Probable squad Argentina RomeroZabaleta, Garay, Fernandez, Rojo Gago, Brana, Di MariaMessi, Higuain, Lavezzi Peru Veron, Alcaraz, Da Silva, Ortiz Riveros, Oviedo, Caceres, Estigarribia Fabbro, Santa Cruz The only doubt for Alejandro Sabella going into Friday's World Cup qualifier was the system he would play, with the 11 men set to be the same whether the coach opted for a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3. The ex-Estudiantes man will put faith in the attacking trident that has been used to such devastating effect in his reign, with Ezequiel Lavezzi entering for the suspended Sergio Aguero alongside Messi and Higuain. Javier Mascherano's suspension also opens the door for Estudiantes' Rodrigo Brana to start. In his first competitive match for Paraguay since taking over from sacked predecessor Francisco Arce, Gerardo Pelusso has gone for a team that will defend in numbers at the back, his 4-4-2 system designed to frustrate the Albiceleste's dangermen. The big news for the Guarani is a first competitive start for Argentina-born forward Jonny Fabbro, who became eligible for the nation in 2012 after completing the necessary five years of residency in Paraguay. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/match/82137/argentina-vs-paraguay/preview to add some spice Gago: Argentina rely too much on Messi Fernando Gago has warned his Argentina team-mates they will need to do more than "pass the ball only" to Lionel Messi ahead of their World Cup qualifier in Peru on Tuesday. Gago admits Argentina rely too heavily on Messi, which has lead to some below-par performances from the Albiceleste. The Valencia midfielder insists Argentina have begun working on a new style of play to move away from focussing too much on the Barcelona forward. "Having Lionel is a bonus, but Argentina cannot play the ball only to Messi," Gago told Clarin. "We are building a style of play from several sides now." http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/s...gentina-rely-too-much-on-lionel-messi?cc=4716 Messi has scored in 6 straight matches, beating previous record by Batistuta who scored in 5 consecutive games. Also, Chile vs Columbia would be very interesting since Colombia has improve alot under Pekerman in recent match and a lost for Chile means Argentina could possibly extended their lead.
Messi is now doing what Maradona did, he is carrying the NT, if he not scoring then he's creating goals. The rest of the team have to help him and not, as Gago put it, just think I'll pass it to Messi. Changing the subject, on ESPN in Braitain last week they showed the whole of Argentina v England from the 1986 world cup (probably my favourite game of all time). Some things strike me, one is (stating the obvious I know) the extrodinary performance by Diego and secondly Terry Fenwick (who had already been booked) quite clearly and blatantly elbows Diego in the head, premediotated assault that should have resulted in a straight red. Of course nothing happened, funny how the British media never mention that.
If you watched Diego highlights whether in national team, napoli, Barcelona or boca, those tackles he suffered should have been a straight red for today's football standard... Diego suffered 53 fouls in that tournament and that Terry Fenwick elbow was nothing compare to South Korean fouls earlier in the tournament. I watched the Argentina vs Brazil 1990 highlights the other day and the commentator mentioned he has suffered 29 fouls up to that point. Remember Italy vs Argentina in 1982? Gentile's play throughout the game was even worst than anything I've seen and you know what? not a single red for the Italian and Ardilles shirt was torn off by the Italian. I dont give a crap about that hand goal,Diego has a valid goal disallowed in previous game against Uruguay. Messi is surrounded by much better attacking players today, however the likes of Tata Brown, Ruggeri and Batista are more solid players in defence and midfield than what Argentina have today in those position.
Football was pretty brutal when Maradona played, remember that thug in Spain who went out to break Maradoona's leg and broke his ankle and has been boasting about it since, in the 1982 world cup Maradona was kicked from beginning to end and eventually snapped. You just can't do that now and that is a good thing, players receive much more protection and in that respect the game has definately improved for the better.
Ha, ha, that's a great photo. There is a similar one of Diego against Belgium in the 1986 semi final, where he has the ball and 5/6 Belgium players are all transfixed staring at him.
So its Argentina vs River Plate. The NT should be able to handle a team that just got promoted from the B.
The one against Belgium is one of most iconic football pic. Its actually from 1982 where Argentina played Belgium at group stage, they won with an offside goal... possibly even worst refereeing than Tevez offside goal. Some people are not mean to ref the world cup at all
Well, I think we expect the team to storm forward inside the first 10 mins. Peru is in need on point and playing at home so they probably will be as brute as Paraguay few days ago
So that mercenary Fabbro is now playing for Peru? He pissed me off. I don't mind someone scoring a goal against his own country, it happens. But he didn't have to celebrate it the way he did.
The way I see this game playing out is that Peru will have to go for a win. I do not think they are going to be happy with 4 points after 2 rounds and mainly when these 2 games are at home. So, I believe Peru will try to score first(put a ton of pressure on the defense early) then try to defend it out and hit Argentina on the counter.
Peruvian fans chanted "Cristiano, Cristiano" when Messi got out of the bus for the hotel. . . what a joke, they (Peruvians) don't even have a player of their own. As for the game, this is a very complicated game. The altitute always plays against us. If healthy, Peru's starting XI is ok, its the bench where they have a big problem. I hope Sosa starts over Lavezzi, I would prefer ball control in this game.
Altitude is a whopping 0 feet ASL(Lima is sea level bro). Take a joke I think it's kind of funny. They did the same thing to Ronaldo in the Euros. Anyways good luck, ojalá sea un buen partido y que mis paisanos respeten tu himno. Tengo muchos amigos ches.
Yeah, it's funny because it pisses Ronaldo off when they do it. But Messi is very different, I don't think he's going to care at all if the fans do that.
Messi + La Seleccion = Small Pox for the Incas http://canchallena.lanacion.com.ar/...practica-argentina-calientan-el-clima-en-lima
Wow what a bunch of dumb asses! I don't want to generalize or be too critical because god knows here in argentina there are plenty of idiots who pull similar stunts, but this is just absurd. What are they going to do when Messi scores 3 goals on him? I feel like this game is going to be violent, not only by the fans but reading the peruvian press it seems on the field messi is going get hacked quite a bit. And I read somewhere that the ref of this match "les trae suerte a los Incas" i'm not quite sure who he is or where he's from, but thats not a good sign
They're lucky Nacho Scocco isn't on La Seleccion with the jerseys Peru wears... Pretty sure Zabaleta and Mascherano are playing, so there will be superior attacking width and midfield defense, allowing Messi & boys up top to play a higher line. I think DiMaria scores 2 tomorrow night. Many of their fans are excited to see Lio, sony don't get the lack of security.
Haha I'll be having nightmares about that guy. But my god how has he improved? The goals hes scoring are incredible. Only 27 too. Watching Heinze on the other hand... man what a dirty player. Its like when Simeone asked Camoranesi what he leaned in Europe I wanted to ask Heinze the same thing last night, certainly didn't learn how mark Trezeguet