Argentine NT: News, Stats & Players 2011-2013 (Part II) [R]

It's a friendly and who knows if he even starts or plays.

 

Full list:

Goalkeepers:
Sergio ROMERO (Sampdoria – Italy)

Defenders:
Daniel DIAZ (Getafe – Spain)
Hugo CAMPAGNARO (Napoli – Italy)
Federico FERNANDEZ (Napoli – Italy)
Pablo ZABALETA (Manchester City – England)
Luciano MONZÓN (Nice– France)
Ezequiel GARAY (Benfica – Portugal)
Marcos ROJO (Spartak Moscow – Russia)


Midfielders:
Angel DI MARIA (Real Madrid- Spain)
Javier MASCHERANO (Barcelona – Spain)
Fernando GAGO (Roma – Italy)
Erik LAMELA (Roma – Italy)
Maxi RODRIGUEZ (Liverpool – England)
José SOSA (Metalist – Ukraine)

Forwards:
Gonzalo HIGUAIN (Real Madrid – Spain)
Lionel MESSI (Barcelona – Spain)
Rodrigo PALACIO (Genoa – Italy)
Sergio AGÜERO (Manchester City – England)


Sosa should not be in there, but we might have to get used to it. Maxi brings experience and it's not like he's bad with the NT, so I can accept him being there.

Diaz I don't mind at all. He's not a bad player at all for Getafe. I'm glad Lamela is getting a chance. Pastore is out injured, so that's why he's not included. But nice to see Lamela there.

Clemente Rodriguez is expected to be called-up as well and I think Brana and Desabato too.

Exactly. Though I would have liked to have seen Perotti or Tino Costa, but like I said, no problems with Maxi.

 

Yeah, have to deal with Sabella's love affair with Sosa. But again, Sosa was not too bad in the 2nd half vs Colombia.

Perotti has somewhat regressed the 2nd part of the seaspn, I still like him though. Tino Costa plays more of Gago's role, maybe that is why he did not called. Maxi can play the wing or in the MF, and his goal ratio in the MF is much better(On the NT) than somebody like Tevez who plays as a striker. Now I just hope Sabella's uses these new faces rather then the old guard. I would love to see Coco and Lio on the pitch at the same time. Also see Garay/Campagnaro playing in the back.

 

We'll be seeing new faces in CB, that much is guaranteed. No Demichelis and no Burdisso, so two of Fernandez, Campagnaro, Garay and Diaz will get a chance.

As for Maxi, you're spot on. His goal ratio with the NT is very good and like you said, he can play on the wing which would give us some width. I'm actually happy not seeing Banega there. The kid is so inconsistent, it's crazy. I'd rather have Gago who usually does well with us.

 

How does Rojo keep getting called up? He needs to realize this is not Estudiantes! Rojo is not Seleccion material, never has been. UGH!!

 

He needs to pull a Demi for him to not get seen again.

But seriously, no Demi is wonderful news. It's like fixing a bad tooth!

The game is on a Sunday? Any clue what time?

 

sad thing is Zanetti is still the best option at RB or LB and he's not slowing down at all, but it's critical that you guys develop someone in the wingback role

 

Tagliafico is going to be a quality player at that position.

 

Wonderful pass for the first goal almost reminiscent of Diego.

However Barca must rest him more. He'll burn out otherwise.

Odd choices in the selection by Sabella. Personally I don't like seeing Sosa but he performed reasonably against Columbia in the second half. Perotti has had a poorish season so no surprise not to see him included. No sign of Gaitan either which is strange as he can play wide and tuck in and is challenging di Maria.

I would also much prefer to see these defenders given their chance. Ansaldi of course and those two youngsters need to be thrown in and allowed to develop Tagliafico and Pezzella.

I don't care that German for example has not played much competitively . Certain players have that extra quality that makes you sit up and notice.

Tagliafico caught my attention with the u17's and it is high time as a natural lateral he is given a chance and grow into his position. Monzon has done well enough at Nice but he's not going to be a long term fixture.

Also disappointed that Silvestre has once again been left out.

 

Traca scored again today.

I found this video that a fan made for him, a song for Traca that was made by an Everton fan, it's dubbed, "Feed the Straq".

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBLlHiYJRRI"]Feed the Straq ( and he will score!) - YouTube[/ame]

 

Am telling you, Stracqualursi is one with the potential to score five goals at the WC.

 

Caught the Barcelona game. Seems like Banega is going to be out for sometime, he got hurt off the field at a gas station. Story below. A real shame, hope he does not drift away again, he is a real talent. So back to the game. Messi scores 4, Pitatti scores 1. I was really watching for Tino Costa and man he was awful. Could not hold the ball, was getting schooled all the time. I know judging him against Barcelona is not fair but he was just bad.


http://www.ole.com.ar/fuera-de-juego/Auto-lesion_0_649135372.html

 

He'll have lots of free time now...should we expect more homemade porn?

 

The car wanker...

 

I hope not.

It's basically watching Spain, they get the job done, by winning 1-0 games. If they are really feeling it, they will score 2 or dare I say 3? But again, they get the job done, but not as lethal up front without Lio.


On a side note, I was browsing at the FIFA Rankings. It seems that we have slipped to 11th, lol. I know there are qualifiers still to be played and friendlies, something tells me we may not be a ranked team at the next WC. The Euro's are around the corner, and they also have their qualifiers for the WC. Not to mention, the Confederations Cup. So unless, we get hot and win a lot of our games in the next 2 years, then we may be put in a 2nd tier. I know it's based on the top 7 or 8 teams and what you did in the last couple WC's but still, thinking ahead. It's going to be in Brazil anyways, I already expect us to be in a group of death, 1st or 2nd seed Then again, having a group game vs Brazil in the 1st round will be mouth watering. Open up the WC vs Brazil...

Wait a second, we have to qualify first..

 

Spain will REALLY struglle at the Euro's this summer. Torres makes Julio Cruz look like Batistuta, while Villa will just be coming back from injury and I don't think he'll be able to save them like he did at the World Cup. Llorente doesn't seem to be getting a chance with the team and you can't rely on Pedro to be your top scorer (he's good, but he can't be your main guy for goals). So they will struggle.

The FIFA rankings are a joke and a bitch. FIFA should seed teams for the World Cup based on passed World Cup's, not this crappy FIFA ranking. England ahead of Argentina? Really? Denmark? WTF?!

We've been getting the group of death whether we're seeded or not. 2002 and 2006 were tough as hell. 2010 not as much.

I don't think FIFA would have us and Brazil in the same group together, not a chance. While we would get screwed (we're going to get screwed either way), depending on the other two teams in the group, Brazil could struggle. Ah who am I kidding, Brazil will have it made and presented to them by FIFA. Just like 2002 and to a lesser extent 1994.

 

messi could have scored 8 goals had they returned his passes.

 

Spain will have issues, I do agree. Germany looks good, and might be favorites to win it. We got them in a friendly in August, so we might be playing the European Champions in a friendly. They took apart Brazil last year in a friendly. Good team, even though it is filled with a bunch of ... They will want the Spanish,but again, Spain beat them last 2 major tourneys they played. Fernando Torres, if he gets called, that will be funny.

As for the rankings system, I agree. I don't know how some teams are ranked so high. But, I believe you just have to be in the top 8 to get ranked. Brazil are automatic ranked as a seed with their host spot, as well as their rankings, which means their ranking and seed will only count as 1. It won't be like South Africa who were ranked, and it came down to us and the French for a 1 seed.

As it stands.

Spain
Germany
Netherlands
Uruguay
England(lol!)
Portugal
Brazil
Italy
Croatia
Denmark
and we are 11.

So Brazil will get a spot and teams below them will move up a slot. So, I think England will stumble at some point(or even the Dutch,Germans or Portugal, they are all in the same group in the Euros), same with the Croats, and the Danes. They will fall, an we will gradually move up(if we win our qualifiers). And yes, I believe Brazil will be given a breeze for that tourney. 02, their 2nd round game was, Belgium then England, Turkey and a final vs Germany.

But if we won our group in 02, our was going to be Senegal(R16) then Turkey in QF then Brazil in the semis. Even if we finished 2nd the stage was going to be, Denmark, Brazil in the quarters, Turkey in the semis. We had a great chance and road in that WC. But that WC was just rotten in every sense of the word. But it's the past, can't do anything about it.


Well, I am happy we get some international games ahead of us(even though it's one).