COLOMBIA

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LUCIANO FRANCESCHINI El mejor / The best
“Teníamos una oportunidad
y estábamos mentalizados”
“We had an opportunity and we were mentally determined”
Volante central en los equipos juveniles de Argentinos Juniors, San Lorenzo y Huracán
hasta la 5ª división, se alejó por una lesión y comenzó a estudiar Economía. La arena
lo reencontró con la pelota y su estilo aguerrido.
✔ Sabiendo que no soy el más técnico, intento compensarlo con ganas y tratando
de empujar a los compañeros. Sabíamos que iba a ser un torneo difícil, cada vez los
equipos se emparejan más. No todos son tan técnicos como Brasil, pero lo suplen con
lo físico.
✔ Es un deporte amateur y la mayoría se tiene que ganar la vida de otra forma.
Entrenamos todo el año en el predio de la AFA en Ezeiza, con todas las comodidades.
Ahora tenemos la esperanza de que se arme una liga. En el verano europeo juego en
Italia. Con el Nápoli ganamos un Scudetto.
✔ Las claves fueron el trabajo, la unión del grupo y las ganas de ganar algo
importante. Hicimos una pretemporada de 3 meses.
✔ La semifinal y la final se jugaron de manera excelente. Siempre vamos de
menor a mayor. Puede ser por no tener tanta competencia y de un día para otro
afrontarla.
✔ ”Nuestras expectativas en el Mundial son llegar lo más alto posible, al podio.
Conformamos un grupo muy bueno. No va a ser nada fácil jugar contra Argentina”.
Acentral midfielder in Argentinos Juniors’ juvenile teams, San Lorenzo and Huracán
up to the 5th La presencia aguerrida del capitán marcando al paraguayo Orlando Zayas.
The Captain’s veteran presence marking Paraguayan Orlando Zayas.
division, he had to leave due to an injury and he began to study
Economics. The arena found him again with the ball and his warlike style.
✔ I know that I am not the most technical of my companions, hence I try
compensate this lack as best I can, trying to push my teammates. We knew that it
was going to be a difficult tournament, since squads seem to be more similar as time
goes by. Not all of them are technical like the Brazilians, but they solve the situation
with their physical power.
✔ This is an amateur sport and the majority of the players have to earn their
living in a different way. We train the whole year in AFA’ s premises at Ezeiza, with
every possible comfort. Now we are hoping a league is formed. In the European
summer, I play in Italy. With Napoli, we won a Scudetto.
✔ The keys were work, the group’s union and the longing to win something
important. We played during a three-month season.
✔ The semifinal and the final were played quite well. We always go from lower
to upper. This may be because we do not have so many competitors and only one
day to play it.
✔ “Our expectations in the World Cup are getting as soon as possible to the
highest place in the podium. We make up a very good group. It will not be so
easy to play against Argentina”.
70●CSF
El grito de gol de Bruno Xavier se escuchó 13 veces en Merlo. Delantero de
Vasco da Gama, marcó 5 tantos ante Ecuador para conquistar el tercer lugar.
Bruno Xavier’s goal cry was listened 13 times in Merlo. He was Vasco da Gama’s
forward and he scored 5 goals against Ecuador to conquer the third place.
The Brazilian hegemony in
beach soccer was stopped
in South America with the
Argentine National Team’s
consecration, that attained the
title as home team in Merlo’s
Recreative Park, in the Province of
San Luis. In the final of 17
February, they defeated Paraguay
by 6-2, though the latter had
surpassed Brazil, finally qualifying
for the third place and also to
Tahiti’s World Cup.
The finalists had already met
in the groups’ phase, when the
home team had the upper hand
with a 2-1 score, in an impressive
match played under a real deluge.
With the stands crowded in the
decisive match, Argentina evinced
their public’s enthusiasm in the
field when all their fans suddenly
remained silent when Mariano
Barrientos opened the scoreboard.
Jonathan Levi, César Leguizamón
with a free kick and a goal scored
at mid-field by the competition’s
star, Luciano Franceschini, when
peace was restored with a 3-1
result at the end of the second
stage. In the third period, Lucas
Madero increased the numbers
with a volley, Orlando Zayas
discounted and the 6-2 was
marked through the conquests of
brothers Ezequiel and Santiago
López Hilaire. Consequently, the
South American Beach Soccer
throne remained in Argentina
for the first time.
The four-time champion
Brazil, directed by historical Junior
Negão, was overwhelming against
Ecuador in the match for the
third place, ending with an 11-5
score. Five points attained by the
tournament’s striker Bruno Xavier,
ARGENTINA
1 Marcelo SALGUEIRO 28.7.76
2 Jonathan LEVI 1.5.86
3 Santiago LÓPEZ HILAIRE 25.5.81
4 Lucas Germán MEDERO 13.1.90
5 Luciano FRANCESCHINI 4.4.83
6 Cristian CUEVAS1.2.84
7 Ezequiel LÓPEZ HILAIRE 10.8.79
8 Federico LOPEZ HILAIRE 20.6.84
9 Miguel DE EZEYZA 8.9.84
10 César LEGUIZAMÓN 16.1.84
11 Sebastián R. LARRETA 28.3.86
12 César MENDOZA 10.3.83
DT Héctor Francisco PETRASSO
two by Benjamín, plus those of
Buru, Daniel, Sydney and
Fernando determined the
qualification. The final of the
second half brought the very
good Ecuadorian team to a 5-4,
thanks to Mario Alava, Miguel
Barré, Víctor Quiñónez and Hugo
Cevallos. Joffre Delgado
discounted in the midst of a
green-and-yellow flood in the
third stage.
A GUARANÍ FEAT
The Red-and-White National
Team qualified to their first World
Cup in a memorable day. In the
semifinal, they defeated Brazil in
the penalty series after a match
with multiple thrills. It was a 6-6
that started with a missile from
goalkeeper’s goal Augusto Ayala
and a tie with Buru’s free kick.
Benjamín Juan López, Buru again,
Edgar Barreto, José Echeverría and
Daniel celebrated a fantastic first
half that ended in a 4-4 tie.
The footballers under
Cayo Villalba’s coaching placed
themselves in the scoreboard
with a free kick by Pedro Morán,
stretching it more with a penalty
by their captain Barrientos, but