SINGAPORE: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Argentine and Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero upbeat on Argentina's World Cup chances

Record ID: 574352

  • Title: SINGAPORE: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Argentine and Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero upbeat on Argentina's World Cup chances
  • Date: 16th May 2014
  • Summary: SINGAPORE (MAY 16, 2014) (REUTERS) SERGIO AGUERO AND RIO FERDINAND AT SPONSOR'S EVENT IN SINGAPORE AGUERO WAITING TO BE INTERVIEWED SOUNDBITE (Spanish) SERGIO AGUERO SAYING: "I don't know if Argentina will win. But of course I am excited about the World Cup and I am really looking forward to the tournament." AGUERO SOUNDBITE (Spanish) SERGIO AGUERO SAYING ON PLAYING IN BRAZIL, THEIR BIGGEST RIVALS: "From the footballer's perspective it is pretty much the same. We are playing on the pitch so there is not much difference. The difference may be the weather or how the stadium is constructed. but there is hardly any difference. The main thing will be between the fans. Given the rivalry between the fans of Argentina and Brazil, off course the fans will be much more excited, they can make a bit more mileage out of the fact they can say we won in the backyard of Brazil, but from the footballers' perspective it will be the same." AGUERO SOUNDBITE (Spanish) SERGIO AGUERO SAYING ON CARLOS TEVEZ: "This has been discussed for three years since the new manager took over. Since then we did know there was no relationship between them both. He didn't call him, but it was not such a surprise that he wasn't called. I think this is a really good question for the manager, but I can't comment any further really."
  • Embargoed: 31st May 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Singapore
  • Country: Singapore
  • Topics: General,People,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAD365BCOWPG2VNT5FFK2BX2XTD
  • Story Text: Argentina's striker Sergio Aguero is hoping to add a World Cup winner's medal to his Premier League honours this summer.
    Despite a season disrupted by injury, Aguero helped City overtake Liverpool in the final few games of the season to add a second Premier League title to his CV.
    And he is hoping to spearhead his country's attack at Brazil 2014 as Argentina aim to win their first World Cup since 1986.
    Speaking to Reuters on Friday (May 16) he said: "I don't know if Argentina will win. But of course I am excited about the World Cup and I am really looking forward to the tournament."
    If Argentina do emerge successful, it will be made all the sweeter because the tournament takes place in Brazil, their biggest rivals.
    But Aguero said playing and winning in the likes of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro would be motivation more for the fans than the players.
    "From the footballer's perspective it is pretty much the same," he said. "We are playing on the pitch so there is not much difference. The difference may be the weather or how the stadium is constructed. but there is hardly any difference. The main thing will be between the fans. Given the rivalry between the fans of Argentina and Brazil, of course the fans will be much more excited, they can make a bit more mileage out of the fact they can say we won in the backyard of Brazil, but from the footballers' perspective it will be the same."
    Argentina's World Cup squad has been shrouded in controversy, with no room for Carlos Tevez in coach Alejandro Sabella's final 23.
    But Aguero said it was no real surprise that Tevez - who has been out of favour since Sabella took over in 2011 - failed to make the grade.
    "This has been discussed for three years since the new manager took over," he said. "Since then we did know there was no relationship between them both. He didn't call him, but it was not such a surprise that he wasn't called. I think this is a really good question for the manager, but I can't comment any further really."
    Without Tevez, Argentina may lack a cutting edge - but with Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Lionel Messi they still look a team full of goals.
    For that reason, the South Americans are among the favourites - so who does Aguero see as their biggest rivals? "The big ones are basically the same at every World Cup, here you will be looking forward to seeing Germany, Spain, Brazil with home advantage will be favourite, Italy," he said. "Even this year Belgium have good results, a good qualifying campaign, so I think they will be the main ones going for the final."
    Aguero will be joined in the squad by Man City team-mate Martin Demichelis, a defender who has been criticised for some of his performances in the Premier League.
    But Aguero believes he brings much to the team.
    "Martin, because of his age, he has a lot of experience and he knows his game really well, his position It was no surprise he got called up for the World Cup, he has earned his position in the team," he said. "He has been criticised for the match between Man City and Barcelona and the way he played against Lionel Messi. It is understandable that he wasn't so confident when he first came to the Premier League, but for the last three of four months he has played really well, he has adapted well and that is why he made the squad for the World Cup."
    For many pundits, Argentina's progress to the knockout stages is almost a given as they find themselves in a group with comparative lightweights Bosnia, Nigeria and Iran.
    But Aguero says the team will take no one lightly.
    "Of course I think we are in a strong group," he said. "We may not have the biggest teams, but no team is easy to play against. Everyone in the group is representing their country, and everyone wants to win for their country. Everyone is doing their best to win for their country. No game will be easy. We have to understand that everyone is going to be a tough opponent and we have to focus on our game."
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