Germán Pezzella Explained

Germán Pezzella
Full Name:Germán Alejo Pezzella[1]
Birth Date:27 June 1991[2]
Birth Place:Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height:1.90 m
Currentclub:River Plate
Position:Centre-back
Youthclubs1:Kilómetro Cinco
Youthclubs2:Juventud Unida
Youthyears3:2000–2005
Youthclubs3:Olimpo
Youthyears4:2005–2011
Youthclubs4:River Plate
Years1:2011–2015
Clubs1:River Plate
Caps1:43
Goals1:2
Years2:2015–2018
Clubs2:Betis
Caps2:61
Goals2:4
Years3:2017–2018
Clubs3:Fiorentina (loan)
Caps3:34
Goals3:1
Years4:2018–2021
Clubs4:Fiorentina
Caps4:97
Goals4:6
Years5:2021–2024
Clubs5:Betis
Caps5:86
Goals5:2
Years6:2024–
Clubs6:River Plate
Caps6:0
Goals6:0
Nationalyears1:2009–2011
Nationalteam1:Argentina U20
Nationalcaps1:15
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2011
Nationalteam2:Argentina U23
Nationalcaps2:5
Nationalgoals2:2
Nationalyears3:2017–
Nationalteam3:Argentina
Nationalcaps3:41
Nationalgoals3:3
Pcupdate:5 May 2024 (UTC)
Ntupdate:29 June 2024 (UTC)

Germán Alejo Pezzella (pronounced as /es/; born 27 June 1991) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Argentine Primera División club River Plate and the Argentina national team, with whom he won the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Early career

Pezzella joined Club Atlético River Plate's youth setup in 2005, aged 14, after representing Club Olimpo.

After impressing with the former's reserves he was called up to the pre-season in Canada, appearing in friendlies against Toronto FC, Montreal Impact and Everton.[3]

River Plate

After being an unused substitute in a 0–0 away draw against Club Atlético Huracán on 18 October 2009, Pezzella made his senior debut on 7 December 2011, starting in a 1–0 home win against Defensores de Belgrano for the season's Copa Argentina.[4] His league debut came on 2 March of the following year, where he played the full 90 minutes in a 0–0 home draw against Quilmes Atlético Club.[5]

Pezzella scored his first professional goal on 2 September 2012, netting the last in a 1–1 draw at Club Atlético Colón.[6] He also scored the equalizer in a 1–1 Superclásico home draw against Boca Juniors, just three minutes after coming off the bench.[7]

On 10 December 2014, Pezzella scored the last in a 2014 Copa Sudamericana final 2–0 win against Atlético Nacional, as his side won its first international title after a 17-year absence.[8]

Betis

On 10 July 2015, Pezzella signed a five-year contract with Real Betis, newly promoted to La Liga.[9] He made his debut for the club on 23 August, starting in a 1–1 home draw against Villarreal CF.[10]

Fiorentina

After a loan spell with Serie A club Fiorentina during the 2017–18 season, Pezzella signed a five-year contract with the club that runs through the end of the 2021–22 season for an €11m transfer fee.[11] Ahead of the 2018–19 season, he was named the club's new captain.[12]

Betis return

On 19 August 2021, Pezzella returned to Betis after signing a four-year deal.[13]

River Plate return

On 5 August 2024, Pezzella returned to River Plate after 9 years out of the club.

International career

Pezzella played represented Argentina in 2009 Toulon Tournament. He also appeared with the side in 2011 South American U-20 Championship and 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup, always as a starter.

On 1 September 2011, Pezzella was called up to the year's Pan American Games,[14] appearing in five matches and scoring two goals during the competition.

In October 2017, he was called up to Argentina national team's squad for the first time for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Peru on 5 October and Ecuador on 10 October 2017.[15] In May 2018 he was named in the Argentina national team's preliminary 35-man for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia but did not make the final 23.[16] On 27 March 2019, he captained Argentina in a 1–0 friendly away win against Morocco.[17] He was included in Argentina's 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and came on as a substitute in extra-time of the final as his nation won a third world title by defeating France on penalties. [18] [19]

In June 2024, Pezzella was included in Lionel Scaloni's final 26-man Argentina squad for the 2024 Copa América.[20]

Career statistics

Club

[21]

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
River Plate2011–12Primera B105010
2012–13Argentine Primera División10100101
2013–14150005011211
20141012082203
201571104010131
Total4338017221656
Real Betis2015–16La Liga25340294
2016–1736110371
Total61450665
Fiorentina (loan)2017–18Serie A34110351
Fiorentina2018–19Serie A32230352
2019–2033310343
2020–2132110331
2021–22001010
Total976601036
Real Betis2021–22La Liga2314070341
2022–23310106010390
2023–243211070401
Total86260200101132
Career total320162603723138219

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
Argentina201720
201841
2019101
2021100
202290
202341
202420
Total413

Scores and results list Argentina's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Pezzella goal.[22]

List of international goals scored by Germán Pezzella
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1 11 October 2018 Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 3–0 4–0 Friendly
2 13 October 2019 Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, Alicante, Spain 4–1 6–1
3 15 June 2023 Workers' Stadium, Beijing, China 2–0 2–0

Honours

River Plate

2013–14

2013–14

2011–12

2015

2014

2015

Real Betis

2021–22[23]

Argentina

2022[24]

2021,[25] 2024[26]

2022[27]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Argentina (ARG) . . 1 . 15 November 2022 . 15 November 2022.
  2. Web site: Germán Pezzella. Real Betis. 13 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220713211916/https://www.realbetisbalompie.es/primer-equipo/jugador/g-pezzella-79913. 13 July 2022.
  3. Web site: En minutos, River ante Toronto FC. In minutes, River against Toronto FC. Taringa!. es. 22 July 2009. 13 July 2015. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051905/http://www.taringa.net/posts/deportes/3015265/En-minutos-River-ante-Toronto-FC.html. dead.
  4. Web site: River venció al Defensores de Ortega y avanzó en la Copa Argentina. River defeated Defensores de Ortega and went through in Copa Argentina. La Voz del Interior. es. 8 December 2011. 13 July 2015.
  5. Web site: River quiso más, pero no pudo con el bloqueo de Quilmes. River wanted more, but could not pass Quilmes' wall. ESPN Deportes. es. 2 March 2012. 13 July 2015.
  6. Web site: River le empató sobre la hora a Colón y lo bajó. River drew just in time against Colón and relegated them. ESPN Deportes. es. 2 September 2012. 13 July 2015.
  7. Web site: River y Boca empataron 1–1 en un Superclásico bajo la lluvia. River and Boca drew 1–1 in a Superclásico under the rain. ESPN Deportes. es. 5 October 2014. 13 July 2015.
  8. Web site: River venció 2–0 a Atlético Nacional y se llevó la Copa Sudamericana. River defeated Atlético Nacional by 2–0 and won Copa Sudamericana. ESPN Deportes. es. 10 December 2014. 13 July 2015.
  9. Web site: El Betis hace oficial el fichaje del central argentino Pezzella. Betis turns official the signing of Argentine stopper Pezzella. Marca. es. 10 July 2015. 13 July 2015.
  10. Web site: Rubén Castro llega justo a tiempo. Rubén Castro arrives just in time. Marca. es. 24 August 2015. 1 September 2015.
  11. Web site: Fiorentina sign €11m Pezzella. en. 30 May 2018. 3 June 2018.
  12. Web site: Serie A allows Astori tribute . Football Italia . 12 September 2018 . 15 September 2018 .
  13. Web site: Germán Pezzella regresa al Real Betis. Germán Pezzella returns to Real Betis. Real Betis. es. 19 August 2021. 20 August 2021.
  14. Web site: Germán Pezzella aparece en la lista de la preselección para los Panamericanos. Germán Pezzella appears in the pre-list for the Pan American Games. Página 95. es. 1 September 2011. 13 July 2015.
  15. Web site: Lista de convocados de Jorge Sampaoli – SITIO OFICIAL DE LA ASOCIACIÓN DEL FÚTBOL ARGENTINO . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170823215150/http://www.afa.com.ar/7885/lista-de-convocados-de-jorge-sampaoli . 2017-08-23.
  16. News: Icardi cut from Argentina's 23-man World Cup squad . . . 21 May 2018 . 21 May 2018.
  17. Web site: Correa's late goal gives Argentina morale-boosting win in Morocco . ESPN FC . 26 March 2019 . 14 March 2020 .
  18. Web site: Argentina World Cup 2022 squad: Lionel Scaloni's full team . 18 December 2022 .
  19. Web site: Argentina and Messi spot on for World Cup glory.
  20. News: 15 June 2024 . Lionel Scaloni dio a conocer la lista de la Selección argentina para la Copa América 2024 . 23 July 2024 . Todo Noticias.
  21. Web site: G. Pezzella. Soccerway. 12 October 2018.
  22. Web site: Pezzella, Germán. National Football Teams. 15 October 2018.
  23. Web site: Real Betis 1–1 Valencia (5–4 on pens): Real Betis win Copa del Rey final on penalties. BBC Sport. 23 April 2022. 23 April 2022.
  24. Web site: Murray . Scott . 18 December 2022 . Argentina beat France on penalties after thrilling World Cup final – live reaction . 18 December 2022 . The Guardian .
  25. News: Argentina 1-0 Brazil: Copa América final – live! . The Guardian . Graham . Bryan Armen . 11 July 2021 . 11 July 2021 .
  26. News: Argentina defeats Colombia to Become The Champion of CONMEBOL Copa América 2024™. Copa América. 15 July 2024. 15 July 2024.
  27. News: Italy 0–3 Argentina: Messi and Di Maria shine in impressive Finalissima win. BBC Sport. 1 June 2022. 2 June 2022.