The chance to see Lionel Messi up close unleashed a certain madness Monday as the Argentine national team held their first open practice for the 2018 World Cup in this town roughly 60 km (30 mi) southeast of Moscow. 
 
Some 500 people packed the stands at the Bronnitsy training center on the banks of a river with sandy shores and just a short distance from a traditional Russian Orthodox Church with gilded domes. 
 
The fans never stopped chanting the name of FC Barcelona's star player, while waving both Argentine flags and Barca banners. 
 
"Argentina will win the World Cup. It doesn't matter that it's not the best team, it has Messi. With him, all is possible," Dima, a 10-year-old boy wearing a replica Barcelona shirt with the striker's name, told EFE. 
 
Added to the Argentina fans were more than 200 reporters covering the training session. 
 
Messi decided to thank the fans for their support and their patience by signing autographs and having photos taken with his countless admirers after the practice. 
 
While it wasn't sure that Paulo Dybala would make the starting lineup for the World Cup, the Juventus striker also attracted a lot of attention among the fans and, though Javier Mascherano has opted for a golden retirement in China, he was also very much sought after. 
 
Despite having a tough time qualifying for the World Cup and thanks to a sterling performance by Messi, the Argentines are once again one of the big favorites to win the championship. 
 
Argentina, which lost 1-0 in the 2014 World Cup against Germany, will debut on June 17 against Iceland before going up against Croatia on June 21 and will close the group stage against Nigeria on June 26.

The Argentine national team held their first open practice for the 2018 World Cup and the fans never stopped chanting Messi's name, while waving both Argentine flags and Barca banners

The chance to see Lionel Messi up close unleashed a certain madness Monday as the Argentine national team held their first open practice for the 2018 World Cup in this town roughly 60 km (30 mi) southeast of Moscow. Some 500 people packed the stands at the Bronnitsy training center on the banks of a river with sandy shores and just a short distance from a traditional Russian Orthodox Church with gilded domes. The fans never stopped chanting the name of FC Barcelona's star player, while waving both Argentine flags and Barca banners. "Argentina will win the World Cup. It doesn't matter that it's not the best team, it has Messi. With him, all is possible," Dima, a 10-year-old boy wearing a replica Barcelona shirt with the striker's name, told EFE. Added to the Argentina fans were more than 200 reporters covering the training session. Messi decided to thank the fans for their support and their patience by signing autographs and having photos taken with his countless admirers after the practice. While it wasn't sure that Paulo Dybala would make the starting lineup for the World Cup, the Juventus striker also attracted a lot of attention among the fans and, though Javier Mascherano has opted for a golden retirement in China, he was also very much sought after. Despite having a tough time qualifying for the World Cup and thanks to a sterling performance by Messi, the Argentines are once again one of the big favorites to win the championship. Argentina, which lost 1-0 in the 2014 World Cup against Germany, will debut on June 17 against Iceland before going up against Croatia on June 21 and will close the group stage against Nigeria on June 26.

Messi fans flock to Argentine open practice in Russia

Argentina&#39;s navy revealed Monday that a submarine missing for five days reported a mechanical breakdown in its final communication, and that weekend signals did not come from the vessel, dimming hopes for its 44 crew members.

&quot;The vessel surfaced and it reported a breakdown. It was therefore asked to change course and go to Mar del Plata,&quot; said Gabriel Galeazzi, the head of the naval base in the northeastern city, located 400 kilometers (250 miles) south of Buenos Aires.

Enrique Balbi, a spokesman for the navy, meanwhile told a press conference in the capital that seven signals received by naval bases over the weekend were not attempted distress calls from the submarine, as previously hoped.

&quot;We&#39;ve received the report from the company that analyzed the signals -- the seven attempted calls did not come from the submarine&#39;s satellite phone,&quot; he said, adding: &quot;We have still been unable to contact them.&quot;

The ARA San Juan, a German-built diesel-electric sub, made its last contact on Wednesday.

A multinational air and sea search is under way with help from countries including Brazil, Britain, Chile, the United States and Uruguay.

Argentina's navy revealed Monday that a submarine missing for five days reported a mechanical breakdown in its final communication, and that weekend signals did not come from the vessel, dimming hopes for its 44 crew members. "The vessel surfaced and it reported a breakdown. It was therefore asked to change course and go to Mar del Plata," said Gabriel Galeazzi, the head of the naval base in the northeastern city, located 400 kilometers (250 miles) south of Buenos Aires. Enrique Balbi, a spokesman for the navy, meanwhile told a press conference in the capital that seven signals received by naval bases over the weekend were not attempted distress calls from the submarine, as previously hoped. "We've received the report from the company that analyzed the signals -- the seven attempted calls did not come from the submarine's satellite phone," he said, adding: "We have still been unable to contact them." The ARA San Juan, a German-built diesel-electric sub, made its last contact on Wednesday. A multinational air and sea search is under way with help from countries including Brazil, Britain, Chile, the United States and Uruguay.

Argentina submarine missing for 5 days reported problem in final call: Navy

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone, a month on from a second Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid in three years, has made it clear that his immediate future is with the Spanish club. 
 
The Argentine, who has been at Atletico since 2011 and is under contract for another four years, said after the loss on penalties to Real that he wanted to explore his options. But now he says he is only concentrating on making the team better. 
 
&quot;I spoke in the heat of the moment,&quot; Simeone told reporters on Wednesday in Buenos Aires. &quot;We Argentinians are like that. Others are not at fault for beating you, I learned that a long time ago. 
 
&quot;To remember the pain and the suffering is necessary to better yourself.&quot; 
 
Simeone has won the Europa League, King&#39;s Cup and La Liga in his four-and-a-half seasons at the Spanish club. 
 
The 46-year-old says only a few teams that have &quot;more resources&quot; are superior to Atletico and expects his side to continue to fight for titles domestically and internationally. 
 
&quot;I don&#39;t believe there are many teams better than us,&quot; he said. 
 
&quot;We have created a strong group. To be better than Atletico is very difficult because we play as a team. Only Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are better than Atletico, no one else. We are constantly anxious to improve.&quot; 
 
Atletico president Enrique Cerezo is looking to keep the same core of players while also bringing in reinforcements. 
 
French forward Antoine Griezmann, who scored 32 goals in 51 appearances for Atletico this season, signed a one-year contract extension earlier this month. 
 
Atletico have agreed to sign Argentine midfielder Nicolas Gaitan from Benfica and are looking to strengthen their attack. 
 
&quot;The aim is to improve from last season,&quot; Cerezo told reporters on Wednesday. &quot;I know what Atletico needs and that is why we are working well and we will bring in players and good ones.&quot; 
 
&quot;We have turned down offers of millions for almost every player that we have and we will assume that financial weight in order to maintain the backbone of this team and for the important players to remain here.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

The Argentine, who has been at Atletico since 2011, is under contract for another four years, and wants to make the team better

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone, a month on from a second Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid in three years, has made it clear that his immediate future is with the Spanish club. The Argentine, who has been at Atletico since 2011 and is under contract for another four years, said after the loss on penalties to Real that he wanted to explore his options. But now he says he is only concentrating on making the team better. "I spoke in the heat of the moment," Simeone told reporters on Wednesday in Buenos Aires. "We Argentinians are like that. Others are not at fault for beating you, I learned that a long time ago. "To remember the pain and the suffering is necessary to better yourself." Simeone has won the Europa League, King's Cup and La Liga in his four-and-a-half seasons at the Spanish club. The 46-year-old says only a few teams that have "more resources" are superior to Atletico and expects his side to continue to fight for titles domestically and internationally. "I don't believe there are many teams better than us," he said. "We have created a strong group. To be better than Atletico is very difficult because we play as a team. Only Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are better than Atletico, no one else. We are constantly anxious to improve." Atletico president Enrique Cerezo is looking to keep the same core of players while also bringing in reinforcements. French forward Antoine Griezmann, who scored 32 goals in 51 appearances for Atletico this season, signed a one-year contract extension earlier this month. Atletico have agreed to sign Argentine midfielder Nicolas Gaitan from Benfica and are looking to strengthen their attack. "The aim is to improve from last season," Cerezo told reporters on Wednesday. "I know what Atletico needs and that is why we are working well and we will bring in players and good ones." "We have turned down offers of millions for almost every player that we have and we will assume that financial weight in order to maintain the backbone of this team and for the important players to remain here." (Reuters)

Simeone vows to stay on and improve Atletico

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