Tweet
3/7/2008 11:08 AM
Mascherano Doutbful For Milan Trip
Liverpool could be without a vital cog of their midfield for the second-leg of their Champions League tie away to Inter next Tuesday as Javier Mascherano appears to be losing his race for fitness.
JAVIER MASCHERANO
Position: Midfielder Date of Birth: 08/06/1984 Height: 5'7 Weight: 13st 5 1st team games: 42 1st team goals: 0 International caps: 35 International goals: 2 Former clubs: River Plate, Corinthians, West Ham United Birth Place: San Lorenzo, Sante Fe, Argentina.
Argentina international Javier Mascherano signed from West Ham on February 20, 2007.
The midfielder came through the ranks at South American giants River Plate. Such was his potential that he earned his first international call-up before kicking a ball for his club.
Having already represented Argentina in the FIFA Under-17 Championships, Mascherano made his senior debut against Uruguay on July 16, 2003. Within two weeks he was selected for River in a league match against Nueva Chicago.
The summer of 2004 saw the youngster compete in the Copa America. Argentina lost the final to Brazil on penalties but Mascherano was voted player of the tournament by his teammates. A month later he and his countrymen won Olympic gold in Athens.
By this stage, the tough-tackling midfielder had accrued quite a fan club, including one of the greatest players of all time. Diego Maradona described him as "a monster of a player destined for great things."
Mascherano joined Brazilian club Corinthians in July 2005, helping them to win the Campeonato Brasileiro in his first season.
From there he travelled to the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where his performances led to links with several of Europe's top clubs.
West Ham eventually clinched his signature alongside compatriot Carlos Tevez on August 31, 2006. However, he played just seven times for The Hammers before heading north to Merseyside.
Despite the presence of Momo Sissoko, Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso and Bolo Zenden, the newboy quickly established himself as a regular in the centre of Rafa Benitez's midfield.
The Argentine made his debut against Sheffield United on February 24, 2007 donning the number 20 shirt. Three months later he won the fans' man of the match for his performance in the Champions League final in Athens.
In July 2007, Mascherano scored his first two international goals during Argentina's victorious Copa America campaign.
The Argentine midfield orchestrator, who just recently signed a permanent deal with the Reds, will definitely be forced to sit out the league match against Newcastle this weekend, and his manager has now admitted that he may not recover from the injury he sustained against West Ham in time for the trip to Milan.
"I will need to speak to the doctors before we decide about Inter but he will not be available this weekend against Newcastle," said Rafa Benitez on Liverpool's official website.
Benitez would rue being without a player who has emerged as one of his influential peformers for the second-leg against Inter next week. Mascerano is exactly the type of cool head that Liverpool would need on the field if they concede an early goal to the Italian champions, who will be hell-bent on overturning the 2-0 disadvantage from the first-leg.
Derek Wanner, Goal.com
Mascherano Doutbful For Milan Trip
Liverpool could be without a vital cog of their midfield for the second-leg of their Champions League tie away to Inter next Tuesday as Javier Mascherano appears to be losing his race for fitness.
Position: Midfielder Date of Birth: 08/06/1984 Height: 5'7 Weight: 13st 5 1st team games: 42 1st team goals: 0 International caps: 35 International goals: 2 Former clubs: River Plate, Corinthians, West Ham United Birth Place: San Lorenzo, Sante Fe, Argentina.Argentina international Javier Mascherano signed from West Ham on February 20, 2007.
The midfielder came through the ranks at South American giants River Plate. Such was his potential that he earned his first international call-up before kicking a ball for his club.
Having already represented Argentina in the FIFA Under-17 Championships, Mascherano made his senior debut against Uruguay on July 16, 2003. Within two weeks he was selected for River in a league match against Nueva Chicago.
The summer of 2004 saw the youngster compete in the Copa America. Argentina lost the final to Brazil on penalties but Mascherano was voted player of the tournament by his teammates. A month later he and his countrymen won Olympic gold in Athens.
By this stage, the tough-tackling midfielder had accrued quite a fan club, including one of the greatest players of all time. Diego Maradona described him as "a monster of a player destined for great things."
Mascherano joined Brazilian club Corinthians in July 2005, helping them to win the Campeonato Brasileiro in his first season.
From there he travelled to the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where his performances led to links with several of Europe's top clubs.
West Ham eventually clinched his signature alongside compatriot Carlos Tevez on August 31, 2006. However, he played just seven times for The Hammers before heading north to Merseyside.
Despite the presence of Momo Sissoko, Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso and Bolo Zenden, the newboy quickly established himself as a regular in the centre of Rafa Benitez's midfield.
The Argentine made his debut against Sheffield United on February 24, 2007 donning the number 20 shirt. Three months later he won the fans' man of the match for his performance in the Champions League final in Athens.
In July 2007, Mascherano scored his first two international goals during Argentina's victorious Copa America campaign.
"I will need to speak to the doctors before we decide about Inter but he will not be available this weekend against Newcastle," said Rafa Benitez on Liverpool's official website.
Benitez would rue being without a player who has emerged as one of his influential peformers for the second-leg against Inter next week. Mascerano is exactly the type of cool head that Liverpool would need on the field if they concede an early goal to the Italian champions, who will be hell-bent on overturning the 2-0 disadvantage from the first-leg.
Derek Wanner, Goal.com
Comment