Tag: Argentina

Categories
Saudi Arabia Sport

Saudi Arabia shocks Messi’s Argentina with 2-1 win

The Argentines also had three goals ruled out for offside as they went into half-time with a 1-0 lead…reports Asian Lite News

Saudi Arabia stunned two-time champions Argentina 2-1 in a group C FIFA World Cup tie played here at the Lusail stadium.

Argentina got off to a great start as Lionel Messi converted a penalty in the 10th minute to give his side a 1-0 lead. Playing in his fifth World Cup Messi beat Saudi Arabia’s goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais to find the net.

The Argentines also had three goals ruled out for offside as they went into half-time with a 1-0 lead.

The second half was a different story altogether as 51st-ranked team Saudi Arabia came with a new vigour with Saleh Al-Shehri scoring a goal for them to level the score 1-1. Al-Shehri squeezed in a low shot into the nets.

Five minutes later the Saudis took the lead as Salem Al-Dawsari tapped in a goal in the 53rd minute to give them a crucial 2-1 lead.

Despite a lot of possession after conceding the goal, the two-time champions were unable to level the score. Saudi’s goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais made many important saves and their defence also stood tall in the match’s dying moments.

Abdulelah Al Amri was awarded the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his brilliant performance.

Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina came into the FIFA World Cup 2022 as one of the favourites. Saudi Arabia broke Argentina’s 36-match unbeaten streak, including winning the Copa America 2021.

The two-time champions had 69 per cent of possession in comparison to Saudi Arabia who had only 31. There were six shots on target for Argentina in comparison to Saudi who had just two.

The Argentines will face Mexico on Saturday in their next group C match, while Saudi Arabia will take on Poland (ANI)

ALSO READ: FIFA revenue expected to break records

Categories
Sport Sports

Messi fans on green mission

Ledezma has also travelled on two wheels to cheer Argentina at the 2018 Rio Olympics and the 2015 Copa America in Chile and have so far been to 57 countries before setting out on this trip…reports Asian Lite News

Three ardent soccer fans have cycled all the way from Cape Town, South Africa, to Doha, Qatar to cheer for Argentina at the World Cup in Qatar, which kicks off on November 20.

The Argentinian trio of Lucas Ledezma, Leandro Blanco Pighi, and Silvio Gatti crossed into Qatar through the Abu Samra land border crossing with Saudi Arabia on Sunday night (November 6) and will visit the World Cup Countdown clock on Monday.

The Argentine fans, who started the cycling trip on May 15 covered some 10,500 kms on the gruelling and endurance testing trip, were delighted to reach the World Cup host country a good 13 days before the football showpiece event.

“We arrived in Qatar on Sunday night and we reached Doha, the capital city on Monday morning. It was a testing and challenging journey and we are happy we reached our destination much ahead of the World Cup kick off date,” said Ledezma, a 34-year-old physical education teacher, who has been to two previous World Cups in Brazil (2014) and Russia (2018).

Ledezma has also travelled on two wheels to cheer Argentina at the 2018 Rio Olympics and the 2015 Copa America in Chile and have so far been to 57 countries before setting out on this trip.

“We are looking forward to a good time in Qatar during the World Cup and hope Argentina can win the World Cup and we are also eager to meet some of the Argentina fans who are based in Qatar and also those who have already arrived into Qatar,” said 31-year-old Pighi, a documentary maker, a writer and a travel agent, who already has two books against his name.

The next agenda on the trio, who come from diverse fields, but jell together because of their love for football is to meet the Argentinian team in Qatar.

“We want to get to Messi. We are Lucas, Silvio and Lea and we are giving it all for the Scaloneta. We travel by bike to Qatar, crossing Africa and the Middle East. We started in South Africa and we are now past 10 countries. Today we are in Saudi Arabia, to pedal the last 2,000 km to see Messi caress the football,” the trio wrote on their Instagram page TODO A PEDAL when they reached Saudi Arabia.

Further, they said they want to see Scaloneta win the third title in Qatar on December 18, the country for whom the two titles came in 1978 and 1986 and the three runner’s up places happened in 1930, 1990 and 2014.

“The Odyssey has three goals: Get to Qatar and to look for the World Cup trophy next to the Scaloneta, record a documentary about the trip, plant a tree for every kilometer traveled,” said Ledezma, Pighi, and Gatti, who cycled up to 80 miles each day and slept in tents or at homes of people they meet along the way.

Hailing from the province of Cordoba, located about 600 km northwest of the country’s capital, Buenos Aires, the group’s trip aims to help the environment leading to 10,500 new trees being planted in their homeland.

Besides watching the matches, each kilometre travelled will be marked by the planting of a tree in the mountains of Cordoba.

“The Cordoba native forest has been suffering for decades because of deforestation, and at present there is only 3 per cent of its total left. That’s why we want to raise awareness. Our one of the main goals during this bike journey through Africa and the Middle East, is to collaborate with our beautiful Province of Cordoba. We want to transform every mile with planting a tree,” they wrote on their Instagram page.

Argentina are scheduled to play their first match on November 22 against Saudi Arabia at the Lusail stadium.

ALSO READ-Pro Kabaddi league : Patna Pirates defeat Haryana Steelers

Categories
Sport Sports

Brazil smash Tunisia, Argentina beat Jamaica in friendlies

Messi struck two late goals as Argentina earned a 3-0 victory over Jamaica…reports Asian Lite News

Raphinha scored twice and Neymar converted a penalty as Brazil cruised past Tunisia 5-1, while Lionel Messi helped Argentina beat Jamaica 3-0 in pre-World Cup international friendlies on Tuesday.

In Paris, Brazil took the lead in the 10th minute with a header from Barcelona forward Raphinha, assisted by Casemiro. Seven minutes later, Montassar Talbi’s header equalised for Tunisia.

However, Richarlison helped Brazil restore their lead in the 18th minute and Neymar extended the advantage with a penalty on the half-hour. Before the halftime break, Raphinha slotted home to register his second goal to make it 4-1, Xinhua reports. Brazil kept up their domination in the second half. In the 74th minute, Pedro sealed the win for the Selecao with a powerful volley.

Brazil, the world No. 1 side in the latest FIFA rankings, have been drawn in World Cup Group G with Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon.

Against Jamaica, Argentina opened the scoring through Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez. In the second half, Lionel Messi came in from the bench and scored a brace. Argentina have been drawn in Group C with Mexico, Poland and Saudi Arabia.

In other warm-up games, 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar drew with Chile 2-2, Uruguay beat Canada 2-0, and Saudi Arabia held the United States to a goalless draw.

Messi struck two late goals as Argentina earned a 3-0 victory over Jamaica.

Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez put the Albiceleste ahead in the 13th minute at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey when he tapped in from close range after Lautaro Martinez’s fine run and cut-back.

Argentina controlled possession but struggled for scoring opportunities against Jamaica’s well-organised defence. That changed following the introduction of Messi from the bench in the 56th minute. The two-time world champions immediately looked more threatening and Messi capitalised on poor defending to double their advantage with a long-range effort in the 86th minute.

The Paris Saint-Germain veteran made it 3-0 three minutes later with a low free-kick from the edge of the 18-yard box that caught goalkeeper Andre Blake off guard.

The South American outfit will have one more chance to test their squad before the World Cup when they meet the United Arab Emirates on November 16. Jamaica did not qualify for the tournament, to be played in Qatar from November 20 to December 18.

ALSO READ-Nakashima wins maiden ATP Tour title at San Diego

Categories
Europe India News

Argentine rear admiral appointed head of UN Kashmir observer group

His wide experience also includes stints as Argentina’s military attache in Russia, Marines Infantry commander and Education Department Chief of the Navy Warfare School…reports Asian Lite News

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed Argentine Rear Admiral Guillermo Pablo Rios as the head of the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) which is charged with monitoring the shaky ceasefire in Kashmir.

The UN announced on Wednesday that Rios will take over from Major General Jose Eladio Alcain of Uruguay the leadership of the 111-member operation based in both the South Asian countries.

Rios was the Argentine Joint Staff’s General Director of Education, Training and Doctrine.

He has served in two peacekeeping operations, UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) in the Middle East, and supervised UN demining operations in Angola.

His wide experience also includes stints as Argentina’s military attache in Russia, Marines Infantry commander and Education Department Chief of the Navy Warfare School.

The UNMOGIP began operations in 1949 to monitor the ceasefire in Kashmir following a Security Council resolution the previous year.

While India allows UNMOGIP to operate in the country in accordance with the Security Council mandate, it maintains that the operation is redundant because under the Shimla Agreement of 1972 between late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistan’s then-President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto the Kashmir dispute is a bilateral issue with no role for third parties.

In 2014, India ordered the UNMOGIP out of the government building it was lent and it moved to a commercially leased facility.

The 111 personnel under Rios’s command include 43 military experts from ten countries and 68 civilians.

ALSO READ-US seeks possession of Venezuelan 747 grounded in Argentina

Categories
Arab News News UAE News

Andres Cafiero: UAE is key regional partner

Andres Cafiero: UAE is key regional partner (WAM)

Santiago Andrés Cafiero, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Argentina, stressed that the UAE is a key partner of his country in the Middle East region and the relations between the two countries are dynamic…reports Asian Lite News

In an interview with the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Cafiero said the diplomatic ties between the UAE and Argentina began in 1974, and their relations have developed in various sectors, including agriculture and food.

Speaking of his country’s keenness to boost its economic and commercial ties with the UAE, he said both friendly countries believe in the importance of renewable energy.

Regarding the UAE’s hosting of Expo 2020 Dubai, he stated, “The amount of work completed for the international event is impressive, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are happy to celebrate Argentina’s National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai.”

Argentina is focussing on the sectors of agriculture and food, which are key national sectors, he added. His country is keen to reinforce these areas and attract investments, and the UAE has a strategic location that makes it a key centre of trade.

ALSO READ: UAE ranks first in regional, 10th globally in overall influence: GSPI

Regarding the World Media Congress 2022, which will be hosted by the UAE in November, Cafiero affirmed the event’s importance in exploring new and promising horizons for cooperation in the media sector and in all related technologies.

“For example, the media sector is linked to transferring knowledge and promoting relevant cooperation. Communications, including satellites, is an area prioritised by Argentina, and related progress has been made,” he said in conclusion. (WAM)

Categories
-Top News China UK News

UK rebukes China for supporting Argentina’s Falklands claim

The joint statement also said Argentina “reaffirms its adherence to the one-China principle,” a reference to China’s claim to the self-governing island democracy of Taiwan…reports Asian Lite News

Britain on Monday firmly rejected a statement from China that affirmed Beijing’s support for Argentina’s claim to the Falkland Islands, as relations between London and Asia’s leading power remain strained.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said in a tweet that the United Kingdom “completely” rejected “any questions over sovereignty of the Falklands.”

“The Falklands are part of the British family and we will defend their right to self-determination. China must respect the Falklands’ sovereignty,” she wrote.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Argentine counterpart Alberto Fernandez issued a joint statement on Sunday that said China “reaffirms its support for Argentina’s demand for the full exercise of sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands,” using the Argentine name for the territory.

The two leaders met as Fernandez was in Beijing for the Winter Olympics. Argentina believes the Falklands were illegally taken from it in 1833 and invaded the British colony in 1982.

The United Kingdom sent troops and Argentina lost the two-month war for the South Atlantic archipelago in a conflict that claimed the lives of 649 Argentines and 255 British soldiers.

Argentina still claims the islands. London says the Falklands are a self-governing entity under its protection. Relations with China have already been strained on multiple fronts, including Britain’s joining a US-led diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics to protest China’s human rights record.

The joint statement also said Argentina “reaffirms its adherence to the one-China principle,” a reference to China’s claim to the self-governing island democracy of Taiwan.

“China and Argentina agree to carry on with close communication and coordination in international affairs, and safeguard the overall interests of the two countries and other developing countries,” the statement said.

Xi and Fernandez also pledged closer economic cooperation and signed a memorandum of understanding on Argentina joining the Belt and Road Initiative, Xi’s signature project to build Chinese infrastructure worldwide.

China has overtaken Brazil as Argentina’s main commercial partner, and if talks with Beijing remain on track, Argentina would become the first of the four major Latin American economies to join the initiative.

“Belt and Road Initiative integration won’t be a paradigm shift but rather a continuation of broader trends of growing Argentina-China engagement,” said Pepe Zhang, director and fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center.

During his visit, Fernandez also laid a wreath at the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, where the embalmed body of Mao Zedong, the communist revolutionary who founded the People’s Republic, is displayed inside a crystal sarcophagus.

ALSO READ-Britain to send 350 more soldiers to Poland

Categories
-Top News Asia News World News

Argentina officially joins China’s Belt and Road Initiative

On Tuesday, the two countries signed a deal for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Argentina with Chinese financing….reports Asian Lite News

Argentina has joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and is set to receive funding worth USD 23.7 billion for various projects from Beijing.

This was signed during Argentine President Alberto Fernandez’s visit to China to attend the Beijing Winter Olympics.

“…This strategic decision will allow the national government to sign different agreements that guarantee financing for investments and works for more than USD 23,700 million,” the Argentine presidential press office said, as quoted by Sputnik news agency.

The sides signed the Memorandum of Understanding about cooperating within the initiative. The press office said 13 different inter-institutional cooperation documents were signed in different fields including digital economy and innovation.

On Tuesday, the two countries signed a deal for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Argentina with Chinese financing. These agreements were signed between the two countries to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties this year.

Belt and Road is China’s international project seeking to promote cooperation between Beijing and over 60 of its trading partners in Asia, Africa and Europe. However, several analysts have pointed out the lack of transparency and dubious nature of funding in these projects.

Some experts have even said that China is funding projects that are economically viable and burdening developing countries with large scale debt. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Ready to play mediator between US, China, says Imran

Categories
-Top News Europe

Argentina rejects UK’s deployment of new weapons to Falklands

The South American country also stressed that “the alleged defensive status of the British military base in the South Atlantic is not only totally unjustified but also represents a threat to the entire area”…reports Asian Lite News

Argentina has expressed strong opposition to the UK’s recent installation of new anti-aircraft weaponry on the disputed Falklands Islands.

The Argentine Foreign Ministry noted that the Sky Sabre ground-based air defence system newly deployed on the South Atlantic archipelago triples the range of the former Rapier system.

Argentina “rejects in the strongest terms the new deployment of British military weapons in the Malvinas Islands”, over whose sovereignty the two countries have been locked in a dispute and fought a war in 1982, the Ministry added.

Argentina calls the disputed islands as Malvinas.

The recent deployment is “a new and unjustified show of force and a deliberate departure” from the calls of the UN and other international organisations for a peaceful and definitive solution to the sovereignty dispute, added the Ministry.

The South American country also stressed that “the alleged defensive status of the British military base in the South Atlantic is not only totally unjustified, but also represents a threat to the entire area”.

Located off Argentina’s southern Atlantic coast, the islands have been controlled by the UK since 1833, but Argentina insists on having sovereignty over the islands, which it deems as a vestige of colonial rule.

ALSO READ-UK govt to make it easier to repeal or amend law copied from EU

Categories
-Top News Sports

Copa America: Messi ends title drought with Argentina

Argentina Beat Brazil 1-0(ANI)

Argentina clinched the Copa America final for the first time since 1993, registering a 1-0 win over Brazil at the Maracana on Saturday…reports Asian Lite News

Angel Di Maria might have scored a goal in the Copa America final but all eyes were on Lionel Messi as the legend ended the drought of the first major international title with Argentina.

He might not have scored in the finals of Copa America but Messi was in red hot form in the ongoing tournament having scored the joint highest four goals in Copa America 2021.

Argentina clinched the Copa America final for the first time since 1993, registering a 1-0 win over Brazil at the Maracana on Saturday (local time).
Messi was seven years old when Argentina last lifted the coveted Copa America trophy. Maria’s strike in the tournament’s final gave Messi or his fans the much-needed relief.

Whenever the debate erupted between Messi or any other big player, football pundits always highlighted how the Argentina captain wasn’t able to reap rewards at the big stage.

Argentina Beat Brazil 1-0(ANI)

Messi had won everything at the club level, both in personal and team capacity, but missed a major title with Argentina apart from a 2008 gold medal in the Olympics.
For now and at least sometime the there won’t be people questioning Messi’s legacy as he has finally won his first trophy with the senior national team.
The ‘icon’ Messi would only want Argentina to take the carry forward the momentum to the FIFA World Cup in 2022.

ALSO READ: AJP Tour Asia Continental Pro to start in Dubai

Messi and Neymar were also named as the two best players of the tournament just before their teams locked horns in the final. If not for the goal, the Barcelona star had five assists in six games to his name before the summit clash kicked off.

The Copa America final started off with both sides pressing hard for the goal in the early stages of the match. However, neither Brazil nor Argentina was able to get their foot on the ball.

In the 22nd minute, Angel Di Maria latched on to a ball over the top and capitalised on an error from Renan Lodi before lobbing Ederson Santana de Moraes to find the back of the net.

Maria netted the goal to put Argentina ahead. He became the first Argentina player to score in a Copa America final since Cesar Delgado in 2004.
In the 32nd minute, Lionel Messi ran past the Brazil defence only to find out the edge of the box. Meanwhile, Neymar tried to chip the football but wasn’t able to find the desired result.

Maria’s goal separated Brazil and Argentina at half-time in the Copa America final. In the second half, Richarlison have Brazil some relief as he fired the ball into the net but the goal was turned down due to offside.
Brazil kept pressing hard to find a goal and even forced Argentina to turn on a defensive mode but still wasn’t able to find the net.

In the dying minutes of play, Brazil earned a corner with Neymar swinging a cross into the box, however, Thiago Silva glanced the header over the goal post. In the end, Argentina defeated Brazil 1-0 to lift the coveted trophy. (ANI)

ALSO READ: T20 World Cup shifted to UAE: Ganguly