

Rapid Vienna take on high-tempered striker

My piece for MARCA

It may only have been the first game of pre-season for Chelsea but already Diego Costa has had his first run-in with an opponent.

The Spain striker is no shrinking violet and his forceful character was on show as he lost his rag with a Rapid Vienna player who he felt had impeded him.

Chelsea ultimately went down 2-0 in Austria in the first game of Antonio Conte's reign.

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Benzema keeping fit to the beat

Frenchman filmed skipping in his garden

My piece in MARCA

With pre-season underway Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is maintaining his athelticism in a markedly relaxed manner.

In this video he shared online, the Frenchman is skipping to the beat of a rap song in his garden, perhaps proving fitness can be cool.

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Atletico Madrid betting future on six wonderkids

Nicolas Schiappacasse joining hungry, young squad

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With a FIFA transfer ban looking imminent, Atletico Madrid have been keen to boost their ranks by bringing in younger players who can be schooled in the ways of Diego Simeone.

Currently in town is the Uruguayan youngster Nicolas Schiappacasse who is not officially an Atletico player yet, but has just arrived from hometown team Club Atletico River Plate with their permission while Los Colchoneros process the deal. It's expected to be sorted soon, and his new Argentine boss is looking forward to running the rule over the 17-year-old.

Getting in players at such a young age allows them to assimilate to the hard work and dedication ethics required by Atleti and this is very much the case with 20-year-old Santos Borre, and a recent signing from Pacos de Ferreira, 19-year-old Diego Jota, an explosive talent who excelled in Portugal last season.

Last January the club moved to bring in Matias Kranevitter from River Plate and the promising midfielder has gone on a season-long loan to Sevilla to get more first-team football.

Then there's the 21-year-old Ghanaian midfielder Bernard Mensah, who went out on loan to Getafe last season and is now training with the senior squad.

Atletico are also looking into signing the 20-year-old Argentine goalkeeper Axel Werner from Atletico de Rafaela, following a common rule of signing young keepers. Jan Oblak was only a year older when he signed for the club and of course David De Gea was already well-established at that age.

Already in Madrid to add to these six starlets are Angel Correa, who eventually signed up at age 19 having been derailed with a heart issue, and José Giménez, who arrived at 18 and has proved himself to be an exceptional talent since getting consistent first-team opportunities.

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Mourinho wins first game in charge of Manchester United

Mkhitaryan and Mata star

My piece for MARCA

Manchester United got off to a promising start in the Jose Mourinho era as they romped to a routine 2-0 win away to Wigan Athletic.

The Red Devils' ranks were heavily depleted with the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial, David De Gea and Marcus Rashford all still on extended break after European Championship duty, but second-half goals from Will Keane and Andreas Pereira were enough to see them emerge victorious.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan was fresh from an outstanding campaign with Borussia Dortmund, where he hit 23 goals and laid on a further 32, and fellow new boy Eric Bailly started in the heart of the defence.

Defence was the limit of the ambitions of their opponents, recently promoted to the Championship, and United were left to dominate possession but couldn't find a way through before the interval.

Juan Mata entered at half-time and made an instant impact, seizing upon a misplaced pass to tee up Keane who opened the scoring in the 49th minute and ten minutes later Pereira doubled the lead.

Naturally Mourinho chose to ring in the changes as the game progressed but Spaniard Ander Herrera still enjoyed 80 minutes in central midfield, with Memphis Depay and Daley Blind - the latter linked with a move away - both playing from the start.

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Zidane announces squad for North American tour

25 players selected for Canadian trip

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Ahead of their journey to Canada on Sunday, Real Madrid have announced the list of players making the trip for the International Champions Cup in North America.

The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale have been excused after the European Championship, but Marco Asenio and Castilla's Mariano and Martin Odegaard all made the cut.

Madrid will face Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich in the summer tournament before returning to Europe to face Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup on August 9.

Keylor Navas, who is still recovering for surgery, is also part of the group.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Navas, Casilla, Yáñez, Craninx, Luca

Defenders: Varane, Danilo, Carvajal, Marcelo, Nacho, Lienhart, Tejero, Achraf

Midfielders: Casemiro, Isco, Kovacic, Llorente, Asensio, Odegaard, Enzo, Febas

Forwards: Benzema, Jese, Mariano, Mayoral

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Stade de Reims invited for Real Madrid's Trofeo Bernabeu

August match will celebrate European Cup final anniversary

My piece in MARCA

Real Madrid have decided to celebrate the 60th anniversary of their maiden win in the European Cup by inviting the side they beat in the final all those years ago, Stade de Reims, to compete in the annual Trofeo Bernabeu fixture.

The game is set to take place on August 16, a week after Madrid's season officially gets underway against Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup, and four days before Los Merengues start their La Liga campaign against Real Sociedad.

Madrid feel the match is a fitting way to mark the occasion of their first success having claimed their eleventh European Cup crown as recently as May.

However, it's also an acceptance of the fact that the calendar can often make it difficult to attract top calibre opponents for this traditional curtain-raiser.

Reims dropped in to the French second division last term, and in 2014 Los Blancos chose to invite Alfredo di Stefano's former club Millonarios having played Raul's Al-Sadd the year before.

Real Madrid set off on their North American tour on Sunday and have already had to cancel a planned friendly against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley due to a clash with the UEFA Super Cup.

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Isco to talk to Zidane over future

Playmaker remains minded to fight for spot in XI

My piece for MARCA

The recent headlines at Real Madrid have tended to centre around the future of James Rodriguez but Isco is another talented No. 10 with no defined role within the team at present.

The former Malaga man is popular with the supporters, something which is valued at the club hierarchy, and intends to stay and fight for his place as he enters his fourth season at Los Blancos.

He's due to have a chat with manager Zinedine Zidane about his prospects for the coming campaign and his future may hinge upon their outcome.

Unlike the Colombian, the Spaniard did see game time as a substitute during the Champions League final, and made an impressive impact after entering the pitch.

Excluding the front three, there are no guaranteed starters at Madrid and many clubs will be eagerly monitoring developments in the player's situation.

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