Renny Vega - Goalkeeper

Renny Vicente Vega Hernandez (Born 4 July 1979) is a Venezuelan goalkeeper, currently plays for Caracas and the national football team. In 1998, Vega was named the best youth goalkeeper of his country. He played 2007,2011 Copa America. In 1997 and made 59 appearances still now Vega travelled to Italy to play in the youth ranks of Udinese, being the second footballer of his country to play in Europe, after José Manuel Rey, who played for the reserves team of Deportivo La Coruña. However, he returned to Venezuela in 1999, joining Aragua, a first division club of his country.

Rafael Romo - Goalkeeper

Rafael Enrique Romo Perez (Born on February 25, 1990 in Turen, Venezuela) is a Venezuelan goalkeeper, who plays for Udinese. His biggest accomplishment with the national team was the historic 4th place finish at the Sudamericano U20 tournament, making that Venezuelan U20 team the first ever to qualify for the U-20 World Cup. Romo made his debut with Udinese against Lazio; on 15 May 2010.He made 6 appearances in national team and represent the football team at every label.

Dani Hernandez - Goalkeeper

Daniel 'Dani' Hernández Santos (Born 21 October 1985 in Caracas) is a Venezuelan footballer who plays for Real Valladolid in Spain, as a goalkeeper. He also played for Real Madrid reserve team and also Valencia reserve team. He played 4 matches in the National team and also in the squad in Copa America 2011.

Andres Tunez - Defender

Andres Jose Tunez Arceo (Born 15 March 1987) is a Venezuelan professional footballer who plays for Celta de Vigo(Spanish Club) as a central defender. Tunez was promoted to the first team. On the 24th, it was reported in the local papers that the Venezuela national football team had approached the player's agent with an offer to play for them. He made 6 appearances in Copa Del Rey.

Oswaldo Vizcarrondo - Defender

Oswaldo Vizcarrondo (Born 25 April 1984) is a defender who currently plays for Club Olimpo in Argentina following a August 2011 transfer from Deportivo Anzoátegui in Venezuela. This 6ft 3 inch defender made 37 apperances in National team and scored 6 goals. HE also scored one goal in recent Copa America as a semifinalist Team.

Rohel Briceno – Defender

Rohel Briceno (Born March 15, 1984, age 27) is a defender, currently plays for Caracas, a venezeula football club along with Renny Vega.

Fernando Amorebieta - Defender

Fernando Gabriel Amorebieta Mardaras (Born 29 March 1985 in Cantaura, Anzoategui, Venezuela) is a Venezuelan-Spanish footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao as a central defender. Amorebieta expressed his interest in playing for the Venezuelan national team; however, according to FIFA association rules, he should have switched codes prior to the age of 21, having previously played for the Spain U 19. In August 2008, Amorebieta was called by new Spanish coach Vicente del Bosque, for a friendly against Denmark but he did not leave the bench. He made 157 appearances in Athletic Bilbao and also played UEFA Europa League.

Rolf Feltscher - Defender

Rolf Feltscher (Born 6 October 1990) is a Swiss right back of Venezuelan descent who currently plays for Parma. He played for Switzerland U-19 and U-21 team. He is the younger brother of Frank Feltscher who is also in this squad.

Roberto Rosales - Defender

Roberto Jose Rosales Altuve (Born 20 November 1988) is a Venezuelan footballer. He plays for FC Twente (Dutch Football Club) He normally plays as a right back, but can also play on the right side of midfield. He made 30 appearances for the national team. He is first Venezuelan footballer who scored in UEFA Champions League.

Raul Gonzalez - Defender

Raal González Guzman (Born 28 June 1985 at Valencia, Venezuela), known as "El Pollo" is a right back, right winger, played for Apollon Limassol, a team from the League Marfin Laiki of Cyprus. Raul has the same name of the famous Spanish footballer Raúl Gonzalez. In 2004 received the call to form part of the Youthful National Selection that would participate in the 22nd edition of the South American Championship Under-20 "Youth of America" Colombia 2005, where Venezuela advanced to the final round and occupied the sixth position.

Gabriel Cichero - Defender

Gabriel Cichero (Born 25 April 1984) is a Venezuelan left back/central back of Polish descent that currently plays for RC Lens in the Ligue 2. Gabriel Cichero has 30 caps for the Venezuelan national team, and has scored two goals including the winner against Chile in the 2011 Copa América quarterfinal.

Franco Signorelli - Midfielder

Franco Signorelli (Born January 1, 1991) is a Venezuelan midfielder, played for Empoli in the Serie B. He yet not appeared for the Venezuela National team.

Tomas Rincon - Midfielder

Tomas Eduardo Rincon Hernandez (Born 13 January 1988 in San Cristobal, Tachira) is a Venezuelan footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or right back for German Bundesliga club Hamburger SV. He played his first game in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier for Venezuela. Rincon played with U 20 at Sudamericana sub-20 in Paraguay. On 22 July 2011, Rincón was voted 'Adidas' Best Player for the Copa America 2011, in Argentina. He received 65% of the total votes while 10 candidates were competing. He made 39 appearances for Venezuela National team.

Yohandry Orozco - Midfielder

Yohandry Jose Orozco Cujia (Born 19 March 1991 in Maracaibo) is a Venezuelan attacking midfielder. He currently plays for VfL Wolfsburg in Bundesliga, become the 3rd Venezuelan player played in Bundesliga. He also played in Venezuela U-20 team and scored 2 goals. As an Under-20 international, having played the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, he also was in the squad for the 2011 South American Youth Championship. In this tournament, on 24 January 2011, he scored a noticed goal against Perú, in an individual play. He made his debut with the senior team on 3 March 2010, in a friendly match against Panamá. On June 2011, Orozco joined the squad who played the 2011 Copa América.

Josmar Zambrano - Midfielder

Josmar Zambrano Suarez (Born 9 June 1992) is the youngest Venezuelan professional footballer in this squad, plays for Spanish side Tenerife, as an attacking midfielder. He is a product of Tenerife youth team and his terrific form attracted attention of the big clubs like Barcelona, Sevilla.

Frank Feltscher - Midfielder

Frank Feltscher Martinez (Born 17 May 1988 in Bulach, Switzerland) is a Venezuelan football midfielder of Swiss descent who plays for Grasshopper Club in Zurich. He played for the Switzerland national under-21 football team, since 2007 and scored 5 goals. His brother, Rolf, also plays for Parma as a defender and also in this squad.

Julio Alveraz - Midfielder

Julio Álvarez Mosquera (Born 1 May 1981 in Caracas) is a Venezuelan professional footballer of Spanish descent who plays for Numancia in the Spanish second division, mainly as an attacking midfielder Alvarez established himself as a free kick specialist. he joined Real Madrid but, despite very good performances for the B and C outfits, could never break into the first team. He played Spain U-16, U-17, U-18 and U-21 team and scored total 4 goals and made 63 goals in his Club carrier.

Cesar Eduardo Gonzalez - Midfielder

Cesar Eduardo Gonzalez Amais (Born 1 October 1982 in Maturín) is a Venezuelan left/right winger. He currently plays for River Plate in Argentina. In 2007 he was selected to reperesent Venezuela at the Copa America 2007 and still now made 40 appearances and scored 3 goals.

Luis Manuel Seijas- Midfielder

Luis Manuel Seijas (Born on 23 June 1986) is a Venezuelan football midfielder of Peruvian and German descent who plays for Standard Liège as well as his national team. Seijas has made 33 appearances for the senior Venezuela national football team since his debut on 2006.

Juan Arango - Midfield

Juan Fernando Arango Saenz (Born 17 May 1980) is a most experienced Venezuelan footballer of this squad who plays for Borussia Mönchengladbach in Germany, as an attacking midfielder. Arango appeared for Venezuela in five Copa América tournaments. In the 2007 edition held in his country, he helped the national team finish first in the group stage, and scored in the quarterfinals against Uruguay, but in a 1- 4 defeat. Also in that year, Arango was chosen national team captain by newly-appointed coach César Farías. He made 100th national team appearances and scored 19 goals. In the 2011 Copa América in Argentina, he helped the Vinotinto finish a best-ever fourth in the continental competition.

Nicholas Fedor Miku - Forward

Nicolas Ladislao Fedor Flores (Born 19 August 1985 in Caracas), aka Miku, is a Venezuelan footballer who plays for Getafe CF in Spain, as a striker. Miku made his debut with Venezuela on August 16, 2006, in a 0–0 friendly with Honduras. Later, he was an important member of the squads that competed in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, scoring in a 2-0 home triumph against Colombia, on 31 March 2009.He brought Venezuela closer to its first-ever FIFA World Cup qualification, which eventually did not happen. He represented the nation at the 2011 Copa América 2011, scoring in a 3–3 draw against Paraguay, helping his team to the second place in the group stage, and an eventual fourth-place finish.He eventually made 31 appearances and scored 9 goals so far.

Jose Salomon Rondon - Forward

Jose Salomon Rondon Gimenez (Born 16 September 1989 in Caracas) is a Venezuelan footballer who plays for Malaga CF in La Liga, as a forward. Rondón appeared for the Venezuelan under-20s in the 2009 FIFA World Cup in Egypt. on 3 February 2008, aged only 18, Rondon made his debut for the senior team, in a friendly with Haiti, scoring his first international goal on 23 March, against El Salvador (another exhibition match, another 1–0 win). Still he made 17 caps for the national team and scored 5 goals.

Mario Rondon - Forward

Mario Junior Rondon Fernandez (Born 26 March 1986 in Caracas) is a Venezuelan footballer who plays for C.D. Nacional in Portugal, as a striker. At age 18, he arrived at Portugal finishing his junior career with A.D. Pontassolense.He just played 1 match in national team.

Joseph Martinez - Forward

Josef Martinez (May 19, 1993 (age 18)) is a Venezuelan forward played for Caracas. This youngster made just 2 appearances in the national team.

A Night of Hope ends in Despair..The night finally arrived when the poster boy of the "Football Fest" , Lionel Messi was due to bless the City of Joy arriving for the epic friendly on September 2nd. As the night was building up to welcome the Messi-ah of world football, the colour of the night took a La Albiceleste flavour as thousands of die hard fans started to arrive making their voices heard to welcome their idol. The "Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport" was having the tang of Buenos Aires as Indian flags combined with Argentinian ones in a collaboration of a lifetime.

Fans from all ages started to flock in group as thousand of hopefuls shouted to welcome their footballing god. Koushik Chowdhury ,a Class X student expressed his delight as he didn't hesitate to mention :- "I am an Argentinian fan because of Messi."

"Messi plus Argentina = Fatafati" was articulated by another Bong young gun, Gopal Bose, a class XI student.

The fan clubs of Argentina started to take centre stage as the posters of Messi were introduced at the International Terminal checkout.

"Messi Messi " became the chant of the night as Eid arrived early in Kolkata.

The time finally arrived when the flight landed. The fans were starting to feel the presence of the footballing conjuror as the Messi Mania started to rule Kolkata. But suddenly the joy of the people turned into despair as they heard Messi had departed from Gate no 6 without even prior knowledge of the people present.

The security reasons became the lame issue of the CMG officials as they escorted Messi out without allowing the fans to catch a glimpse of him. The hopes of thousands was destroyed by the mismanagement in handling the security of the superstar. The footballers are worshipped among the supporters for their magic on the field.

But on a night full of fulfilling dreams, it ended on a note of tragic nightmare. The Messi crazy breed were suddenly looking poignant as they failed in an attempt to watch their football icon . The supporters who were hoping to watch Messi were even denied of a wave from him.

The organisers acted as the Fuhrers taking away the glimpse of joy from the faces of the fans. The organisers could have arranged for a different way to help the supporters atleast see Messi but they failed to care about the passion, just thinking about their own cause.

The new Argentine coach Sabella held a press conference to share his thoughts exclusively to the press. The new Argentine spoke of the importance of a bond he expects to make with Messi . Together they want to take Argentina back to the helm again.

The epic friendly on Friday will be the first time Sabella leads the Argentine team from the sidelines. Sabella is looking forward to have a great relationship with Messi as he said to the reporters. Messi will remain the custodian till the end of World Cup 2014 qualification and Sabella is looking for a good playmaker to make Messi comfortable.

This will be the first match Argentina plays since the Copa America deabcle. Argentina are taking the match with utmost importance as mentioned by Sabella.Legends like the Brazilian great Pele turned out for the U.S. club Cosmos in a friendly against local club Mohun Bagan in 1977 while German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn blessed the turf back in 2008.Argentina are not used to compete on an astroturf but still they will try to adjust as Sabella said about the artificial turf to be used for the game.

Hopefully, the team will be able to put up a good show before the start of the long journey leading towards the World Cup. On the other hand, Venezuelan coach Cesar Farias said his team is looking to warm themselves up before the world cup qualifier on Friday.