Real Madrid players for Argentina World Cup 2010 | Higuain 9

World Cup:
Real Madrid players for Argentina. In the current Real Madrid squad there are three players: Garray, Gago, and Higuain. Garray won Olympic gold with Argentina in 2008. Gago played several World Cup qualification matches. But the one selected by Maradona for the final 23 man squad was Gonzalo Higuain who also got his debut under Maradona.

Higuain , Gago Argentina - Alonso , Silva , Ramos Spain

Competition upfront for Argentina is fierce however so the question is how many minutes Higuain will see. It depends to a certain extent upon the formation Maradona will lineup. Where will Messi be placed. Will there be 2 or 3 strikers upfront etc. Tevez has had a good season with Manchester City. Milito was decisive for Inter Milan. Messi is an automatic first choice. Kun Aguero helped Atletico win silverware for the first time since 1996 But Higuain also had a fine season and scored the most goals ever during his time in Real Madrid.

Higuain - Messi - Sergio Busquets + the ref

Higuain plays with the jersey number 9 and wears the shorts with a number 9 as well. He plays in football boots from adidas – the model is Predator. The legendary Argentinian player to wear the number 9 jersey was Alfredo di Stefano. In Spain he counts as one of the big 4: Di Stefano, Pele, Cruyff, Maradona.

Gonzalo Higuain in full uniform wearing the jersey number 9

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Gonzalo Higuain match statistics for the season 2009/10

Player Profile:
The Argentinian striker at Real Madrid Gonzalo Higuain has had an excellent season 2009/10. At the outset of the season he was thought to play a secondary role coming off the bench with Raul and Benzema in front of him for the starting line up. However, Higuain has taken the chance whenever he has played and therefore he has now become indispensable in the Real Madrid starting formation.
The following abbreviations are used:
Vs. = versus
H/A = home / away
T. = tournament
R. = result
Min. = minutes played
G. = goals
A. = assists
B. = booking (yellow card)
E. = expulsion (red card)

Vs.H/AT.R.Min.G.A.B.E.
DeportivoHomeLiga3-2180000
EspanyolAwayLiga0-3730000
ZurichAwayCL2-5661100
XerezHomeLiga5-0Bench0000
VillarrealAwayLiga0-2640000
TenerifeHomeLiga3-0Bench0000
MarseilleHomeCL3-0210000
SevillaAwayLiga2-1380000
ValladolidHomeLiga4-2191000
AC MilanHomeCL2-3N/A0000
SportingAwayLiga0-0N/A0000
AlcorconAwayCopa4-0N/A0000
GetafeHomeLiga2-0762000
AC MilanAwayLiga1-1730000
Atletico MAwayLiga2-3651000
AlcorconHomeCopa1-0900000
RacingHomeLiga1-0901000
ZurichHomeCL1-0901000
FC BarcelonaAwayLiga1-0900000
AlmeriaHomeLiga4-2901100
MarseilleAwayCL1-3620010
ValenciaAwayLiga2-3902000
ZaragozaHomeLiga6-0622000
OsasunaAwayLiga0-0710000
MallorcaHomeLiga2-0901000
AthleticAwayLiga1-0N/A0000
MalagaHomeLiga2-0N/A0000
DeportivoAwayLiga1-3N/A0000
EspanyolHomeLiga3-0191000
XerezAwayLiga0-3660000
LyonAwayCL1-0630000
VillarrealHomeLiga6-2902110
TenerifeAwayLiga1-5772100
SevillaHomeLiga3-2900000
LyonHomeCL1-1900000
ValladolidAwayLiga1-4733000
SportingHomeLiga3-1901010
GetafeAwayLiga2-4802000
AtleticoHomeLiga3-2871000
RacingAwayLiga0-2891000
FC BarcelonaHomeLiga
AlmeriaAwayLiga
ValenciaHomeLiga
ZaragozaAwayLiga
OsasunaHomeLiga
MallorcaAwayLiga
AthleticHomeLiga
MalagaAwayLiga

……..
For the season 2009/10 Higuain has scored 24 goals in the Spanish League – 0 goals in the Cup – and 2 goals in the UEFA Champions League.
Higuain has played in 32 out of 40 matches.
The winning record when Higuain has not played: 4 victories – 1 draw – 3 losses.
The winning record when Higuain has played: 26 victories – 3 draws – 3 defeats.

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Interview Higuain Part III

This is third and final part of an interview with Real Madrid striker Gonzale Higuain brought in the Spanish daily Marca on Monday the 2nd of November.

Q: Do you talk in the locker room about the historical matches between Real Madrid and AC Milan ?
A: Yes there has been some talk about this. We all know that it is going to be a historical encounter between two of the greatest teams in Europe. Between the two they have won a total of 16 Champions League titles. This says it all. It is a very special match which counts on a special atmosphere in a beautiful stadium. These are very special encounters for all players.
Q: Did you know that one of the worst defeats of all times for Real Madrid came at the San Siro ?
A: Yes .. I think so – it was the 5-0 , no ?
Q: Yes that is correct.
A: Well, this team will not allow this to happen again. We are going to show the world who we are and we will take Real Madrid as far as we can in this tournament.
Q: The Champions League is the great objective for Real Madrid this season ?
A: In Real Madrid all the matches and all the tournaments are important. It is obvious that to play in Europe is something special but we will try to do our best in all 3 competitions.
Q: And after the match against AC Milan follows the encounter against Atletico. What do you think about playing at the Calderon ?
A: I have very good memories from there. I scored my first goal for Real Madrid in a match against Atletico. It was one of the happiest moments of my career because I needed to score and on top of that it happened in the derby.
Q: Last season you gave the victory to your team with a goal on penalty in the very last minute.
A: It is true that this field brings me luck. I hope that I can repeat and that I will be able to score a goal again but the most important is that team goes on to win and captures the 3 points.
Q: So lets bet on a Real Madrid victory with a goal from Higuain.
A: I hope so. If God wants it like that because it would mean that Real Madrid has won the 3 points and will head into the FIFA break in a good position in the standings.
Q: The current situation of Atletico Madrid makes it harder or easier for Real Madrid ?
A: El Atletico is also worrisome whether they are having a good moment or a bad. It is a great team and we have to approach the match very concentrated if we want to continue this undefeated streak against them. Though for now the most important is to think of Milan.
Q: In a week as important is the current one do you spend time studying the defenses of the opponents ?
A: Yes I do know about the teams that we are going to face. I like to watch football and I always try to be well prepared and knowledgeable about the team that we meet.
Q: Are you surprised about the fact that Guti has not been selected for the squads against Getafe and against AC Milan ?
A: It is decision by the coach and it is not really any of my business. We all know how great a player Guti is but it is a decision made by Pellegrini. Thus it is not really a question for me.
Q: This entire issue regarding Guti arose in Alcorcon. Is it possible to overcome a 4-0 defeat in the first leg or is it practically impossible even though it is against a team from the third division ?
A: It is difficult to come back from a 4-0 that is true though on the other hand it can be done. We have the players who will be able to turn this one around but we will have to work very hard in order to be able to achieve it.
Q: What can you say to the fans before this match.
A: The team will try to clean it is image after the poor performance in Alcorcon. We will try to stage a come back because we would like to continue in the Copa del Rey. But to talk about this we will have to wait and see. Right now we have to focus upon the match against AC Milan.
Q: What do you think will be the result of this match ?
A: I want to win. I would make my bet on a Real Madrid victory. The score in case that we win is of less importance. It is about winning.

End of interview!

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Interview Higuain part II

Interview:
Here follows the second part of the interview with Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain brought in the Spanish daily sports paper on Monday the 2nd of November.

Q: But you do not have the feeling that you have to yield more in order to play than the rest ?
Q: From the very moment I arrived here I did not have an easy time. I had to bring the maximum in order to prove that I could play here but this situation is applicable to every player in the squad. If you want to be successful in the greatest club in the world you will have to work every day like it were your last. Here we have the best players in the world, great footballers, therefore you can never relax.
Q: This effort which you have to bring on a daily basis is that what has made you develop so much over the past 3 years ?
A: It is like I said before one is always trying to do things as well as possible. But one has to emphasize as well that if I have developed a lot it has been thanks to my teammates. These have made me a better player.
Q: The debate regarding finishing it appears you have buried by now. How have you managed to improve in this aspect ?
A: There had to be tranquility and patience. I always said that the most important was to get chances in front of goal. That is the most difficult part. Maybe before the ball did not go in but I knew that I had to remain calm and that the goals would come eventually.
Q: Which percentage in your game do you assign to spirit / talent ?
A: To be honest a bit of both really. I try to improve on my deficits and to work hard in order to continue to improve the virtues I might have.
Q: Have you set a target for how many goals to score this season ?
A: I do not like to talk about these things because my objective is to help the team as well as I can. But if I have to say something in that vein I would say that the objective is to score more goals this season than the past season. But not to get to 20 or 30 or whatever it might be but rather because I think it is the best way to continue to improve. The demand is something important in the world of football. And I still have a lot to prove in football.
Q: Would you be disappointed if you were a substitute at the San Siro?
A: I am pretty relaxed about that. I am not very obsessed about these things. Logically I want to play because it is a special match but it is the coach’s decision and I have nothing to say in this regard. Like I said before I do not feel neither as a starter nor as a substitute and in that way what has to happen happens. I always want to play but in Real Madrid there are many players and we all want to play.
Q: A survey in Marca shows that 93% of the fans want you to be a starter against Milan.
A: I am proud to hear to here that and it makes me very happy but all of my teammates work hard in order to be among the starting 11 and the coach is the one who makes the decisions. I always want to play but like me there are another 23 players in the squad.
Q: How do you go along with Benzema playing together upfront ?
A: Very well. I think we have proved that we can play together rather well. We connect well and he was behind the pass that made me score the goal to 2-0 (against Getafe).
Q: How do the two of you connect on the field ?
A: From time to time I was the one coming back in order to receive the ball at other times he did so. However, the most important thing was that there was a lot of mobility and that we connect very well on the field.
Q: Where do you feel most comfortable playing upfront or as a winger ?
A: My natural position is that of second striker but I can play anywhere they tell me to play. I think that as a second striker I can contribute more taking advantage of coming from behind to get in behind the back four of the opponent. But I play wherever the coach wants me to play. The position on the field has never been a great issue for me. About playing I do that wherever it is required.
Q: How does the team prepare for this big upcoming week which starts Tuesday against AC Milan and ends Saturday against Atletico ?
A: Well, we are all very excited. The match against Getafe helped to get us going and I believe we are very well suited to confront both of these matches. We want to win both matches and the one in Copa del Rey in order to get to the FIFA break at ease.
Q: Do you want revenge after the 2-3 defeat at home to AC Milan at the Bernabeu ?
A: It is not about revenge but rather about winning at the San Siro. We want to show whom we really are. The objective is to get the three points in order to get to the next round of the Champions League as the first in the group. I think it is very important to get to the round 16 with the home field advantage.
Q: Have you worked through the mistakes made during the first match ?
A: Yes we have prepared well for this match. This team has a lot of quality and I am confident that soon we will be able to show all of our qualities on the field. It is not always that things come out like one wants them to but if we continue to work in this way we will achieve great things. It is a bit early to form a team but I am sure that at the end of it things will work out very well. We are very motivated.
Q: Which players by AC Milan are you most worried about ?
A: AC Milan is a great team and you cannot ignore any player on their team.

To be continued….

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Interview with Gonzalo Higuain

Interview:
In the Monday edition of the Spanish daily sportspaper Marca there is an interview with Real Madrid and Argentinian international striker Gonzalo Higuain. The interview takes places the day after the Real Madrid 2-0 victory against Getafe in which Higuain scored both the Madrid goals.

Q: Once more Higuain to the rescue.
A: Well, I had the luck to score 2 goals. But the team played a great match and we won thanks to the effort of everyone.
Q: But the image of the victory is yours. Do you feel like the savior of Real Madrid ?
A: No, the savior no. I do not like this. I am very happy because one dos not score 2 goals every day. But nevertheless I am not the savior of the patria. The team deserves the praise. We came out of a difficult week but we knew how to perform at our best in order to win the 3 very important points. Furthermore we did so playing with only 10 man which gives the victory even more merit.
Q: Of whom do you think every time that you score at the Bernabeu ?
A: My family, first and foremost and of all the people who have helped me along the way and my team mates. But to tell the truth with these two goals I remembered first of all my team mates because it had been a very hard week. We lost against Alcorcon and many bad things were said about us but we found our pride and showed that we are the Real Madrid. This victory can be an important turning point because we have recovered from a very adverse situation.
Q: What do you feel when all of the Bernabeu crowd gets at its’ feet and shouts your name ?
A: I think about it and I cannot believe it. With 21 years of age that a stadium like Bernabeu shouts your name does have an impact. I am very glad about that because it means that I do things well.
Q: Everyone who knows the person Higuain agrees that they would not like sell him. But do you feel that we follow this line of progression that you might become a symbol for the fans?
A: About being sold I do not know. All of this does not go along with me. I know perfectly well where I have to talk and that is on the field final. This is where I have to demonstrate things not off the field.
Q: But do you feel that you already are an idol for the Real Madrid fans and that you may become a symbol for the Madridismo ?
A: I would be a dream to become a symbol of this club – I hope. It would be a great honor but in order to obtain this one has to work a lot. I have only been with Real Madrid for 3 years now and during such a period of time one may not talk about becoming a symbol of the club. I am very happy about my trajectory so far and I hope to continue to grow. I do not regret anything I did here so far. I am the same person today as I was back then when I arrived here.
Q: And what does Raul have in order to be a symbol of the madridismo ?
A: With regard to Raul I learn from him by watching him. It is not even necessary to ask him for advise. Simply by observing him is it possible to learn a lot of things. He is a true symbol of Real Madrid. He is a number 1 and I have a great deal of admiration for him. He is a symbol and he carries this out to perfection.
Q: What did he tell you after your two goals ?
A: He embraced me and congratulated me after the match in the locker room.
Q: And how does he feel about it that you might be the player who replaces him in the starting formation?
A: I do understand that this might be one of this kind of discussion taking place in the press and I accept that. People are free to think what they want but to me this is a debate which does not exist and which will not appear. The coach is the one taking these decisions and everyone has to accept his role.
Q: Last season you were the top scorer in Real Madrid. But with the arrival of Benzema, Kaka, Ronaldo you were turned into a secondary player and even onto the bench. Do you somehow feel a certain rebellion inside towards this situation ?
A: Rebellion no. I always try to work as hard as possible and to take the opportunities coming my way. I do not think of whether I am a starter or a substitute. I simply work to become better every single day and to help the team as well as I can. My only mission is to work , work , and work in order for the things to turn out as well as possible for me.

To be continued………..

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Real Madrid – Getafe 2-0 | Higuain the saviour of the kingdom

Press:
Saturday night the 31st of October Real Madrid beat Getafe 2-0 at the Bernabeu. Real Madrid played for almost an hour with just 10 men after that Albiol was sent off with a direct red card. Before the match there had been a lot of speculations in the press about the future of Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini. With the victory the critics will be quiet until Tuesday night at least where Real Madrid faces AC Milan in the Champions League. Since the final of the Champions League is at the Bernabeu in May 2010 Real Madrid has declared that Champions League is the main objective of the season. So another loss to AC Milan which would endanger the progress to the next round would surely ignite renewed speculations about the future of the coach.
The headlines the following day Sunday the first of November discuss the main themes of the match.

Spanish press Real Madrid - Getafe 2-0

Spanish press Real Madrid - Getafe 2-0

The headline reads: Higuain 2 – Villarato 1. The sports paper AS is one the primary proponents of conspiracy theory where supposedly the President of the Spanish Football Association Angel Maria Villar is behind preferential referee treatment for FC Barcelona. So Gonzalo Higuain scored two goals and the referee sent off a Real Madrid player indicating that he was basically against the home team making the final score 2 – 1.
Furthermore the Real Madrid coach Pellegrini is quoted: Le debiamos un partido asi al Bernabeu”. We owed a match like this to the Bernabeu crowd. “La extravagante expulsion de Albiol en el 27′ reconcilio al Madrid con su publico”. The extravagant expulsion of Albiol en the 27th minute reconciled Real Madrid with its’ home crowd.
Interview with Manuel Pellegrini after the match:
Q: It seemed like the sending off of Albiol was beneficial to the team ?
A: Personally I do not think so furthermore it was a unjust sending off. The two players were fighting for the ball and I do not think that it was worthy of a red card.
Q: Was it a special victory for you ?
A: The team played with attitude and was looking for a way to win the match. It was very important to give a victory like this to the Bernabeu crowd. We owed a performance like this. It was an important match because we came out of an ominous week. We were all unhappy with ourselves because we had played badly in all 3 competitions.
Q: Did you have the feeling that your job was at risk ?
A: I know that I can count on the effort of the players. The match today was important for the institution because if we had lost we would have fallen further behind the leaders. I hope that this performance will allow us to travel to Milan and to obtain a good result. To me personally this was a match like any other.
Q: What did you like the most about the match?
A: The spirit of the team is what I liked the most. It is something which can never fail because this club has always been characterized by its draw. This is something which has allowed it to achieve great results.

Notes. The Real Madrid players each got a note for the performance on a scale from 1 to 3. 3 being the highest. 0 being failed.
Casillas – 2
Ramos – 1
Pepe – 2
Albiol -1
Arbeloa – 1
Xabi Alonso – 1
Lass – 3
Higuain – 3
Kaka – 1
Marcelo – 2
Benzema – 2
Gago – 1
v. d. Vaart – 1
Raul – 1
Man of the match with 3 goals has to be Gonzalo Higuain.

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Real Madrid – Valladolid 4-2 Match review

Press:
On Saturday the 17th of October Real Madrid played at home against Valladolid. Real Madrid was without Cristiano Ronaldo so questions were abundant as to how the team would fare without their topscorer.
Real Madrid responded reasonably well with a 4-2 victory. Not much seemed to have changed from earlier matches. A lot of firepower upfront – rather weak at the back.

Spanish press frontpage 18th of October 2009

Spanish press frontpage 18th of October 2009

The main story revolves around Raul who scored 2 goals in the match. “Vivito y Goleando” – “alive and scoring goals”. Furthermore it reads on the frontpage: “Raul makes his 38th of match where he scores 2 or more goals”. “He is already number 4 on the list of the all-time greatest goalscorers in the Spanish League”. “Real Madrid has more firepower upfront than any other team but is weak at the back”. “Valladolid left the Bernabeu with 0 points but with a decent taste in the mouth after a good performance.

Inside the paper each player receives a note for the performance and furthermore there is a more detailed stat board including a valuation of the performance.
The scale goes from 1 to 3 with 3 being the highest and 1 the lowest “-” means without judgement.
Casillas – 1
Sergio Ramos – 1
Pepe – 1
Albiol – 1
Marcelo – 2
Lass – 1
Xabi Alonso – 2
Van der Vaart – 1
Kaka | -
Granero – 1
Raul – 3
Drenthe | –
Benzema – 1
Higuain – 2
Pelligrini (coach) – 1

Man of the match with two goals Raul Gonzales Blanco.

In the extended evaluation inside the paper the players are evaluated according to a scale from great – notable – passed – failed.
Casillas – notable.
Ramos – passed.
Pepe – failed.
Albiol – notable.
Marcelo – notable.
Xabi Alonso – passed.
Lass – failed.
Granero – passed.
Van der Vaart – passed.
Raul – notable. “Killed” playing like a “9″ which is his natural position on the field.
Benzema – failed.
Higuain – GREAT. Comment: hungry for goals. Incredible that he is not a regular starter but has to come off the bench.
Kaka – passed.
Drenthe – without judgement.

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Argentina in the World Cup 2010

Report:
Argentina with Real Madrid player Gonzalo Higuain in the starting formation won the final and crucial match against Uruguay away from home with 1-0. The victory released a lot of steam among the Argentinian players and the coaching staff which had all been under immense pressure and scrutiny before the match. There was great relief most of all to be seen from the player’s faces after the match rather than pure joy over the direct qualification for the World Cup 2010 in South Africa. However, the polemics surrounding the Argentine national team did not stop there since the head coach Diego Maradona launched out after his critics after the match using words and phrases not usually associated with comments made in public or in the media.
Interview with Maradona The clip is in Spanish.

Higuain tries his luck from within the penalty box

Higuain tries his luck from within the penalty box

Among the statements made by Maradona:
I thank the team for giving me the privilege to go to the World Cup as a coach.
I have a good memory and to all of those who did not believe in us and who criticized me and the team along the way: suck it – and keep on sucking it.
I am always black and white never grey. Never in my life.
This victory is dedicated to the people of Argentina but not to the media and the journalists.
I thank the players and the Argentinian people but nobody else. For the rest they can keep on “sucking it”.
I think that Veron as well as Palermo will be among the players selected for the World Cup squad.

So who are the likely Real Madrid candidates for the Argentina 22-23 man squad who will go to South Africa.
EZEQUIEL GARAY: He has played on the sub 20 Argentinian national team and he has also had his debut for the real Argentinian national side. He was on the team that won the Olympic Games in 2008.
GONZALO HIGUAIN: Who has just had his debut for the Argentinian side for the crucial matches against Peru and Uruguay.
FERNANDO GAGO: Has also had his debut with the Argentinian national team and would probably have played the two last match in the qualification round had he not been injuired.
……
Much will probably depend on how much playing time each of the players get over the course of the season as to whether Maradona will select them for the Argentinian World Cup squad. But all 3 must have a fair chance of making it to South Africa.

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Argentinian internationals in Real Madrid

Report:
Due to the link between Spain and Latin America and the similar culture and the language they have in common many South American players have played and play in Spanish football. Including for Real Madrid. One of the all time greatest Real Madrid players Alfredo di Stefano was Argentinian. The stadium where Real Madrid’s satellite club Real Madrid Castilla plays has thus been named after Alfredo di Stefano. Later on during the 1980s the current sports director in Real Madrid Jorge Valdano played with los merengues and during the 1990s Fernando Redondo.

Facade of Estadio Alfredo di Stefano de Real Madrid

Facade of Estadio Alfredo di Stefano de Real Madrid

In the current Real Madrid squad there are two Argentinian internationals. Fernando Gago y Gonzalo Higuain. Both were young talents in Argentina and came to Real Madrid at an early age. While none of them have established themselves in the league of Di Stefano or Redondo they do play regularly on the first team and Higuain was even the club’s topscorer for the season 2008/09.

Fernando Gago:

Fernando Gago on the ground

Fernando Gago on the ground

Gago played with the jersey number 8 for the season 2008/09. For the season 2009/10 he switched to the jersey number 5. In Argentina the number 5 jersey is reserved for the central midfield player and has a very high status since it is a very important position in the Argentinian system. Kaka who was new in the club had played previously with number 22 , with number 8, and with number 10. Kaka was not really interested in wearing the number 5 jersey previously worn by Zidane since he would rather be Kaka than “the new Zidane”. So in the end everyone came out happy with the numbers assigned.

Gonzalo Higuain:

Real Madrid player number 20 Gonzalo Higuain

Real Madrid player number 20 Gonzalo Higuain

Higuain is a very explosive player and is a powerful forward. He has a great and fierce shot and is very aggressive in the box. Higuain wears the jersey number 20 and plays in adidas predator boots. The version in the photo is white with a bit of black or navy at the back.
The other player in the photo happens also to be an Argentinian international though not representing Real Madrid anymore. It is Gabriel Heinze formerly with Manchester United and Real Madrid but currently with Olympique Marseille.

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