Arsenal play Riverplate on tonight

[mel81x]

I was just on the international tournaments board and saw an Arsenal / Riverplate matchup for today....

I dont know much about Riverplate but i know they are one of the two good clubs in Argentina so whats the story here? are the big names going?

[Will317]

Just been watching a bit of the game on TV - not alot going on unfortunately. :dontcare:

[Will317]

Finished 0-0, a pretty boring game. :boo:

Arsenal.com - 30.07.04
Arsenal's first game of the Amsterdam Tournament ended in a drab goalless draw on Friday night.
Arsene Wenger's side just about shaded the game against Argentinian outfit River Plate at the Amsterdam ArenA. But, in truth, the game hardly moved out of second gear throughout the 90 minutes.
Returning hero Dennis Bergkamp came closest to breaking the deadlock in the final few minutes. First, he steered a header just wide. Then his 89th-minute shot was blocked by Eduardo Tuzzio from close range.
Arsenal will complete their Amsterdam fixtures against hosts Ajax on Sunday night.
Wenger's squad was virtually the same as it was for the games in Slovenia and Austria. None of the Euro 2004 players were used but midfielder Mathieu Flamini was named on the bench. It was the first match for the new signing from Marseille.
It was thankfully a cool night in the Amsterdam ArenA for this early evening kick-off. This was the first of two games tonight in the four-team tournament.
It was to be followed by Panathinaikos v Ajax at 9.15pm (local time). With the Ajax crowd waiting for their heroes, the impressive stadium seemed only half full at kick-off.
In previous pre-season games, Robin van Persie had figured mostly on the left of midfield. Tonight, Jose Antonio Reyes started in that position so the Dutchman began just behind Jeffers. To many that position is simply known as the "Bergkamp role". The originator, a former Ajax hero, was on the bench.
It was Van Persie who fired the first 'sighter' on goal, a rising shot from distance that flew a few yards over the crossbar in the sixth minute. Triallist Marco Ne had a similar effort a few minutes later, but otherwise it was a low-key affair.
Cuevas conjured up the first real effort for River Plate, but the fast-covering Jermaine Pennant rushed back to block his firmly-struck shot.
Reyes did his best to lift the tone in the 24th minute when he won the ball in midfield only to lose it and tumble to the floor. However, he recovered, robbed his tackler and skipped past a challenge before being denied by the keeper.
On the half-hour, Van Persie charged down a clearance and the ball ricocheted across the area to Pennant at the far post. The winger beat his marker and clipped a low cross for Jeffers at the near post. However, the former Everton striker, under pressure from Tuzzio, scrambled his effort wide.
River Plate had their moments as half-time approached. Daniel Luduena cracked a shot wide when he should have made the keeper save and 20-year-old Maximiliamo Lopez went close as well.
The Argentinian side continued to look more forceful after the interval with Cuevas darting to the byline before flashing a dangerous ball across the face of the goal.
Arsenal responded on the hour when Gael Clichy cleverly weighted a left-wing pass for the scampering Reyes, who cut inside before finding Jeffers 10 yards out. The striker swivelled neatly but could not find the target. Seconds later, Reyes set up fellow Spaniard Cesc Fabregas, who fired a few feet wide of goal.
It was the former Barcelona midfielder's last contribution as he may way seconds later for Flamini, who slotted into central midfield.
That may have been a significant moment for the numerous travelling Arsenal fans but the home support were more interested in Bergkamp's arrival. The Amsterdam ArenA afforded the warmest of welcomes to the 35-year-old striker when he replaced Jeffers.
However, even the legendary Dutchman could not lift a drab affair. Another substitute, Gilberto, nodded wide from Reyes corner but it was an isolated incident. This game had a distinctly pre-season feel.
Bergkamp nearly stole the plaudits, and the game, at the death when he headed just wide from Justin Hoyte's cross in the 86th minute.
Three minutes later, the Dutchman controlled Reyes' cross but, as he was about to pull the trigger, Tuzzio threw himself forward to block. The fairytale ending had been denied.

Report by Richard Clarke

[MARADONA]

I was just on the international tournaments board and saw an Arsenal / Riverplate matchup for today....

I dont know much about Riverplate but i know they are one of the two good clubs in Argentina so whats the story here? are the big names going?

WELL, RIVER PLATE IS THE BIG NAME OF ARGENTINA; AND WITHOUT A DOUBT THE MOST POWERFULL TEAM OF THIS CONTINENT.
THE TEAM WAS CREATED IN MAY 25TH. 1901 BY ITALIAN IMMIGRANTS IN THE BORROUGH OF ¨LA BOCA¨; LATER RIVER PLATE MOVED TO THE FANCY PART OF BUENOS AIRES NOW IS PLACED IN ¨NUÑEZ¨.
THE STADIUM OF RIVER PLATE ANTONIO V. LIBERTI OR ¨EL MONUMENTAL¨ IS THE HOME STADIUM OF THE NATIONAL TEAM OF ARGENTINA; AND WAS THE STADIUM OF THE 1978 WORLD CUP FINAL.
ALMOST ALL THE BIG NAMES OF ARGENTINA COME OUT OF RIVER PLATE; THE ONLY GREAT ARGENTINIAN PLAYER THAT REFUSE TO PLAY FOR RIVER WAS DIEGO MARADONA, WHO PREFER TO PLAY FOR BOCA FOR A LESS SALARY JUST ´CAUSE HE IS A BOCA SUPPORTER.
GREAT NAMES THAT PLAYED FOR RIVER PLATE:
ALFREDO DI STEFANO; DANIEL PASSARELLA; MARIO KEMPES; NORBERTO ¨EL BETO¨ ALONSO; CLAUDIO CANNIGGIA; GABRIEL BATISTUTA;SIVORI; OSCAR RUGGERI; PABLO AIMAR; JAVIER SAVIOLA; ARIEL ORTEGA; ENZO FRANCESCOLI; ALZAMENDI; VALDANO: HERNAN CRESPO;ETC.ETC.ETC.

THE BIG NAMES OF RIVER NOW ARE:MARCELO GALLARDO & MARCELO SALAS (CHI)
WE HAVE A NEW ROOKIE NAMED MAXIMILIANO LOPEZ WHO SEEMS TO BE THE GREATEST STRIKER SINCE SAVIOLA.
AND APPARENTLY ALMEYDA AND SORIN ARE ABOUT TO SIGN WITH THE CLUB THEIR RETURN.

ABOUT THE MATCH; IT WAS VERY BORING; BUT EVEN THOUGH BOTH TEAMS WERE PLAYING WITH SUBSTITUTES IT WAS NICE TO SEE MY TEAM PLAYING WITH ARSENAL.

ALL THE BEST.

UP THE IRONS!!!