Birth Date: November 3 1979
Birth Place: Rio Cuarto, Cordoba
Birth Nation: Argentina
Height: 170cm
Weight: 62Kg
Nationality: Argentinean
Position: Midfielder
Full Name: Pablo Cesar Aimar
Pablo Aimar Rumours and Transfers
19 07 2007
Roberto Ayala has said his retirement from the Argentinian national team.
The 34 year old defender, who is the most capped Argentine of all time having made 115 appearances for his country, has decided to call it a day following Sunday′s Copa America final.
Argentina were beaten 3-0 by Brazil in the game with Ayala, captaining the side, putting the ball through his own net.
But the Real Zaragoza player says the outcome of the game had no impact on his plans.
"This is a decision that I have had in my mind for some time," he informed Radio del Plata.
"What happened in the Copa America didn′t make me take this decision. I think that my time with the national team had to end this year, so that is what I am announcing. Unfortunately, I couldn′t triumph what I could have liked to win with the national team, however I think I did good things."
Ayala left Valencia at the end of the season following a contract dispute before agreeing a transfer to Villarreal but, before making an appearance for the club, paid his own buyout clause to join Real Zaragoza.
"Now I was presented at Zaragoza and this is an important personal challenge. I expect to repeat or improve what the team achieved last season. What made me decide to come to Zaragoza was what Pablo Aimar, Diego and Gabriel Milito informed me about the team. During the Copa America, I spoke with them about Zaragoza and they convinced me because they informed me that this is a team in which everyone fights for the same objective and that it′s like a family."
06 07 2007
Midfielder Javier Mascherano scored his 1st goal for Argentina to give them a 1-0 triumph over Paraguay and top spot in their Copa America group Thursday.
Mascherano picked up a loose ball on the edge of the area and scored with a cleverly placed shot into the bottom left hand corner of Aldo Bobadilla′s goal shortly after coming on as substitute for his 27th appearance.
The triumph meant Argentina avoided a difficult quarter-final against Mexico and will instead face Peru, a theoretically easier game, Sunday.
Argentina topped Group C with 9 points from 3 games, the only 100 percent record in the tournament. Paraguay, who will now be Mexico′s opponents Sunday, were 2nd with six, followed by Colombia (three) and the U.S (0).
Argentina made 8 changes to their starting line up whilst Paraguay also made several alterations.
Although Carlos Tevez and Rodrigo Palacio both looked lively, Argentina struggled to create chances against a tough Paraguay defence early on.
Their best chance fell to Pablo Aimar, who failed to make proper contact with his header after Luis Gonzalez found him with a pinpoint cross from the right.
Fernando Gago and Tevez were both close before halftime with long-range efforts whilst Paraguay forward Salvador Cabanas nearly scored from a tight angle however was denied by Roberto Abbondanzieri.
Argentina kept up the load and twice hit the woodwork early in the 2nd half.
Tevez struck the foot of the post with a shot on the turn, then Palacio rifled a 25-metre effort against the crossbar.
Argentina brought Lionel Messi on to a rousing reception from the crowd and Tevez curled another effort over the bar in the 73rd minute.
But Mascherano finished their frustration 6 minutes later.
29 06 2007
The fans who packed into Maracaibo′s Estadio Jose Pachencho Romero for Thursday evening′s Group C double bill certainly got their money′s worth as the goals rained down on day 3 of the Copa America. Paraguay′s devastating 5-0 defeat of Colombia was followed by a similarly ruthless display from tournament favourites Argentina as they downed the USA 4-1.
Few of the 37,000 fans packed into the Jose Pachencho Romero could have predicted such an emphatic display from the Guaranies. Determined to erase the memory of a limp showing at Germany 2006, the Paraguayans, with new Argentinian coach Gerardo Martino at the helm, pitched up with several new faces and proceeded to destroy a directionless Colombia side, with strike duo Roque Santa Cruz and Salvador Cabanas in particularly fine form.
After a scrappy opening, the game in the end settled into some kind of rhythm with Colombia moving the ball around to good effect and Paraguay content to bide their time and close their opponents down. Indeed, it was Jorge Luis Pinto′s charges who should have struck 1st, Alvaro Dominguez seeing his 26th minute penalty superbly saved by Paraguay keeper Justo Villar.
The Cafeteros were made to pay for their profligacy almost immediately when Santa Cruz burst through a huge gap in the Colombian defence to open his side′s account. The Bayern Munich man was at it again only after the restart, rounding off another lightning Paraguayan counterattack to make it 2-0. And the in-form forward secured the points with a header 10 minutes from time to complete an excellent hat trick.
The goal-thirsty Paraguayans had not finished yet though, Cabanas completing the rout with a late brace to set the seal on a dismal evening for the men in yellow.
Having brought all their players to Venezuela, it came as no surprise to see the Albicelestes hit the ground running with an ominously impressive 4 goal showing against Bob Bradley′s USA.
Nevertheless, it was the North Americans who struck 1st when Gabriel Milito gave away a penalty and Eddie Johnson exacted punishment with a firm low drive to keeper Roberto Abbondanzieri′s left. The Argentinians were back on level terms only 2 minutes later, Hernan Crespo poking home from close range after Kasey Keller had made a fine save from a typically pinpoint Juan Roman Riquelme free kick.
The score remained that way until half time as the double world champions and 14 time Copa America winners struggled to exert their superiority over their well-drilled opponents, still buoyed no doubt by last Sunday′s CONCACAF Gold Cup triumph over Mexico.
All that changed 10 minutes after the break when Alfio Basile brought the mercurial Pablo Aimar on for Esteban Cambiasso to bring a little order to Argentina′s attacking play. The Real Zaragoza midfielder repaid his coach′s faith as the blue and white machine in the end sprang into life, Lionel Messi serving notice of what was about to come when he missed through the American defence and shot only wide.
With 63 minutes on the clock the load in the end paid off as Messi set up Crespo to score his and Argentina′s 2nd with a cross-shot. It was one way traffic from then on in with Aimar heading in a 3rd, before substitute Carlos Tevez gave the Stars and Stripes an even larger headache by completing the scoring with a right foot drive 5 minutes from time.
All 12 sides have now taken their tournament bow and following a rest day Friday, the tournament kicks off again in the city of San Cristobal on Saturday. Following their opening day draw Bolivia take on a Uruguay side in desperate require of a triumph to remain in the tournament, whilst hosts Venezuela will be looking for 3 points of their own against Group A leaders Peru.
22 06 2007
Midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme was included in Argentina′s Copa America team less than a year after he said his international retirement.
Riquelme, who scored both goals as Boca Juniors beat Gremio 2-0 away to win South America′s Copa Libertadores Wednesday, was included in the 22-man-squad said by the Argentine Football Assocation (AFA).
Riquelme mentioned in September that he would not play for his country again because criticism of his performances was affecting his mother′s health.
He left Spanish club Villarreal in February after falling out with coach Manuel Pellegrini and returned on loan to Boca, the club where he made his name.
Since then, he was in inspirational form and a recall was widely expected.
Argentina′s Copa America Squad,
Goalkeepers, Roberto Abbondanzieri (Getafe), Juan Pablo Carrizo (River Plate), Agustin Orion (San Lorenzo)
Defenders, Roberto Ayala (Valencia), Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan), Hugo Ibarra (Boca Juniors), Gabriel Milito (Real Zaragoza), Gabriel Heinze (Man Utd), Daniel Diaz (Boca Juniors), Nicolas Burdisso (Inter Milan)
Midfielders, Luis Gonzalez (Porto), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid), Pablo Aimar (Real Zaragoza), Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes), Juan Roman Riquelme (Boca Juniors)
Forwards, Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona), Hernan Crespo (Inter Milan), Diego Milito (Real Zaragoza), Carlos Tevez (The Hammers), Rodrigo Palacio (Boca Juniors)
07 06 2007
There is no such thing as a routine triumph in qualifying for the UEFA EURO 2008 finals, as Group A frontrunners Poland discovered at a cost in the Armenian capital. 2 other section leaders, Greece and Germany, were tested by an underdog, however the pair managed to eke out win to augment their position at the summit.
Romania, on top of their pool by virtue of goal difference going into Wednesday′s games, encountered little difficulty in achieving 3 points, Sweden raced to the head of Group F by overwhelming Iceland, whilst the gap between the front 4 sides was cut to only 3 points in Group E.
Armenia slammed the brakes on Poland′s charge towards a guaranteed place at the UEFA EURO 2008 finals by upsetting Leo Beenhakker′s side in Yerevan. The Poles went into the game chasing a 7th straight win, which could have taken them 8 points clear at the top of Group A, however Hamlet Mkhitaryan′s 2nd half free kick was enough to settle the contest in the favour of Armenia, who picked up their 1st win of the campaign in Kazakhstan on Saturday. Due to their rivals′ inactivity, Poland retained their 5 point cushion over Portugal and Serbia, however the pair now have 2 games in hand on the frontrunners.
Another shock result was threatened by Slovakia in Hamburg, however a Thomas Hitzlsperger header shortly before half time earned Germany a 2-1 success. With the front 4 in Group D having played equal games, Joachim Low′s side will rest comfortably over the summer, holding a 5 point advantage over the Czech Republic, with the Republic of Ireland a further point back in 3rd.
The extrasensory understanding between Franck Ribery and Samir Nasri again worked in France′s favour, the former setting up the latter for the only goal against Georgia. Les Bleus remain in the ascendancy in Group B, even though Italy and Scotland triumphed 2-0 on their travels, against Lithuania and the Faroe Islands respectively, to keep up the heat.
With the prolific Eduardo da Silva tightly patrolled, Croatia failed to find a breakthrough at home to Russia, whose 0-0 stalemate in Zagreb blew the race to finish top of Group E wide open. Slaven Bilic′s team remain in front, however Israel won 2-0 away in the Andorran puddles to draw level on points with the 1998 FIFA World CupT bronze medallists.
Russia, who kept their 6th clean sheet in 7 contests, sit 2 points back in 3rd, one ahead of England. Joe Cole opened the scoring for Steve McClaren′s side in Estonia, before David Beckham provided trademark deliveries for Peter Crouch and Michael Owen to seal a 3-0 win.
Sweden made light work of Iceland, 2 goals from Marcus Allback propelling them to a 5-0 success which lifts them 2 points clear of N. Ireland. Spain assumed the runners up spot, level on points with Lars Lagerback′s troops, thanks to a 2-0 reverse of Liechtenstein, David Villa scoring both of their goals within the opening quarter-hour.
Norway addressed their run of 3 games without win by overpowering Malta 4-0 on Saturday, and they continued their revival by triumphing over Hungary by a repeat scoreline to move into contention in Group C. Level with Bosnia-Herzegovina, who undid Malta 1-0, and Turkey, the Norwegians continue to trail section pace-setters Greece by 5 points, though the reigning European champions needed a goal 5 minutes into time added on by substitute Nikolaos Liberopoulos to deny tailenders Moldova a share of the spoils.
With the Netherlands inactive in Group G, Romania turned their lead by virtue of goal difference into a 3 point superiority by sending Slovenia home on the wrong end of a 2-0 result, whilst Bulgaria moved one point above the Dutch into 2nd courtesy of a 2-1 comeback triumph over Belarus. However, inspite of slipping to 3rd in the section, the on-form Oranje did have given their supporters a cause for satisfaction. Indeed, Wednesday′s 3-1 triumph in Thailand ensured that Marco van Basten′s side finished their 11 game 2006/07 campaign unbeaten.
In preparation for the 2007 Copa America, Argentina and Brazil both disappointed during the 1st halves of their respective friendlies, however whilst the latter failed to find their touch en route to a goalless draw against Turkey, the former, 2-1 down at the break, recovered to edge Algeria 4-3. Lionel Messi orchestrated the fightback, restoring parity from the penalty spot shortly after the interval, before grabbing the Albiceleste′s decisive 4th goal following a delightful exchange with Pablo Aimar.
Paraguay upset Mexico 1-0 inside the usually daunting Estadio Azteca, and Ecuador avenged their slender loss to Peru at the weekend by overcoming their continental rivals 2-0. Meanwhile, Japan and Colombia failed to break deadlock in their Kirin Cup decider, leaving the trophy in Asian hands due to their superior goal difference.
