BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Argentina’s first World Cup victory in 1978 was a catharsis for fans desperate for a title to go with the belief their team had often been the best on the planet without being able to show it.

It was not what FIFA president Sepp Blatter claimed on Wednesday, “a kind of reconciliation of the public, of the people of Argentina, with the system, the political system, the military system at the time”.

BUENOS AIRES, April 25 (Reuters) – Argentina’s first World Cup victory in 1978 was a catharsis for fans desperate for a title to go with the belief their team had often been the best on the planet without being able to show it.

It was not what FIFA president Sepp Blatter claimed on Wednesday, “a kind of reconciliation of the public, of the people of Argentina, with the system, the political system, the military system at the time”.

BUENOS AIRES, April 22 (Reuters) – Relegation candidates Union held Lanus 0-0 on Monday to deny them a return to sole leadership of the Argentine ‘Final’ championship.

Newell’s Old Boys caught up with Lanus on Friday when they won 3-1 at Velez Sarsfield, winners of the ‘Inicial’ championship in the first half of the season.

BUENOS AIRES, April 18 (Reuters) – A brawl sparked by Gremio coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo apparently making fun of his Chilean opponents Huachipato marred the final night of group matches in the Libertadores Cup on Thursday.

Former title winners Gremio drew 1-1 away to the Chilean champions to advance from Group Eight with fellow Brazilian side Fluminense, 1-0 winners at home to Caracas FC.

BUENOS AIRES, April 17 (Reuters) – Record goal-scoring keeper Rogerio Ceni converted a penalty to send Sao Paulo on their way to a 2-0 win over fellow Brazilians Atletico Minerio and a place in the last 16 of the Libertadores Cup on Wednesday.

Three times South American champions Sao Paulo, who were without suspended forwards Luis Fabiano and Jadson for the Group Three decider at the Morumbi, will clash again with tournament favourites Atletico in the first knockout round.

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Boca Juniors suffered one of their worst defeats as they crashed 6-1 at relegation candidates San Martin, while Independiente are searching for a new coach in a tumultuous round of Argentina’s ‘Final’ championship.

The defeat in San Juan prompted Boca manager Carlos Bianchi to apologise and also concede their league aspirations were over.

BUENOS AIRES, April 13 (Reuters) – Boca Juniors suffered one of their worst defeats as they crashed 6-1 at relegation candidates San Martin, while Independiente are searching for a new coach in a tumultuous round of Argentina’s ‘Final’ championship.

The defeat in San Juan prompted Boca manager Carlos Bianchi to apologise and also concede their league aspirations were over.

BUENOS AIRES, April 13 (Reuters) – Boca Juniors, one of the world’s great soccer teams, suffered one of their worst defeats as they crashed 6-1 at relegation candidates San Martin in San Juan on Saturday.

San Martin had gone 16 matches without a victory, while six times South American champions Boca have only one win and eight points in nine matches in the “Final” championship.

BUENOS AIRES, April 11 (Reuters) – Olimpia of Paraguay, who had already qualified, very nearly dumped 10-man Newell’s Old Boys out of the Libertadores Cup with a crushing 4-1 victory in Asuncion on Thursday.

The Argentine side began the match in second place in Group Seven knowing only a heavy defeat and a good win for Universidad de Chile at Venezuela’s Deportivo Lara could endanger their chances of going through.

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – World Cup-winning coach Graham Henry will again help the Pumas prepare for the southern hemisphere Rugby Championship this year, the Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) said on Wednesday.

Henry, who steered New Zealand to their second world title in 2011, worked with Pumas coach Santiago ‘Tati’ Phelan last year when Argentina made their debut in the expanded Tri-nations, their first participation in a major annual international tournament.