Argentina vs Switzerland, Feb 29th (R)

The 442 might not provide security to YOU but it provides security to HIM. Likewise with Sosa and Brana. I like Brana by the way.

Yes, I liked the Higuain dynamic as well, but could have it lasted for longer than it did?

Agreed about Maxi 2006 over Maxi 2012 BUT he had some very good passing with Messi right outside the box and that's something Argentina has not had for a long time. I'd like to keep him around until at least we find someone better.

Now about Sosa, I can't agree with you more. He can't attack and can't defend so why do we keep him? Sometimes I feel he's going to have a break out game for us and he comes up empty. Sosa has to be Sabellas lucky rabbit foot or something like that!

Either way I think we took positive steps forward today. Steps that we can grow on heading into the Qualies.

That's another positive aspect of this game. The defense was ok. There weren't any DeMichelis moments and massive disconnect from the MF.

While it's a small step, at least it's heading in the right direction.

I really feel that Argentina has finally gotten over the hump and this has become Messi's team. Finally, Finally, Finally!! I've been waiting for this moment for a long time!

Is it me or does Higuain take his time to shoot on goal? He was pulled down today, but he was trying to line himself up when Kun gave him the ball.

The same issue against Colombia, got the ball, took forever to shoot, and his shot was picked up by Kun to score.

We definitely need a front three of attackers. Just having two makes the defences job easier.

I thought Campy and Zabby did pretty well all things considered esp.Campy in his ventures up the right flank. He is an assured passer of the ball and the extra height of the back four helped to a degree.

However playing Zabby down the left did cramp options there as his tendency is to drift to his strongest side as for the goal which like many a mistimed effort at goal causes defenders to drag across. More worrying was Gago's inability to pick up Shaquiri for the goal.

If Brana and Masche are to play together they need to decide who does what. Several times during the game a simple reverse pass would have left Swiss players in acres of space. Argentine players were attracted to the ball like a honeypot.

There was not much spacing between the centrebacks, midfield and attack. When the front two who worked very hard closed down the midfield did not press in concert allowing several times the Swiss to escape with an easy out ball. When they did the Swiss lost the ball several times.

This unit is still not working in concert in defence and attack. Sosa is not of the required quality. A real ball player needs to be in that central role and Maxi is not match fit or sharp either and was anonymous. Not one of his trademark runs into the box at all and no service into the box.

This issue of a central midfielder controlling play needs to be tackled. Sabella may prefer not to have one but he must opt to use one in order to make the attack more potent and ease the burden on the defence.

With a side like this posession needs to be raised. Romero aimlessly kicking it away does not help. Pato for some of his faults wasa superb distributor of the ball almost an outfield player.

Someone must work with him to improve his shaky kicking and kicking off his other foot. Or give the hurry up to bring in Andrada and Chichizola.

One must bear in mind the side have less than two days to work together and with a few new faces it's hard to get a cohesive unit. Should this be the same effort in a qualifier then alarm bells should be ringing.

Disappointed by the non appearance of Lamela . Yesterday was an ideal oppurtunity to start seeing if he can generate chemistry with the likes of Leo and Kun and take some of the playmaking burden from Leo.

Also does he have a problem with Boca players ? Palacio who is in top form called up again but not used over Salvio ?

Understandable to see Maxi and Sosa subbed but replacing them with Lamela and Palacio and shifting Messi to the right might have been more sensible.

Flattering scoreline at the end perhaps but Kun forced the second goal and in a competitive game Inler would have been sent off before halftime.

He is a bit rusty. Not his self this season either in and out of the Real side. Normally he'd have hit that first time.

For that penalty the goalkeeper probably had been told Leo hits most of his penalties to the right as the kicker faces the goal. Leo outhought him.

Also at the end the Swiss players touching Leo's head as if he is already a holy relic.....

Ha, ha. It's the same effect Maradona used to have, players just wanted to be able to say to their children/grandchildren that they had been on the same pitch as him. I recall John Barnes talking about the 1986 quarter final and said he was desparate to get onto the pitch, because he wanted to be on the same field as Diego, didn't even mention the game.

Must have been a hell of a scramble for Messi's short.

Just seen Spain's goals against Venezuela, pretty impressive stuff.

It seems that when it comes to friendly, Argentina always get good result while Germany's not. But in tournament, a different story

Italy are the utlimate example of that, they are always, without fail rubbish in friendly games, yet come the big tournaments (with the odd exception) they are always in with a shout.

plus Italian players reach their peak from 30-40 years old

Yeah, usually at about 38.

Funnily enough Ryan Giggs is hitting his peak at that age as well, except it's not on the ptich.

That was funny. In the CL game against Leverkusen all the players were scrambling to switch shirts with Messi at the end.

Imagine if Messi, Aguero played in those crappy Euro qualifiers where all the "stars" in Europe get to pad their NT scoring. They'd both have like 50 goals or something by now.

Euro qualifiers isnt weak man... cmon, England failed to qualify

I think Loew played some different players in their game to test them out.

He tried Wiese in goal and I don't think he'll be in the net come the European championships. Nor Aogo at central defence. He tried a couple of the youngsters in midfield like Reus and Schurrle too and I think Gotze and Pighunter will be in their spots come the real thing.

It's a pity Sabella did not decide to test someone like Tagliafico, Lamela, Pezzella yesterday.

Indeed Leon. I recall Glenn Hoddle saying it was a privilege and honour to play alongside Diego in midfield albeit it was just the one game for Ardiles testimonial match and he was not a bad player either in the Francescoli mould.

I wouldn't be surprised if players prior to a match contact Leo and ask if they can swap shirts.

Steve Hodge managed to get Diego's shirt at the end of the quarter final and it is worth a fair bit now locked away in some safety deposit box in a bank. Something in the region of a million pounds.....

Wise move by Hodge to make sure he got that shirt.

If I was a player and managed to be on the same pitch as Messi I would make sure I got his shirt, in fact I would swap at half time.

Hi all! I couldn't watch the game yesterday. Could somebody say where I can watch it? I'll be very thanksfull

Try mysoccerplace.net tato. You will have to register to see the links.

They have the full download of the game available. One of the host sites is fileswap (slow but it'll get you a download).Thanks to paolo.

They have done that. Kadlec and Friedrich were reprimanded by Voller for doing so in the last CL game between Leverkusen and FCB.

The shirts that everyone would want is when Leo wins a trophy with the seleccion unless he keeps that for himself of course. Fingers crossed the World Cup though there is an immense amount of work to be done . Just 27 months to go which will fly by or the Copa.

He could always send the shirt to me. No one loves Messi like me unless of course it is RacingGirl. Hell even COSMOS had words of praise for the little maestro. Now I am concerned.

Thanks, Mate

Voller is such a spoilsport:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ayers-forced-auction-Lionel-Messi-shirts.html