Tiros Libres: La Volpe Olimpica

* Really, is there a whinier coach in Argentina today? Vélez Sarsfield coach Ricardo La Volpe told local radio station La Red that after River’s 5-0 pasting last Sunday at the Monumental, he placed the blame squarely on his shoulders for the loss and was “almost” ready to resign. Poor Ricardo. He tanks with Mexico, screws Boca Juniors out of a third consecutive title after famously claiming he could coach the squad from a helicopter, and now looks close to quitting, yet again, even after taking el Fortín to a 3rd place spot in the table. Now, as an American River Plate fan I certainly don’t feel any sympathy for the guy, and I have to admit that nothing makes me more excited seeing either of my teams, River or the USMNT, facing a La Volpe side, because really, that’s just a guaranteed win. Keep it up Bigotón, and you’ll be pulling out that resignation speech again.

* Looking ahead to this weekend, there are some interesting match-ups, and from a neutral standpoint, the biggest has to be the Rosario derby between Newell’s Old Boys and Rosario Central. As usual, there’s really nothing on the line for either team, except for maybe Central who sit at the bottom of the table, but make no mistake, this is one of the biggest rivalries in Argentina, and whatever may be missing on the pitch in terms of quality will be made up tenfold in the stands in atmosphere. It may not be River Boca or Independiente Racing, but it’s just as heated and just as intense. You can catch it on TYC Sports USA this Sunday at 3PM ET.

* River fans will want to watch the outcomes of Independiente v Colón and Banfield v Boca. All 4 teams are currently in the top 10, and like River, all within reach of the top spot. River, remember, will take on Lanús at home on Sunday. You can watch it on FSC, 5PM CT.

* Oh, and then there’s the Copa Sudamericana, in which we’ll be facing Brazilian side Botafogo. I know that I should be looking forward to this as an opportunity for another piece of silverware, but honestly I’m not as excited as I should be. It’s not because I think River can’t win it, or because I think it’s a lesser tournament when compared to the Copa Libertadores. For those who don’t know, the Sudamericana is essentially the South American equivalent of the UEFA Cup in terms of prestige, although given the split season schedule that most federations use, it’s possible for clubs to qualify directly into each tournament in one year. (For the record, River were “invited” this time around.) Essentially, it’s an opportunity for Nissan to sponsor their own tournament, since Toyota sponsors the Libertadores.

What has me so disinterested, for now at least, is River’s history in the Sudamericana. Passarella all but swept it aside last year, and didn’t even start his first team. Whether he thought River could win it with their B squad, or whether he just didn’t care to compete in it, if the coach isn’t taking it seriously, then why should the fans? Yes, River have a poor track record in international competitions, and yes, I want River to win, so here’s hoping that the coach feels the same way. As far as Botafogo, well, I had to do a Wiki search for them because, sorry, I just don’t know all that much about Brazilian football clubs. Look for more info as the match draws nearer.

Category: Team News