Latest news with #MarcosAcuña
New York Times
27-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
The history behind Marcos Acuña and his Club World Cup rage
There's a common phrase in Argentina that is synonymous with the country's sporting culture. In English, it's best described as 'grit' or 'tenacity'. In Argentina, where male athletes and men's teams are judged by their steel and resilience, the ultimate badge of honor is linked to the strength of their nether regions. Advertisement 'Poner huevo', in the figurative sense of the definition, is to leave everything on the field. To fight for your teammates, club or country at all costs and against all odds. The literal definition is to 'have balls, or eggs (huevos)', and that's River Plate fullback Marcos Acuña's calling card. Nicknamed 'El Huevo', Acuña has made a living by playing football on the edge. Diminutive in stature but built like an Olympic wrestler, the former Sevilla star earned his moniker with Club Ferro Carril Oeste, a proud second-division team with a unique relationship with Aston Villa. Acuña came up through the Ferro, which is located in the Caballito neighborhood of Buenos Aires. Acuña stood out as a young player for his relentless play and his fearless desire to tackle despite his size. He moved to Racing Club in 2014, two years before making his senior international debut for Argentina. A period at Sporting CP in Portugal was preceded by his most noteworthy spell in Spain with Sevilla, where he cemented his reputation in La Liga as a technical and bruising defender. He started four matches for Argentina during the title run at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. His profile at the top level has been understated, but highly valued by Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni; Acuña is the type of player most coaches would relish having on their side. 'He's quiet, but if you're going to war, you go with 'El Huevo' Acuña,' Scaloni told ESPN in 2021. 'El Huevo is a guy we appreciate in a special way — and he knows it. Getting words out of him is hard. But when he speaks, he says just the right thing. And when he has to play, he plays, he gives it everything… He's the kind of player we like to have.' On Wednesday in Seattle, Acuña played like his alias. The 33-year-old was among River Plate's top performers in their 2-0 loss to Champions League runners-up Inter at the Club World Cup. But Acuña's fiery personality got the better of him after the final whistle. It took a handful of River Plate players, plus Inter coach Cristian Chivu and River Plate's team bodyguard, to restrain Acuña, who became enraged and ran after Inter's Denzel Dumfries as the Dutch international headed to the stadium's tunnel. Advertisement Dumfries and Acuña aren't strangers. They last faced each other in 2022, during a highly combative World Cup quarterfinal in Qatar. Argentina and the Netherlands battled to a 2-2 draw before the former prevailed 4-3 in the penalty shootout. There was also a bench-clearing scuffle between both sides that raised the temperature to a boiling point. After Lautaro Martinez scored the winning penalty, several Argentina players taunted their opponents as they celebrated their qualification to the semifinals. The images of Argentina's players laughing in the faces of the devastated Dutch side were seen by the football world. But there's one video that was obscure, and that may have led to the clash between Acuña and Dumfries in Seattle. Aca no se acuerda nadie porque estaban todos festejando pero lo de Acuña y Dumfries viene de aca. — lautaro (@notlauti_) June 26, 2025 An overhead angle of Argentina's celebrations sees Acuña bait Dumfries. A melee ensued and Dumfries was shown a second yellow. Acuña, a left fullback, was Scaloni's answer to containing the speedy Dumfries. The two players became very familiar with each other that day. When the Club World Cup groups were announced, the River Plate and Inter match was among the most anticipated of the group stage. There wasn't a great deal of friction between the two during the match. Both players got the better of each other at times, but they kept it professional until Alessandro Bastoni put the game on ice in second-half stoppage time. Acuña had previously been triggered by something one of Inter's assistant coaches had said, so the tensions were rising. With River Plate's elimination a certainty, Acuña became enraged and tangled with Dumfries on the ground after he dragged the Inter defender down by his shirt. They both shared a sinister grin and that's when the two began to exchange pleasantries. Perhaps Acuña reminded the Dutch fullback that Dumfries had left Qatar without a medal. After the match, Inter captain Martinez, Acuña's Argentina teammate, revealed how the ordeal was resolved. 'I spoke with Marcos. He's a great person, and that's that,' Martínez said. 'I've known him for years. These are situations that happen in the heat of the match. It happened, it was a momentary bout of anger, but everything stays on the field. The confrontation… stayed on the field. Acuña and Dumfries made peace inside the locker room.' Advertisement River Plate manager Marcelo Gallardo lauded his team's effort against one of the strongest teams in Europe. The incident between Acuña and Dumfries, though, marred the Argentine club's participation in the tournament. Fans and pundits in South America blasted River Plate and Acuña for failing to lose honorably. 'I understand the emotions of the players, but the ending is not the image we want to show,' Gallardo said. 'A fight between two players causes everyone to get involved. It's not River's style for things to end that way.' Gallardo wasn't proud of his player's behavior after the final whistle. But for El Huevo Acuña, the question remains whether he's a modern-day hard man or a victim of his own pride.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
📸 Acuna and Dumfries brawl in Inter-River, Chivu steps in 😱
A high-tension finale between Inter and River Plate at the Club World Cup, ended 2-0 for the Nerazzurri thanks to goals from Pio Esposito and Alessandro Bastoni. Despite the victory and qualification to the round of 16 as group leaders, the atmosphere heated up in the final minutes and after the final whistle. The protagonists of a heated clash were the two wingers Marcos Acuña and Denzel Dumfries, who were already at the center of numerous contrasts during the match. The situation degenerated into a mini-brawl, culminating in a chase at the end of the match and the involvement of staff, teammates, and fans. 💢 On-field clash and rising tensions From the early stages of the match, the game between Inter and River Plate was characterized by intense physical duels and borderline clashes. The competitiveness increased in the second half, especially after the Nerazzurri's lead signed by Pio Esposito at 72'. Marcos Acuña showed increasing signs of nervousness, culminating in repeated fouls on Dumfries that were not sanctioned by the referee. The Argentine winger, unpunished, repeatedly tried to provoke the Dutchman, with the clear intent of getting him sent off for a second yellow card. 🧨 The doubling goal and the final fuse At 93' Inter finds the doubling with Bastoni, further exploding the spirits. Immediately after the goal, Acuña intensifies the provocations and verbal clashes with Dumfries. Advertisement The atmosphere becomes incandescent, recalling the tensions seen in Netherlands-Argentina at the World Cup in Qatar. The two teams face each other with increasing hostility, while bickering and protests flare up between the benches. 🟥 The mini-brawl and Montiel's expulsion Just before the final whistle, a real mini-brawl breaks out on the field. Among pushes, shouts, and moments of confusion, Montiel is sent off at 96' for protests. The nervousness infects both formations, with the benches trying to contain their respective players. The match officials struggle to maintain control of the situation. 😱 Dumfries chased, Acuña restrained At the end of the match, Dumfries runs towards the locker rooms, pursued by Marcos Acuña and some River Plate players. The opposing fans throw objects at him as the Dutchman quickly leaves the field. Only the timely intervention of Cristian Chivu and Argentine captain Franco Armani prevents the worst: Acuña is physically restrained by at least four teammates and staff members to prevent him from continuing. Dumfries, escorted, returns to the tunnel. Advertisement This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here. 📸 PABLO PORCIUNCULA - AFP or licensors
Washington Post
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Driussi scores for River Plate but leaves with injury in 3-1 Club World Cup win over Urawa
SEATTLE — Sebastian Driussi scored for River Plate but was injured in the process, Marcos Acuña recorded two assists and the Argentine club beat the Urawa Red Diamonds 3-1 in the Club World Cup at Lumen Field on Tuesday. Driussi's goal three minutes into the second half made it 2-0, but he collided with goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa and fell to the ground in pain, grabbing his ankle. He limped off the field with assistance and was replaced by Miguel Borja. Facundo Colidio and Maximiliano Meza also scored for River Plate. Yusuke Matsuo converted a penalty for the Japanese club in the 58th minute. Takuro Kaneko drew the foul and yellow card on Acuña. The kick was delayed by pushing and shoving at the penalty box's edge, resulting in a yellow for German Pezzella. Colidio scored in the 12th minute on a header off a cross from Acuña, and Meza restored River Plate's two-goal advantage in the 73rd minute off Acuña's corner kick service. Franco Armani saved a strong shot from the center of the box by Thiago Santana in the 90th minute to preserve River Plate's two-goal advantage. Attendance for the noon kickoff was announced at 11,974. Lumen Field has a capacity of 68,740. But both teams had a significant fan presence for their Club World Cup opener. ___ AP soccer:
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The three key players from River's Club World Cup debut 3️⃣
River debuted with a victory against Urawa Red Diamonds and we bring you the three protagonists of the match. Facundo Colidio achieved efficiency If there is one issue for which the striker has been criticized, it has been for needing many chances to score. Well, in this match, he warned in the first that hit the post and the second that he had allowed River to open the scoring. Finally, he achieved effectiveness. Marcos Acuña, from enemy to hero The match of the ex-Racing had it all. He assisted for the first goal of the match, but when River went 2-0, he committed a clear penalty that gave life to Urawa. And to redeem himself, with a great execution from a corner kick, once again he dressed as an assistant in Maxi Meza's goal. Highs and lows for Marcos who ended with a positive balance. A more than exciting duel of fans Everyone was waiting for the show of the Argentine fans who sang during the 90 minutes, but from the stands opposite they also gave the gift and the duel between the stands was another of the great attractions of the match. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here. 📸 PABLO PORCIUNCULA - AFP or licensors
Associated Press
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Driussi scores for River Plate but leaves with injury in 3-1 Club World Cup win over Urawa
SEATTLE (AP) — Sebastian Driussi scored for River Plate but was injured in the process, Marcos Acuña recorded two assists and the Argentine club beat the Urawa Red Diamonds 3-1 in the Club World Cup at Lumen Field on Tuesday. Driussi's goal three minutes into the second half made it 2-0, but he collided with goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa and fell to the ground in pain, grabbing his ankle. He limped off the field with assistance and was replaced by Miguel Borja. Facundo Colidio and Maximiliano Meza also scored for River Plate. Yusuke Matsuo converted a penalty for the Japanese club in the 58th minute. Takuro Kaneko drew the foul and yellow card on Acuña. The kick was delayed by pushing and shoving at the penalty box's edge, resulting in a yellow for German Pezzella. Colidio scored in the 12th minute on a header off a cross from Acuña, and Meza restored River Plate's two-goal advantage in the 73rd minute off Acuña's corner kick service. Key moment Franco Armani saved a strong shot from the center of the box by Thiago Santana in the 90th minute to preserve River Plate's two-goal advantage. Takeaways Attendance for the noon kickoff was announced at 11,974. Lumen Field has a capacity of 68,740. But both teams had a significant fan presence for their Club World Cup opener. ___ AP soccer:
