BOCA JUNIORS

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The backing wasn’t long in coming. Faced with the inevitable question of the journalists coach Ricardo La Volpe didn’t hesitate: "On Sunday it will be Krupoviesa and ten more". Conclusive and forcible. Against Belgrano in Córdoba, where our team could grab the crown of the tri-champion, the wingback from Tucumán will be back in the first division after complying with a five-rounds sanction. “We lost a lot in Juan’s absence. He’s a very important player who marks well and is able to reach the rival’s goal. If he’s going to play again? Of course, on Sunday it’ll be Krupoviesa and ten more. He has been the regular player in his position, and that’s how it should be, “ the coach announced.

After these statements from the coach, the question mark is which player will be leaving the first division team: Dátolo, who played a great game against Colón or Guillermo Marino. It will be a hard decision to make for the coach because the team is performing at a very even level.

When the former goalkeeper was asked what it was that astonished him most regarding Boca’s ambience, he avowed: “I knew that Boca is one of the most important teams in the world. But Boca’s everyday reality has surpassed my expectations. The pressures one experiences are greater than those I felt while coaching the Mexican National Team, no doubt”.

(bocajunior.com.ar)

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Aldo Bobadilla is only three points away from attaining his first local title as Boca’s goalkeeper. He praises his teammates with the admiration of somebody standing at the sideline, but the Paraguayan has been a part of the team in every game of this Apertura tournament.

"It’s something I admire very much, these are players which have won many things and they are still keen for more glory, they want to continue to win tournaments. This is something to imitate” Bobadilla stated with the modesty which has come to him through the experience of his 30 years.

Like the rest of the team he awaits Sunday’s match against Belgrano with anxiety, because it could end with Boca’s olympic run-around the field: “I feel very proud of wearing this jersey, I feel fortunate to be able to be here, to have this possibility, this stimulates me to want to do my best on Sunday in order to attain our objective”.

But he doesn’t let his anxiety affect his concentration. “One must remain calm” he reiterates, “we have two rounds ahead of us and Sunday’s game is a very difficult one. Belgrano in Córdoba is a strong team”.

"I think we have been a team from fair to good that has known how to profit from the good performance of its players. Against Colón one was able to see Boca’s best, we played great soccer. This gives us the necessary poise to continue to work during this key week” he added.

As time elapses Aldo consolidates his hold on the berth in Boca’s goal, he looks ever better between the goalposts. “I owe this to the team. The fewer times I’m called into action, the better. Because this means we are playing in the rival’s part of the field”, he explains.

This Sunday the Paraguayan will be the regular goalkeeper of the bi-champion of Argentine soccer, like he has been throughout the whole tournament. His team just could end the afternoon attaining one of the few achievements that has eluded it so far: three consecutive local tournament titles.-

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When he was told of this unusual statistic Neri Cardozo told the sportsnewspaper Olé: "So I’ll shoot at the goal from any position”. The young midfielder has scored four goals during the tournament and, leaving Palacio and Palermo aside, he is the player with most goals to his credit.

In the 7-1 thrashing of San Lorenzo, against Chicago, Gimnasia from Jujuy and Colón last Sunday Neri scored a goal and the team took home the three points.

Reviewing his goals in his mind, he admits that the one he likes best is the one he scored against Colón “because it emerged from a very nice collective maneuvre” and because it was fired without a previous run and my foot approached the ball just right”, he explained.

"I’m not one who screams a lot when he scores, but I think that the most mportant goal was the one I scored against Chicago. La Volpe had just taken over and to obtain a first victory was crucial because it was only his second game at the club” he added.

But he soon forgets his goals because “they are just a circumstance” he assures, and continues to think about what benefits the team: “It’s the performance that counts, that Boca win, the personal wizardry isn’t important. We feel ever more solid and have great scoring power. Wherever we play, we go for the triumph. Sometimes we play better, sometimes not quite so, but inside we feel that if an opponent wants to beat us he bettter not make any mistakes, because this is what Boca doesn’t forgive”.

With his scant 20 years Neri is another living example of the team’s greed for glory: “I hope to continue on the winning trail. Boca is a team which demands your best and this is a very good thing, because it prevents you from letting up. The Libertadores Cup comes up next year and we’ll have to win it again”.-

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In the press conference coach Ricardo La Volpe once again insisted that Boca's remaining games are all finals, and the one coming up was against Belgrano in Córdoba.

"The match against Belgrano will be one more final. It will be necessary to concentrate on the game for ninety minutes because so far we haven't attained anything", La Volpe said.

The coach praised the group. He stated that "Boca's team is made up of players who have understood that the matches last 90 minutes. For them the group comes first, over and above individual interests".

" In spite of the fact that Gago might leave and that Palermo and Barros Schelotto have won everything with their club, they continue to be examples for the young. There is no individualism. This is the outstanding feature of this team. The comradeship that exists in all parts of this squad makes it grow in size" the coach continued.

He also spoke of Krupoviesa's injury. "I think he'll overcome the operation and will be as strong as before. Let's have faith. Krupoviesa is young and has still much to give to his team"

Finally he spoke about the possibility of winning the triple championship. "We're getting close, the three points are near. But we have to keep our feet on the ground" La Volpe concluded.

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This Sunday could be another glorious day for Boca Juniors. To that end it will have to beat Belgrano in Córdoba. If it should succeed it would become the triple champion of Argentine soccer for the first time in its history.

Last Sunday the team coached by Ricardo La Volpe won a great triumph against Colón from Santa Fe by 4-1. Besides, all the team's sectors are in solid shape, something that puts the coach at ease.

La Volpe has not yet announced the lineup of the team he will field against Belgrano. As a result of Krupoviesa's injury the coach may resort to Dátolo, Cahais or Franzoia, depending on the tactical scheme he plans to have the team play.

Statistics say that these teams have played 23 matches against each other. Boca won 12 of those, Belgrano 7, and the rest of the games were tied. In Córdoba they have played 12 times, of which Boca won 6, Belgrano 4 and 2 were draws. But something that deserves to be pointed out is the fact that in Córdoba Boca has won the last 5 games it has played.

Probable lineups:

Belgrano: Montoya, Turús, Peppino, Martínez and Maceira; Mansanelli, Bolatti, Yllana and Arriola; Ríos and Gigli.Coach: Mario Griguol.
Boca: Bobadilla, Ibarra, Silvestre, D. Díaz and Morel Rodríguez; N. Cardozo, Gago, Marino and Dátolo or Franzoia; Palacio and Palermo. Coach: Ricardo La Volpe.

Venue: Córdoba stadium
Kickoff time: 6.10 pm.

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Belgrano came out to play Boca on the same footing, but once the latter found a foothold on the field it organized two lines of four players each to set up its defence and to counterattack.

La Volpe’s team had various opportunities to open the score: Marino after a half-turn in the area, Palermo, who failed to connect a good cross sent in by Ibarra and, the best one, a shot fired by Gago from outside the area which went just wide of the left goalpost of keeper Germán Montoya.

The proficiency of the local goalie was the key factor which enabled Belgrano to keep its net untouched. Boca’s most able players were Rodrigo Palacio and Jesús Dátolo. The man from Bahía moving across the entire line of attack and Dátolo dribbling down the left and sending in agressive crosses.

In the second half Belgrano played the same way it had in the first. It waited for Boca in the rear and when it recovered the ball it launched counterattacks.

Matías Silvestre had a splendid opportunity when he headed a corner ball to the ground for a rebound. The ball hit the post and Palermo was unable to send it home, ably molested by the local goalie Montoya.

And the fatal moment came at 15’. Franco Peppino received the ball from a corner kick, dribbled his way through Boca’s defence and fired a low shot that went into the net next to Bobadilla’s first goalpost, who was unable to do anything to prevent it.

Being down in the score Ricardo La Volpe put all his artillery on the field to try to revert the situation. Franzoia replaced Dátolo and defender Silvestre switched places with an area forward like Boselli. Up to the end of the game Boca’s team displayed all its pride and grit trying to pierce the local’s defensive block, although it lacked ideas and alternatives.

Montoya exhibited his great skill stopping two good medium distance shots fired by Marino and Boselli. Another one of Gago lapped the right goalpost.

The “Pirate” succeeded in defending its edge and kept the three points at home. While Estudiantes tied 2-2 with Argentinos Juniors and reduced its lag behind Boca to three points.

Boca secured first place in the tournament. Its definition will have to wait until the next round, against Lanús. With only a tie its team will have attained the much desired triple championship.

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boca have lost 1-0 .. too bad.. i hope they still win the cup

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In spite of Sunday’s defeat by 1-0 against Belgrano our team keeps its chances intact to be come the first triple champion of the club’s history. Boca has a three-point edge on Estudiantes when there is only one round to go to the end of the Apertura tournament. Just a draw will make the team a champion, no matter what happens to the La Plata team.

This Boca of all the records, numbers and achievements is only 90 minutes away from an exciting watershed. In the worst of cases, should the bi-champion lose and Estudiantes should beat Arsenal, a decisive tie-break would have to be fought out for the first time since the short tournaments are being played.

Moreover, with one more victory Ricardo La Volpe’s team would attain a total of 47 points and thus match San Lorenzo’s record when the latter team won the 2001 Clausura tournament.

This Monday the team enjoyed a day of rest and will resume training on Tuesday afternoon, with its spirit unblemished in a week which will, surely, lift it up once more to the peak of glory.

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ast Sunday Boca lost the opportunity to become the champion of the Apertura with one round to go when it was defeated by Belgrano by 1-0 in Córdoba. However, the team’s confidence is intact and that is why its players will go out to win the match against Lanús in the Bombonera.

When it came to analyze what had gone wrong last Sunday against Belgrano coach Ricardo La Volpe pulled no punches.

"It was a game where nothing we did worked out. We were not intelligent nor solid in defence. The required precision was not attained in the last few meters of the rival area and despair got hold of us” La Volpe explained.

Neverthless, the coach denied that there had been an excess of confidence. “We didn’t come out too confident or thinking of the title in advance. We know that nobody gives anything away and that today there are no easy teams, those which you can beat with the simple sight of one’s jersey”.

But La Volpe knows that on Sunday the players will have to leave everything on the field to win and to attain another star: “To be satisfied with a tie could be a dangerous idea because one might run into a surprise. Lanús won’t come to give anything away. It’ll be up to us to achieve the best result.

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In the second practice of the week of Boca’s team it could be seen that coach Ricardo La Volpe, as is his habit, decided to have a casual soccer game carried out. Generally the man of the big moustache does so on Thursday, and it is only then that the lineup of the first division team for Sunday begins to shape up.

The most important news at Casa Amarilla is that forward Guillermo Barros Schelotto –recovered from a tear- played with the regular players who on Sunday will face Lanús to decide who will be the winner of the Apertura tournament.

With respect to the participation of Boca’s idol among the eleven players that will step out on the field, the coach admitted that “it wouldn’t be ideal to put him on the field right from the start, it might be better to do so in the final stages of the game”, referring to his possible lack of fitness after his injury.

Turning the page, La Volpe addressed the defeat Boca suffered in Córdoba which postponed the materialization of the so much sought after triple championship.

“We continue to work, it’s all in the mind. I don’t really know what happened to us with Belgrano” he explained.

Finally, when the former goalkeeper was asked regarding the possible reinforcements which might arrive at the team in 2007, the coach said that “I can’t talk about any hiring of players out of respect for the present team. I have to get together with the managers.-

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well boca's still 3 points above the 2nd..so they're very close to winning the league..i hope they do

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Only three days to go to know the outcome of the Apertura tournament. But for Boca’s coach this is no excuse to let up on the intense work he is engaged in. In this Thursday’s practice session Ricardo La Volpe tried out three different tactical alternatives and left the question as to the final team to be fielded wide open.

The first team he set up followed the line of the classical 4-4-2 pattern with Bobadilla, Ibarra, Silvestre, Díaz and Morel; Gago, Ledesma, Marino and Cardozo; Palacio and Palermo.

A while later he had Calvo come in for Ledesma and switched to a five-man defence, three midfielders and the two forward attackers.
Finally he brought in Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Boca changed to a 4-3-3. On Sunday the twin has a good chance to be on the field from kickoff, but he hasn’t yet been confirmed.

At no time was Jesús Dátolo under consideration, who had been a regular on the field from kickoff in the last two tournament games against Colón and Belgrano.

La Volpe plays the mystery game. Only on Sunday, a few moments before stepping onto the field to play the decisive game against Lanús, will it be known which eleven men will have to leave their lives on the field to attain the triple championship.-

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Like all Fridays Boca's coach Ricardo La Volpe gave a press conference in which he underlined the importance of seeking a victory and of barring the idea from the minds of the players that a draw would suffice to win the tournament.

"Sunday's match will be one of the most important ones of my life, because it is a final and Boca could win a very much desired title" Ricardo La Volpe stated.

The team has been trying out various alternatives during the week. During Friday's practice session twin Guillermo Barros Schelotto was again one of the regular players within a 4-3-3 pattern on the field. Jesús Dátolo has been ruled out for Sunday, as he suffers from a slight contracture that prevented him from training normally. Hugo Ibarra also had special training cut out for him on account of some pain.

"We're going out to win. This is our objective. Although a tie would also serve our purpose, we only think of the three points", Boca's coach rounded off.

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if the boca juniors win tomorrow ! they win the league !

i will post the streams tomorrow

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im watching the game 1-0 to boca juniors ! by freekick. dunnow by whom :P he was blond .. it's bad streaming..