The clip above is from Diego Maradona's presser following Argentina's WCQ victory on Wednesday night. To say he was more than a bit smug with regard to his side's qualification is something of an understatement. For those of us that don't speak Spanish, let me provide you with a translation courtesy of my guy JP.

The Antonio Vespucio Liberti Stadium in Argentina will welcome Diego Maradona's Albiceleste and Coffee Makers Colombia as both teams clash against each other on June 6, in yet another intriguing World Cup qualifier in South America's group zone. The Argentines appear to be completely devastated after suffering a shocking 6-1 hammering in the hands of Bolivia [.

Most of the heavy favourites have already qualified for the World Cup due next summer in South Africa. Previous World Cup winners such as Brazil, Germany, England, Argentina and Italy (also current WC Winners) all booked their spot in South Africa following a long and arduous road. Some teams such as Argentina have struggled while others such as England have cruised, yet the World Cup stage is a different playing field and previous results will not count.

By NESTOR F. SEBASTIAN

With group stages of the Copa Libertadores finally set to conclude next week, seven teams are officially out while four have tickets to the Round of 16. That leaves 21 teams to battle-royal it out for the remaining 12 posts available.

Zola eyes up top notch talent

The Rumour

West Ham United's determination to strengthen their attack by signing Bayern Munich's Luca Toni and Eidur Gudjohnsen of Barcelona increased as Luis Boa Morte suffered cruciate damage which could rule him out until the new year.

A full slate of World Cup qualifying matches will kick off around the world on Saturday and no match will have more international interest than Brazil vs. Argentina.

Argentina finds itself in the improbable position of fourth place in the South American World Cup qualifying, just a spot away from missing out on automatically qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

By NESTOR F. SEBASTIAN

Copa Libertadores returns to action and its semifinalists will be determined this week as the second legs of he quarterfinals get underway this week with all four matches pretty tight, making the away-goal rule crucial. Brazil has a great chance of having a champion with four of its representatives in the final eight, which would give it its first title since 2006 when Internacional won it.

You will all be shocked to know that despite outward appearances there are things going on in the U.S. soccersphere today that don't actually pertain to the Rumpus in Columbus™. For instance Kansas City are sneaking around and signing Argentine strikers while no one is looking. Hopefully he is more Christian Gomez than Franco Caraccio.

The Antonio Vespucio Liberti Stadium in Argentina will welcome Diego Maradona's Albiceleste and Coffee Makers Colombia as both teams clash against each other on June 6, in yet another intriguing World Cup qualifier in South America's group zone.The Argentines appear to be completely devastated after suffering a shocking 6-1 hammering in the hands of Bolivia [.

The most insane thing about this clip is not the ease with which RSL's Javi Morales lays down arguably one of the longset chips ever on Club America, but the fact that there is an advert for the Jim Rome show in a soccer stadium.

This is the 17" Macbook Pro of over-the-top goal celebrations.

The Mexican media started to turn on Eriksson after Mexico could only scrape through the penultimate World Cup qualifying round on goal difference ahead of Jamaica.

They were further inflamed when the Swede selected four naturalised "foreign players" - the Argentines Matias Vuoso and Lucas Ayala and the Brazilian duo Leandro Augusto and Antonio Nelson - for the friendly against Sweden in January.

I still (and will probably always) prefer FIFA to PES, but here's the trailer for the latest installment for all you fanboys out there. This is all cut scene...hopefully some game play footage will be coming soon.

The end of the European season has brought with it the usual spate of embryonic transfer rumours, so since there's no Argentines Abroad this week, let's take a (very) quick look at some of them to give you a bit of reading matter today, shall we? Boca Juniors have had a few offers for players, [...]

By NESTOR F. SEBASTIAN

With four rounds left, and after almost three years of home-and-away matches among the 10-nation pool of countries in South America, the dust is closely settling on who will make it to South Africa next year and who will stay home and watch it on TV----and there's been little surprise at the outcome.

Juan Pietravallo symbolizes what's wrong with RBNY? Perhaps. What about Khano Smith? Is he worth 120K? Probably not. What's certain though is that between those two and Dane Richards there is over $460K in salary cap space just sitting on the bench as if it was waiting for the M60 to LaGuardia to come a whisk it away.

Now this is scary. The financials are so bad within the Argentine league that next week's scheduled kickoff has been delayed indefinitely. You know the recent AFL demise began with a suspension of one season and it doesn't look set to recover. I'm not saying it's going to happen but I'm just saying that there is an outside chance it could happen.

Before Maurizio Pellegrino put on a Liverpool shirt in January 2005, no Argentine footballer had ever played for the club. All that has changed with Rafael Benitez in charge as he has brought in a total of six Argentines over these past five years: Mauricio Pellegrino, Gabriel Palletta, Emiliano Insua, Javier Mascehrano, Sebastian Leto and Gerardo Bruna.

I want big teams to miss out, which helps the USA next year. What to watch for:
1) Argentina gets tested. Currently 4th place in CONMEBOL, they'll first face Brazil at home. Given the recent form of both teams, that's not an easy match even though they've won it the previous two qualifying cycles.

After the 1-0 victory over Trinidad & Tobago last night, the United States moves into the top spot in the CONCACAF region for 2010 World Cup qualifying.
While in a position to control their own destiny, Soccer America's Paul Kennedy outlines the scenarios that must play out for the US to secure a bid to South Africa.

Diego Maradona has a penchant for showing the world what happens when infinite hubris and infinite ineptitude meet personal benefit.
According to Argentine sports daily Olé Maradona is flying to Europe to face the players that he once had as indisputable in his previous callups and tell them that they will not be a part of the national team in the upcoming friendly against Ghana on September 30th and in the final two matches in World Cup qualifying play against Peru and Uruguay.

This is probably the shortest Argentines Abroad update you're ever likely to read, but after leaving it for such a long time before last week I'm eager not to break the habit. Also, with so few leagues playing during the recent international break, Our Man In Mexico, Tom Clark, has effectively written it for me [.

Late Goal From Supersub Bolatti Puts Argies Into World Cup.
Diego lashes out at journalists:
"They can suck it and carry on sucking it," he fumed in the press conference after the dramatic win. "This is for all Argentines, minus the journalists.

Fans of a bit of blue will be happy with the news that Argentina has now finally booked their place at South Africa 2010.
It's not just on their famous striped shirts however that the blue will be found but also coming from the mouth of Diego Maradona if his latest press conference is anything to go by.

It was a mixed week for Argentines in England Pablo Zabaleta was sent off and Carlos Tevez had to toil on his own up front as Manchester City could only draw 1-1 with Wigan Athletic, and Javier Mascherano and Emiliano Insúa's Liverpool lost in circumstances which were either hilarious or exasperating depending on your [.

On Saturday one group of Argentines abroad got off to a very good start in a new campaign José Luis Brown's national Under 17 team beat Honduras 1-0 in the first match of their age group World Cup in Nigeria. Sergio Araujo scored the only goal of the game. Around the world in the [...]

D.C. says that he's back because "he's good at soccer". While that may be true I think the real reason is because you can't really get away with these long-ass shorts/short-ass pants/capri's/man-culottes in Colorado. It just doesn't work.

RBNY are heading down to Argentina later today for 2 weeks of training and hopefully some good wine & amazing steak. The unconfirmed word is that in addition to attending games at La Bombonera and El Monumental, they'll be playing Argentinos Juniors on March 3rd and Boca Juniors on March 6th.

I do not speak Spanish well enough to confidently say "I speak Spanish". However some you are much more worldly than I and command use of more than one tongue. If you fit this bill, check out a couple exclusive pre-season training camp sit-downs from ESPN Deportes with Columbus players Schellotto, Gino Padula & Alejandro Moreno.

Did you see the mammoth mustache that RBNY keeper Jon Conway was rocking down in Argentina during pre-season? It is as if there's a warehouse broom above his lip, just laid up in the comfortable shade of his nose. Something so regal & lush is basically enough to keep Freddy Mercury's ghost in tears for the remainder of his time in hell.

The majority of the players who so failed to distinguish themselves last Wednesday were rested by their clubs on their return from what Sir Alex Ferguson, Carlos Tevez's boss at Manchester United, called 'Mars' this weekend. A few Argentines were in action, though, so here as ever is the rundown - a rather briefer one than normal.

By NESTOR F. SEBASTIAN

Copa Libertadores returns to action and its semifinalists will be determined this week as the second legs of he quarterfinals get underway this week with all four matches pretty tight, making the away-goal rule crucial. Brazil has a great chance of having a champion with four of its representatives in the final eight, which would give it its first title since 2006 when Internacional won it.

By NESTOR F. SEBASTIAN

South America will see its Copa Libertadores finalists determined this week when the second legs of the semifinals are sorted out with Club Nacional of Montevideo, Uruguay hosting Argentina's Estudiantes de la Plata in the first match-up tonight while tomorrow's all-Brazilian affair has Gremio welcoming Cruzeiro.

If you've not already voted for our Argentines Abroad award, now's the time. Less than 24 hours remaining! Argentina has recently had its own elections, but this week sees the culmination of a far more important one. You've got only six days left to vote, if you haven't already, for your winner in the HEGS / [.

Next season's Argentines Abroad (on which note, the HEGS / MA Award winner will be announced on Thursday) are swelling their ranks in the annual exodus from the banks of the Paraná and Río de la Plata (the rivers of Babyl... I'll stop, shall I? OK). Rodrigo Palacio is finally leaving La Bombonera and Santiago [.

Well that's what they say he's going to become, anyway. Javier Pastore, the just-turned-20-year-old hero of Huracán's championship challenge during the Torneo Clausura, was unveiled as the newest signing at Palermo, where he told the press, 'my model is Riquelme.' Elsewhere in Europe, various Argentines played in pre-season friendlies for their clubs, including Javier Mascherano, [.

I want to remember Diego like this...superhuman

I remember the days gone by. I remember fondly watching the '86 World Cup (yes 1986) and seeing Diego Maradona lead a powerful Argentinian team to victory. It was his coronation. Diego was the best player in the world (and not like people claiming his countryman Lionel Messi is.

Maradona has Argentina on the Verge of the Untinkable
The grueling 18-game round robin CONMEBOL qualifiers are down to the last two match days. Only two teams, Brazil and Paraguay, have secured their pass to their pass to the finals. Two other teams, Peru and Bolivia, have been eliminated.

The FIFA U-20 world cup has been taking place in Egypt for the past 2 weeks and tonight we will know two semi-finalists. Korea face off with Ghana while Italy play hungary.

Ghana is the sole remaining African team and they will have a lot of pressure on their shoulders when they play the Koreans.

Is it December already? Then it must be time for Argentines across Europe to wonder what possessed them to move to a continent where Christmas is celebrated in a cold climate. The performances are still decent, though. Gonzalo Higuaín scored again for Real Madrid as Lionel Messi ensured Barcelona kept their noses in front; Carlos [.