Squad for Croatia friendly (post-game comments) -R

[shaf-argentina]

Pekky has called up 18 foreign based players for the friendly on March 1.

Leonardo Franco y Maximiliano Rodríguez (Atlético madrid), Juan Sorín y Juan Riquelme (Villarreal), Pablo Aimar (Valencia), Leonardo Ponzio, Gabriel y Diego Milito (Zaragoza), Fabricio Coloccini (La Coruña), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Walter Samuel, Esteban Cambiasso y Nicolás Burdisso (Inter), Luis González (Porto), Hernán Crespo (Chelsea), Lionel Scaloni (West Ham), Martín Demichelis (Bayern Munich) y Carlos Tevez (Corinthians).


Looks reasonable enough to me, notable absentee is Javier "Pupi" Zanetti and Gonzalo Rodriguez. I am expecting to see 4 more players added from the home base, simply because I dont see him taking 3 keepers for this friendly.

My guesses are Pato, Bilos, Battaglia and Aguero maybe?

[hoss23]

Samuel frightens me...hopefully there is not enough room for him in Germany.

[maxpepper]

I really like zanetti...he always plays good. And I'd rather see gonzalo play than coloccini...

[BigSoccer Bot]

También a Coloccini, Scaloni y Burdissso, y excluyeron a Javier Saviola, Diego Placente y Julio Cruz. Se completaría con Abbondanzieri y Ustari.

Link To Original Article (http://www.clarin.com/diario/2006/02/15/deportes/d-04704.htm)

[Leon12]

I'd rather see Coco the Clown than Coloccini. Gonzalo should be in the squad.

Also Aguero should be given a game, this would be a good opportunity in a friendly.

[bsas]

Good selection imo...

You seem to be quite harsh with Coloccini. He has been great up to Confed Cup. Agreed he is now on a down slope, but if he's back in shape, he can be great.

[Leon12]

You're right bsas, Coloccini's form does tend to go up and down, personally I think he should get his haircut as that might make him play better. :D

Seriously though Gonzalo is an excellent defender and still very young and this would have been a good opportunity to bring him into the squad in a low key, no pressure game. I would love to see Aguero given a game.

[shaf-argentina]

Doubt it will be a low pressure game, provided its the only one before the cup.
My question to ask in that squad is Burdisso. He is a great young prospect, a good central defender, but if Pekky wants to play him at central defence, maybe he shouldnt, because he has been playing his club football lately as a left back. As much as I like Burdisso, i dont think he is good enough to be a fullback, because the attacking element of his game isnt sumthing to be very proud of.

If he was to play in central defence, wouldnt Gonzalo be a very good choice anyways?

I also hope Pupi gets Scaloni's role inthe cup itself, trying to be as less critical as I can about the manager here. :D

[Leon12]

Shaf,

I believe another 2 games are planned before the world cup.

Zanneti is pure class, presumably he is not in this squad because he has nothing to prove to anyone.

Would like to see Aguero in the squad, sorry to labour the point. :D

[ROMERO879]

Is Bilos Croatian?

[Leon12]

He could have played for Croatia but choose to go with Argentina. :p

[bsas]

I hope Pekerman doesn't try a complete new team. He should consolidate with the 80% of his final team, and only try out some people for the remaining 20%.

[Argentine Futbol]

I hope Pekerman doesn't try a complete new team. He should consolidate with the 80% of his final team, and only try out some people for the remaining 20%.


I agree but I think Aguero, Gago, Palacios, Gonzalo. etc.. are for the next World Cup and not this one.

[Leon12]

In my humble opinion there can be no harm at all in giving Aguero a run out in the national team in a friendly. Sometimes a player comes out of nowhere to make the squad and then goes on to have a big impact at a major tournament, perhaps that could be Aguero.

[Moishe]

I'm all over Aguero getting a shot. My question is does he really fill a need on this team? I'd prefer to see Gago since backing up Mascherano is an important thing. Gonzalo as well. He's arguably or best defender at the moment. He's also shown up big time in the Champions League. Aguero will be great and he'll get his shot. I wouldn't give his minutes to Messi or Tevez right now though.

[shaf-argentina]

Looking at the report by igsoccerbot, looks like Aguero will not be called up at all.

[Leon12]

Shame really, would have been nice to have seen him play for Argentina, although I gather he is injured at the moment anyway.

[shaf-argentina]

Yep looks like only Pato and Ustari will be added to the current 18, dont see the point of taking 3 keepers though, hes probably not goin to even substitue the keeper.

[Leon12]

It is a real shame that things have not quite worked out for Santiago Solari at Inter because he is (IMHO) a superb player and would have been a great addition to the world cup squad.

[argentine soccer fan]

Looking at the report by igsoccerbot, looks like Aguero will not be called up at all.

Aguero is hurt. It is not a serious injury but he is not expected to play for a match or two. I don't know if that had anything to do with his exclusion.

Of the players excluded, not counting the injuries, I think Zanetti (obviously) and Gonzalo Rodriguez are the ones that I think should be included in the final squad. Rodriguez may be young, but he is ready, and his pace and speed may be needed in our central defense.