The Road to the FIFA World Cup - South Africa 2010

It’s first against second this weekend in Round 7 of the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers as surprise group leaders, Paraguay make the short trip down south to take on perennial tournament favourites, Argentina.

Campaign Derailed

Argentina are desperate to bounce back from a dismal three game winless run. After a 100% start to the qualifiers where they scored seven goals and conceded nought in the opening three games, Los Albicelestes’ campaign has suddenly gone off the rails in their last three outings.

A 2-1 defeat at Colombia was followed by a surprise 1-1 draw against one of the bottom-feeders, Ecuador, before a disappointing goalless stalemate against arch nemesis, Brazil contributed to them relinquishing top spot in the standings.
The two-time world champions need the three points on Saturday not only to get back on the right track, but also to relieve the pressure and prevent their morale from dipping any further.
A fourth consecutive game without a win could spell disaster for coach, Alfio Basile, although the lowest they can drop down to after this weekend is fourth place.

A draw or even a loss against Paraguay will not jeopardize their qualification hopes for South Africa, yet, as there are still over ten rounds to go and more than enough points to pick up to see them at least finish inside the top four.

But with all the quality and class in their squad, the Argentine fans and press will not tolerate another fumble. Such is the expectations back at home that the followers do not want mere qualification. They want their team to cruise to the tournament in 2010 and dismantle every opposition who dare get in their way, all the while playing sumptuous football.

And after their Olympic team performed so admirably in Beijing just a month ago to retain their gold medal, the senior side will have a lot to live up to to satisfy a nation that is still buzzing from the summer games.

Paraguay At The Peak

Paraguay lead the standings on 13 points, two clear of Saturday’s opponents. Yet, they have not been performing significantly that much better than their direct rivals below them. That only goes to show the quality and fierce competition in this continent and how it is, by a mile, the toughest qualifying group of all the confederations.

In truth, the 2004 Athens Olympics silver medallist could have entered this encounter with a massive five point lead at the top had they not suffered a shock 4-2 loss at second-from-bottom Bolivia in their last game.

The reverse was even more surprising considering how just three days earlier, they pulled off a magnificent 2-0 triumph over Brazil, a result which saw them seize top spot from the Argentines.

Coach, Gerardo Martino has built a hardworking and disciplined unit that focuses on team work and a well-organized defence. Against the Seleçao, they showed just exactly how difficult they were to break down and how effective they can be on the counter, scoring both their goals on the break.

That is likely to be the strategy they will employ against Argentina, although Martino has vowed that his side will take the game to their hosts and go for the win. But considering that they are playing away from home, collecting even just a point will be considered a great result.

The punishing 18-game South American qualifying schedule is barely at the halfway stage but if La Albirroja can nick maximum points in Buenos Aires, they will open up an extremely healthy lead at the top and put themselves in a comfortable position going into the second half of the campaign.

CONMEBOL WCQ FORM GUIDE

Argentina

Jun 18 ’08 Brazil 0-0 Argentina
Jun 15 ‘08 Argentina 1-1 Ecuador
Nov 20 ‘07 Colombia 2-1 Argentina
Nov 17 ‘07 Argentina 3-0 Bolivia
Oct 16 ‘07 Venezuela 0-2 Argentina
Oct 13 ‘07 Argentina 2-0 Chile

Paraguay

Jun 18 ’08 Bolivia 4-2 Paraguay
Jun 15 ‘08 Paraguay 2-0 Brazil
Nov 21 ‘07 Chile 0-3 Paraguay
Nov 17 ‘07 Paraguay 5-1 Ecuador
Oct 17 ‘07 Paraguay 1-0 Uruguay
Oct 13 ’07 Peru 0-0 Paraguay

TEAM NEWS

Argentina
Young goalkeeper Sergio Romero and left winger Ángel Di María have been rewarded for their brilliant turn-out in the Olympics with their very first caps for the senior side. Andrés D’Alessandro’s excellent form with new club Internacional has also earned him a return the national set-up after a four year hiatus.

Regular back-up goalkeeper Oscar Ustari is out after picking up a nightmare long-term injury in the Beijing Games, while centrebacks Gabriel Milito and Nicolas Burdisso are also sidelined through various ailments. Other surprise additions to the squad include Jonas Gutierrez and Germán Denis.


Squad
Pato Abbondanzieri (Getafe), Juan Pablo Carrizo (Lazio), Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar)

Defenders: Javier Zanetti (Internazionale), Daniel Díaz (Getafe), Pablo Zabaleta (Espanyol), Gonzalo Rodríguez (Villarreal), Martín Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle), Gabriel Heinze (Real Madrid);

Midfielders: Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle), Sebastián Battaglia (Boca Juniors), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid), Esteban Cambiasso (Internazionale), Ángel Di María (Benfica), Andres D'Alessandro (Internacional), Juan Román Riquelme (Boca Juniors)

Lionel Messi (Barcelona),Forwards: Carlos Tevez (Manchester United), Sergio Agüero (Atlético Madrid), Germán Denis (Napoli), Lisandro López, (Porto), Rodrigo Palacio (Boca Juniors)

Paraguay

Striker Salvador Cabañas and defender Denis Caniza are both ruled out with injuries and although Roque Santa Cruz is back in the squad, there are still some doubts over his fitness. Óscar Cardozo and Nelson Haedo Valdez should be favourites to start upfront if the Blackburn man fails to make the cut.
Martino should otherwise stick to the same set-up that he has called upon throughout the qualifiers so far, with no surprise debutants in the squad.
Squad

Goalkeepers: Justo Villar (Valladolid), Aldo Bobadilla (Independiente Medellin), Derlis Gomez (Nacional)

Defenders: Paulo Da Silva (Toluca), Julio Manzur (Pachuca), Darío Verón (Pumas UNAM), Claudio Morel (Boca Juniors), Carlos Bonet (Cruz Azul), Julio Cesar Cáceres (Boca Juniors), Aureliano Torres (San Lorenzo), Pedro Benítez (Tigres UANL)

Midfielders: Edgar Barreto (Reggina), Edgar González (Olimpia), Cristian Riveros (Cruz Azul), Jonathan Santana (VfL Wolfsburg), Enrique Vera (America), Diego Gavilán (Portuguesa), Víctor Cáceres (Libertad)

Forwards: Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn Rovers), Salvador Cabañas (América), Nelson Haedo Valdez (Borussia Dortmund), Óscar Cardozo (Benfica), Dante López (Pumas UNAM), Marcelo Estigarribia (Le Mans)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Argentina

No prizes for guessing who Argentina’s key player will be. Lionel Messi was the star of the show in the Beijing Olympics and although he only notched up two goals, it is his ability to carve up spaces for fun and his knack for scoring goals from midfield that make him such a threat. His collaboration with Juan Román Riquelme will also be extremely critical to unlock what could be a very stubborn Paraguay defence.

Paraguay

Marcelo Estigarribia is an exciting, still fairly unknown entity, but the 20 year old Le Mans midfielder is a fast and tricky livewire down the flank and he may well be Martino’s secret weapon to exploit the possible gaps left opened by the Argentine fullbacks. Albiceleste’s own winger Di María has pinpointed his Benfica teammate Óscar Cardozo as one of the danger men and if Santa Cruz does fail to recover in time, the 25 year old will be handed the main goalscoring duties.

PREDICTION

Argentina should dominate this encounter with their slick passing football. But their tendency to overdo it sometimes could cost them against a very dangerous and fast Paraguay side. Basile’s charges will be looking for an early goal to settle the nerves and avoid frustration taking over and if they can find that, they should have the points in the bag.

2-1 Argentina

Scotland Macedonia is a poor match , Macedonia have more shots and Craig Gordon is the reason for 1-0 so far but the approach play is really poor.

Ref missed a pen for Scotland , the keeper tripped McFadden.

Any matches live now?

zizoued wrote:Any matches live now?

Wales vs Azerbaijan

Rosicky wrote:

zizoued wrote:Any matches live now?

Wales vs Azerbaijan

Is Robbie savage still playing?

by the way, any players of interest in that match?

Ramsey is he playing ?

Not sure if he came on but definitely didn't start.

No. Not on the bench either.

Wales have lined up as:

Very good and balanced line-up if you ask me

Chris Gunter is 16 ? 17 ?
Carl Fletcher in mid ?

Koumas

DS wrote:Chris Gunter is 16 ? 17 ?
Carl Fletcher in mid ?

Any better ideas?

DS wrote:Chris Gunter is 16 ? 17 ?
Carl Fletcher in mid ?

He is older than people think and is actually 19 years old, as far as I can tell Fletcher is playing a holding role.

Azerbaijan are down to ten men now, Wales really should be pressing on to win this. Ched Evans has just come on.

kas wrote:Koumas

Should have let Bale take it

He has been their best player as well.

Wales scored.

Sam Vokes it is ?

Good luck to Hungary v Denmark



I expect them to reclaim their place as a major football power over the next couple of years solely because of Tamas Priskin (the new Puskas - in status if not in build)

@ DS Yep it was Vokes. The Azeri keeper has been immense as well. By far the best Azeri player.

DS wrote:Sam Vokes it is ?

Correct.

Playing the best football out of all British nations

Ray Parlour wrote:

DS wrote:Sam Vokes it is ?

Correct.

Playing the best football out of all British nations

What a compliment

Pierre Littbarski wrote:

Ray Parlour wrote:

DS wrote:Sam Vokes it is ?

Correct.

Playing the best football out of all British nations

What a compliment

I know its not saying alot but still

I'm just waiting for the Turks to get under way again anyway

ROI take the lead with a great goal from doyle

Skrtel scores for Slovakia. Bitter sweet? Burn jls cotr

Glenn Hysén wrote:Skrtel scores for Slovakia. Bitter sweet? Burn jls cotr

I like Skrtel more than I like Norn Iron

aren't you Northern Irish?

Glenn Hysén wrote:aren't you Northern Irish?

I agree with Jamie carragher's incredible book ie I don't give a $h!t about national football

A few friends are at the game though so it'll be useful to have a laugh at their expense

Subs: Eduardo, B. Alves, P. Ferreira, Maniche, Moutinho, Danny, N. Gomes

liechtenstein - germany

0:1 podolski


----------enke- fritz- tasci- westermann, lahm, schweini- rofes , hitze, trochwoski, klose, poldi