Pre-match: Argentina vs. Colombia - qual game WC (R)

I beg u not to bring Crespo's name near any of the attackers we currently have that dude is world class!

 

Milito can't be judged by this game or really any other game he's played with the team. He's been victimized in that he's always been given far from optimal chances to succeed. To be given a fair chance, He must START at least 3 successive matches with a midfield that can create legitimate chances for him. If at that point he doesn't show anything, then he should be done away with.

 

that is true, completely different story with Cruz who was wasting chances left and right.

 

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_O6ZTbjkZ8"]YouTube - Selección Argentina / Juegos Olímpicos 2008[/ame]

How many of those guys are on the current roster? i mean specially when u win the freaking Olympics u must consider at least 10 of those guys to be on ur senior side!!

Like seriously u put that team together with about 4 experienced pieces and you'll be unstoppable in 2010! just add Zanetti, Veron, D`alessandro, Samuel, Jonas! thats all you really need i mean when u look at the starters they're all playing at a high level in Europe right now!

Zabaleta - having a great season
Garay- has been having a great career down in spain
Pareja - had a solid season
Monzon - did ok then got benched but whenever he plays he still does ok and never seems to have brain farts!

Di Maria - always played well when had the chance except for that game against Bolivia but he wa sthe only threat in 5 minutes!
Lavezzi - has been having a great career in Italy so far
Banega - played well for Valencia then did bad in Atletico but what hes been doing for the u-23 side he must be looked at
Fazio - always played well when he had the chance to play

So i just cant come up with a reason why Forlin, Ortamendi, Papa are being picked over those guys it just doesn't make any sense to me and as good as a season as Tevez had coming off the bench Zarate had a waaaaaaaaay better season and im gonna leave out alot of guys like Cambiasso, Higuain, Perotti, Insua, Sosa (By the way he had a phenomenal end of the season matches coming off the bench for Bayern) just so i dont confuse Maradona anymore!

 

Any word on Aguero's injury?

 

Call Crespo back. Really. If Veron can be called back I have no problem with calling Crespo back. He provides a much needed aerial presence. I bet you he scores on his first game.

 

Who said I was impressed with the game?

 

Sometimes more is said w/ less.....

 

I hope Crespo does well for Genova and why isn't Samuel playing ?

and how does Columbia have 64 pages and we only have 14, are they that many more supporters for them ?

 

yes, I was surprised myself they have so much support.

The Argentina forum has been getting less participation through the years.

btw they also have 17 pages in a post match thread.. !

mind you, you learn more about their team than in the mexican threads and they are far less bitter about argentina than the mexicans.

cheers to colombia for providing a scare last night, and for showing us that there is still much more to be done with this Argentina squad..

I will give Milito the benefit of the doubt, but hasn't he been the starter in some friendly before?? I dunno..

 

I agree 100%. It's time to recall Crespo.

 

the standards sank, uh ?

 

I am worried about the current situation in Argentina. While we attained 3 points yesterday, I am worried about our road to qualification and the team's overall preparation for 2010.

I don't understand why we have struggled so much over the past two qualifying dates? Any momentum built from victories in friendlies versus Scotland and France have been quashed by that disastrous date in Bolivia. I am fearful that we are on a slippery slope and this team will be troubled to even qualify for South Africa. The altitude in Quito, a home date against a confident Brazil and away dates in Paraguay and Uruguay appear to be significant hurdles this team will have to overcome. After yesterday's game I am more worried than ever.

Wednesday night's game in Quito will be telling. What's desperately needed are 3 points and a convincing team effort. I don't expect a one sided contest, but a dominant performance will settle down my concerns for this team.

Am I being too pessimistic?

 

I completely agree with you. There is a lot to be worried about.

 

You know something is highly wrong when Grondona starts to worry, and he has according to radio mitre commentators who seen him after the match. Nevertheless, I am certain Argentina will qualify not because I'm being optimistic but because I'm being realistic.
How am I being realistic? Argentina is one of the most popular teams in the world and is a huge economic asset for FIFA as a result of sponsorship and attendance revenue. That goes without saying that the future World Player of the Year plays for Argentina and his absence from the most important football tournament will cast doubt to the validity of such award and competition. How can FIFA effect Argentina's qualification possibility? Through favorable refereeing. The referee in yesterdays match hugely favored Argentina by denying the Colombian's a clear penalty, not showing Mascherano a certain red card after a hard tackle under a yellow and many other calls that went Argentina's way. Of course that is my opinion but in any case, if we do qualify it is not thanks to Maradona.

 

This game in Ecuador is massive. If Ecuador and Uruguay pick up 3 points, we will have be only 2 points away from missing the world cup altogether, with out even getting a chance in a play off. I don't see this team being able to win there, or even draw. Brazil got a lucky draw and would have lost 4 or 5-1 had Julio Cesar not had a spectacular performance in goal, and although Andujar played well we dont have a keeper of his quality. I hate to say it but we could easily concede 3 or 4 with this defensive unit. We will be withough Mascherano and are there any updates on Aguero? Cambiaso would come in handy in this match, but he, like so many others who deserve a call up, are sitting at home. What kind of team will Maradona put out there?

 

Agreed on the refereeing point, although Argentina should have had a pen as well. We all know FIFA want Argentina and Messi to make the World Cup, and the circus that is Diego Maradona will certainly add to their desire to see us in South Africa. Remember Portugal may not make it either, and it would be something truly shocking if the two best players in the world were not at the World Cup.

 

Sorry but this is ridiculous. utter non-sense/

 

The foul on Aguero was clearly outside the penalty box so if it were to be given it would have been a free kick. And I do realize that Portugal is currently in a slightly worse situation than Argentina but they will qualify nonetheless. Yesterday Portugal managed to beat Albania 2-1 by scoring a goal 3 minutes into stoppage time with the referee waving off a penalty in favor of the Albanians minutes earlier. Of course that might just as well been a coincidence and it most likely was so I wont blow it out of proportion. I realize some people might believe that FIFA referees are pure and incapable of being influential but they have historically been biased , Argentinas match against Germany in the 1990 and 2006 world cup come to mind. But regardless, if we do qualify it would be because of luck and/or other external reasons rather then Maradona's tactical astuteness.

Anyways, for wednesdays match I believe Maradona will have to use a 4-2-3-1 if he intends to use Veron or Gimenez as playmakers. If he goes for a 4-3-1-2 like Basile did with riquelme he would have to play one defensive midfielder but he seems poised to starting 2 which would translate to Gago playing besides Bataglia. Heinze and Andujar are certain to start and I believe a draw is considered a favorable result in Quito so the lineup will probably be:
---------------Andujar---------------
Zanetti---Demichelis-Heinze----Papa
-------Gago------Battaglia----------
-Maxi------Veron/Gimenez-----Gutierrez
-------------Milito-------------------

 

Why would Messi not play? I know Maradona said he would use a different line up, but this is crunch time and we need our best player out there!

 

I don't know why either but that's what maradona been hinting about yesterday. The only reason I can think of Messi not starting is if Maradona goes for a defensive 4-5-1.
Some websites indicate that Messi will be starting in a 4-2-2-2 alongside Bergessio or Lopez with Maxi and Gimenez as side midfielders.

---------------Andujar-----------------
-Zanneti---Demi-----Heinze(c)-----Papa
----------Gago----Battaglia------------
Maxi----------------------------Gimenez
---------Messi----Bergessio------------

 

What a joke if Heinze is the captain! Zanetti was the captain before Maradona went in and forced Mascherano to take the armband even though he was reluctant to do so. Zanetti is also captain of a big club in Europe and has over 130 caps! Lesser men would have retired for having their captaincy stripped for no apparent reason. Heinze has spirit and fight, but is also one of our weakest players...

 

I don't quite share your opinion on FIFA's potential influence on qualifying games for the sake of the WC.

Based on Argentina's recent form, it would take a David Copperfield Referree to help us get through the remaining schedule.

Anything less than a draw on Wednesday and I'm sweating the rest of the summer until September 5th...

 

Yea, I know, Heinze has fighting spirit but he is prone to making huge mistakes. This is what maradona said after yesterdays game ""La cinta es para Heinze." or "The armband goes to Heinze." I have absolutely no clue why he isn't even considering giving it to Zanetti as his next choices happen to be Messi, Tevez and of course Aguero.

 

I remember various idiots on these boards being so thrilled that Maradona would assume the DT position for the Albiceleste. well ... hope you are happy with the results.

This team does not need a rah-rah type coach extolling the lads to fight on for old Argentina. This group of primma donnas Needs a serious, responsible, unemotional and unattached DT who:

- wouldn't isolate (thorugh the media) the best enganche Argentina has, Riquelme:
- doesn't refuse to call up the (clearly) best center forward Argentina has because he questions his loyalty and dedication when the guy had a very legitimate reson to not go to some BS tournament. (Higuain);
- stubbornly call up past their primes like Heinze who clearly, clearly lack the pace to effectively perform in the bac four;
- continue to play his son in law despite the fact he is playing like crap lately, at club level as well as with the NT.

He is beyond over his head. He has no tactics, the team is playnig far worse under him than they did under Basile.

Grondona deserves all the blame, i know there is no way to oust this guy, but he is ruining a golden generation of footballers.

Bianchi should've coached this club at least once by now.

Why not a true classic futbol Argentino coach, like Huracan's Cappa?

Maradona is too stupid to know he's horribly ineffective.

This team will get crushed by Brazil, and the sh1t wil hit the fan.

Very, very disappointing.