Argentinian squad for WC qualifiers

i agree it was way to early to leave when he hadnt even completed a hole season(i think). i still think he can become great but it will be much more complicated now. the same could be said about gago. like valdano said Redondo came to Madrid as a mature player who would be able to cope with the pressure of playing such a demanding position in a big club after breaking through in spain. Gago is being asked to the same but without the going through that proces and jumping straight to the final product.

Lavezzi is a next midget argentina needs a striker above 5'3' image if two of Messi,Kun or tevez were about 5'8' Argentina would have been far the best attacking line in the world.

Messiah wrote:Lavezzi is a next midget argentina needs a striker above 5'3' image if all 3 of Messi,Kun or tevez were about 6'1 Argentina would have been far the best attacking line in the world.

Thankfully they're not, as they would be truly unstoppable.

I think Lavezzi is about 5'8", but yeah its a midget in footballing terms...

Do Argentina miss Batistuta now!!!

Messiah wrote:Lavezzi is a next midget argentina needs a striker above 5'3' image if two of Messi,Kun or tevez were about 5'8' Argentina would have been far the best attacking line in the world.

mmm no Lucho Gonzalez, oh well at least he won´t be tired and will play better for us.

Well, it's official now, Riquelme will start both games against Chile and Venezuela. The guy who hasn't played a game since the Copa America final has complete support from Basile who will handle the national team to the former Boca 10°. Meanwhile Crespo is left in Italy and hasn't been called up...Mothefucker, i hope Basile gets a cirrhosis that prevents him from working for the national team again.

Ohh and on top of it all we'll be facing the best coach this country has ever produced against Chile...not good, not good at all

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - Argentina opens World Cup qualifying with the likes of Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and a supporting cast featuring Under-20 World Cup leading scorer Sergio Aguero.

Regardless, critics worry the team won't be as impressive together as they are individually.

La Albiceleste plunges into World Cup qualifying at home Saturday against Chile, four days before heading to Maracaibo to face Venezuela in the beginning of a two-year campaign to earn a berth in South Africa 2010.

A small but speedy forward who has legions of fans at Barcelona, Messi is the star of manager Alfio Basile's roster. So far, under Basile, Argentina has eight victories, two draws and four defeats in more than a year of preparation.

"We are in good shape. We have a competitive team as we head into qualifying," Basile declared almost blandly after his squad's last public appearance - an underwhelming 1-0 victory over Australia on Sept. 11 in Melbourne that marked the end of the tune-up appearances.

Basile's team that will take to the field at River Plate's Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires is built on the same core that predecessor Jose Pekerman took to Germany.

Still a few new faces have been added, such Atletico Madrid's Aguero, whose six goals led Argentina to a second straight U20 World Cup title and sixth overall.

Other newcomers include Federico Insua of Mexican club America and defender Martin Demichelis, who plays for Bayern Munich of Germany.

But much of the rest of the side is filled with veterans like goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri of Spain's Getafe, Real Madrid's Gabriel Heinze, Gabriel Milito of Barcelona, Spain, Inter Milan pair Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso, Javier Mascherano of Liverpool, Juan Roman Riquelme of Villarreal, Carlos Tevez of Manchester United and Javier Saviola of Real Madrid.

"We really want to do things right. This is a team with a lot of great players that has already shown what it can do," Cambiasso said. "In past qualifying, we were up to play. And now we are all set on the goal ... to play well and win."

Still, local pundits have agonized over some of Basile's choices, especially Riquelme, who hasn't played for his Spanish club ever since the Copa America in July.

A traditional favorite of Basile, Riquelme remains inactive at Villareal because of a conflict with the club and its coach.

But Basile is an ardent proponent of a 4-3-1-2 formation and convinced Riquelme has a vital role as a playmaker on his national squad.

Meanwhile, others question why he left out Hernan Crespo, a standout forward for Inter Milan who has 32 goals in 60 games for Argentina.

While Crespo has been playing little for Inter while recovering from an injury that left him out of the final stretches of the Copa America, he continues to score even in limited use.

There are also questions of stature on the front line: Messi, Tevez and Saviola all are relatively short, forcing Argentina to restrict attempts at playing the ball high.

Then there are call-ups many are awaiting eagerly.

Basile did call up German Denis, the leading goalscorer in the Argentine first division who has helped power Independiente to first place after 13 rounds.

Nicknamed "the tank," Denis has 15 goals in 13 Apertura games - but still will be hard-pressed to win a starting spot behind such names as Messi and Aguero.

For Cosmico

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnRW0vGYZfw&mode=related&search=

Pellegrini is kicking Riquelme

"Riquelme se fue y el equipo siguió ganando"

El técnico volvió a ser duro con Román. "Figura entre los cinco mejores jugadores del mundo en su puesto, pero renunció al Villarreal como antes había renunciado a la Selección", tiró el chileno. Y afirmó: "Si quieren estar por encima del equipo, sobran".

Manuel Pellegrini, en una entrevista que publica el diario español As, volvió a cargar contra Juan Román Riquelme, quien no volverá a jugar mientras el chileno dirija al Submarino Amarillo.

"Riquelme figura entre los cinco mejores jugadores del mundo en su puesto, pero no está comprometido con el club. Si las individualidades se ponen al servicio del equipo, fenomenal. Si quieren estar por encima, sobran", aseveró el Ingeniero.

El conflicto entre el director técnico y el mediocampista comenzó, según el periódico, cuando Riquelme pidió reintegrarse a los entrenamientos el 2 de enero y no el 29 de diciembre, y ante la negativa de Pellegrini el jugador le habría retirado la palabra.

"Renunció al Villarreal como antes había renunciado a la Selección. Y el primero que lo lamenta soy yo, porque es un jugador extraordinario, que prepara tres opciones buenas y luego elige la mejor. Pero Román se fue y el equipo siguió ganando", senteció el ex DT de River y San Lorenzo.

Pellegrini también se refirió al fútbol argentino. "Si en River perdés un partido no podés salir a la calle en una semana y si lo ganás, tampoco. Un gol cambia al presidente de la República. En Argentina y en Brasil están los mejores jugadores del mundo. El tridente Riquelme-Agüero-Messi sólo podrían igualarlo Kaká, Ronaldinho y el mejor Ronaldo".

http://www.tycsports.com/not_detail.php?id=33967

What you guys think? I dont know about this Arguero kid, but this coud be a good attack.

It'll be interesting to watch, but it will rely more on individual talent or the odd good passing move rather than tactical supremacy. And I think it'll be more of a 4-3-1-2 formation rather than 4-3-3.

Rez wrote:For BR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnRW0vGYZfw&mode=related&search=

TOO MUCH, this drama turns me off. One of the biggest surprises in my life was to discover how dramatic and corny Argentines can be. Seriously, I always thought they would be much colder and more introspective than us Brazilians, since most of them are direct decedents from Europeans, but my God, they sure can write a good soap opera.


But to be honest, I can’t imagine how bad those last years must have been for them (that 2002 WC is what we call it DISASTER) seriously? Your team gets out in the first round and you see your arch rival to win the damn thing? How the fuc* cruel is this? Then years and years without a title and one more time you see your loved neighbor win title after title? That’s why I the idea of Argentina wining the last Copa America didn’t bother so much. It must hurt

loved this video.

Rez wrote:For BR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnRW0vGYZfw&mode=related&search=

Whatever happened to Luciano Figueroa?