HEINZE and BOLATTI at a press conference

This was the most entertaining so far.

I felt like Gabriel HEINZE was rallying the team with every word. He sounded like a true leader.

I enjoyed some of his statements. BOLATTI was not asked as many questions, but when he was, his answers were good too.

And there was a moment in which HEINZE even gave an answer in French and then got a standing ovation from the Argentine reporters in attendance. Very funny moment.

Right...this is all they said:

Gabriel HEINZE

On his opinion on Nigeria:

"We saw Nigeria's last friendly (v. North Korea). I think many of us know them well. A lot of their players are playing in France or in England, where I played against them. They have a new manager and they play a system that is probably not the one they will use against us. But we are focused on what we need to do and not on what they will do".

"They have very athletic players. They have an enormous physical power. I've got a team-mate, TAIWO, who plays with me in Marseille and I'm impressed by him. I never saw him needing a massage or being tired. They too want to be stars in this World Cup. But we need to see how they are playing collectively. They are going to put pressure on us and they will play a direct kind of game because they have some fast people in their team".

On how he sees Argentina shaping up for their debut:

"We're in good shape. You will see that on Saturday. We feel great. We have been training really hard. At a high level".

Now this was funny. Juan Carlos PASMAN, the same journalist Diego said: "You have it up yours!" in Uruguay, because he has been very critical of his process, decided to ask HEINZE the following question: "From what I hear from our audience, I work in TV and radio, I take it there are a lot of people who are questioning why you are in this team. What do you think about that?"

And HEINZE started looking visibly mad at this guy. Then he said the following:

"I think facts will speak more than words. My opinion is very different to yours. I have been always criticized by the media and never by the fans. If four or five national team managers have trusted me, I thank them and I give each one of them all I can. I'm at peace".

On how the team would change if Jonas GUTIERREZ was to play at right-back:

"Our team could change with Jonas playing as a right back. He is more used to join our midfield. This could give our team more options starting our movements from the back. The rest of us in the back-line are out-and-out defenders. The manager will want the rest of us to focus on marking. From what we saw in training, we will always have four players at the back. I'm telling you this based on what we've been doing in training".

On what are the differences heading up to this World Cup compared to 2002 and 2006:

"I can't speak of what happened in 2002 because I wasn't there. I don't like to talk about things I didn't live. In 2006 we arrived to the World Cup in a good shape. I was coming from an injury but I did OK. As we were playing each match, we were doing better. And then it happened what you all saw. Today? We are in a good shape too. We can't wait for Saturday to come".

On what he thinks after nutmegging MESSI in training:

"I did! But I could only do that in training. I wouldn't dare doing something like that in a game. The good thing is that we take things with a good humor and with joy."

On what has changed after the WC Qualifiers and up to this point in which people are starting to think Argentina could win the World Cup:

"We need to ask the people what has changed. From the inside, I can't help thinking about how well our players are playing individually. This is something that makes people think we are favourites. I'm not interested in statistics and opinions from the outside. What I do care about is for us to be 23 players ready to give our everything for this shirt. The qualifiers were tough. Very complicated. We couldn't show the real Argentina. The Argentina we wanted and you were waiting for. But now we're OK. I hope things work out well for us. If our players are at such a high level individually, I don't see why we can't work just as well collectively".

On Lionel MESSI:

"MESSI is a human being. Some people tend to forget that. He could have a bad day every now and then. It's normal."

On whether Diego MARADONA is a better coach now than what it was when he first took over:

"I think you get more experience as you go. I can tell you MARADONA is a coach that gives you a lot of confidence. He lived many things as a player and he can relate to what we are living now. It's our responsibility to make Diego a better coach. Like it's the responsibility of every team to make their coach better".


Mario BOLATTI


On how his career changed from being ignored at Porto to being about to play in a World Cup:

"Every player has always in his head the idea to play for the national team. At the beginning of 2009 I didn't have much chances at Porto. I needed to reinvent myself. I wanted to get some first team action and that's why I went back to Argentina to play for Huracán. Today I'm leaving a dream and I'm enjoying it. But I have to keep working, keep improving and give my best".

On how he sees Argentina's preparation to the World Cup:

"We've been working very well. We are not sorry for not having played in friendly matches. The positive thing about this is that our group is intact. No injuries at all" (NOTE: KNOCK ON WOOD, BOLATTI, KNOCK ON WOOD!).

On whether he sees himself more suited to replaced MASCHERANO or VERON:

"I'm willing to play wherever our manager asks me. My natural position is central midfielder, but if Diego wants me to cover any other position, I'm willing to do it".

On who he tips to the be start of the tournament:

"I hope the team is the real start of the tournament. If I have to choose one player from Argentina to shine, then my pick is Lionel MESSI. We all know what kind of player he is. He is unique. He is extraordinary".