Argentina has all-time great footballer as coach, best footballer of current generation in its team and has most passionate fan following. I always support Argentina in world cups. Still I have no big hopes on Argentina in winning 2010 FIFA world cup. Argentina is an underachiever at FIFA world cups in recent years due to injuries, bad coaches and red cards etc. But, Argentina and Brazil are only nations who won world cup outside their continent. Maradona helped Argentina to win FIFA world cup as a player in 1986. Can he repeat that feat as a coach?
Weak coach, worst selection and poor strategies may spoil Argentina chances as in last world cup. How can on earth coach can not pick payers like Javier Janetti and Cambiasso who are in roaring form? Janetti brings leadership and big match experience which is crucial in world cup especially in knockout stages.
Group B: Argentina, Nigeria, Greece and South Korea
FIFA Ranking: 7
Squad ranking: 8/10
World cup history: Won world cups in 1978 and 1986. This is the fifteenth world cup appearance for this South American giant.
Qualification: They stood fourth in South American qualifying round and qualified to world cup by beating Uruguay in last qualifying match.
Warm-up matches:
1. Argentina crushed weak Canada (5-1) without Messi.
2. Argentina defeated Germany in a friendly but lost to Spain in another friendly.
Missing stars: Javier Janetti and Esteban Cambiasso
Argentina soccer squad for 2010 FIFA World cup:
Coach: Diego Maradona
Wicket-keepers:
1. Sergio Romero:
2. Mariano Andujar:
3. Diego Pozo:
Defenders: Weakness in this strong Argentina squad.
1. Walter Samuel:
2. Gabriel Heinze:
3. Jonas Gutirrez:
4.
Mid-fielders:
1. Angel Di Maria: Tremendous talent. If Maria and Veron combine well with forwards, you can expect lot of goals from this Argentina team.
2. Javier Mascherano: One of the best players at his position in current football. He will be among top 10 players if passion is criterion to rank a player. He needs to additional work to reduce stress on fragile defence – weakness in this Argentina lineup.
3. Juan Veron:
4.
Forwards:
1. Lionel Messi: What can I say about best footballer in world? He can do anything on football irrespective of opposition. Referees need to protect him. World cup needs him.
2. Gonzalo Higuain:
3. Carlos Tevez: Like Mascherano, he works tirelessly and he is in good form for Manchester City.
4. Sergio Aguero: Despite having talent, he may sit on bench due to heavy competition.
5. Diego Milito: He is in roaring form. It will be a big headache for Maradona to pick forwards.
6.
Positives:
1. Lionel Messi: He has “Maradona” like capability to take Argentina to semi-finals at least.
2. Argentina has best forward line-up in this world cup. Just look at substitute bench – Tevez, Aguero, Milito/Higuain etc. Argentina hopes will rely on these forwards. They can destroy any defence on their day.
3. Mascherano: Captain is a real inspirational figure.
4. Midfield has sensational players like Angel Di Maria while Central defence is looking strong with Walter Samuel.
5. They defeated full strength Germany in a friendly match.
Negatives:
1. Opponents will expose loopholes in defence.
2. Absence of in-form Champions League winning Inter-Milan stars, Javier Janetti and Cambiasso may spoil Argentina chances.
3. Maradona may be a star but a poor coach and weak strategist.
4. Too much dependence on Messi but who can provide passes (like Xavi and Alves at Barcelona)?
Final Verdict:
Argentina has many world class players but may suffer due to absence of good strategist as coach. Maradona destroyed Argentina chances by not selecting Inter Milan’s in form players (Janetti and Cambiasso). Argentina may reach semi-finals and may lose to Spain in finals.
Argentina will face Mexico/Uruguay in second round and may face Germany in quarter-finals. It may face Spain in semi-finals and Brazil/England/Holland in finals.
But, as a fan of Argentina and South American football, I like to see Brazil and Argentina in Semi-finals along with Spain and England from Europe. Holland and Italy are other dangerous teams. Can Lionel Messi do wonders in 2010 world cup just like Maradona did in 1986 world cup?
If Argentina has coach like Jose Mourinho, it can easily reach finals. But, it has Diego Maradona. God save Argentina.
If forwards are enough to win a world cup, no team can beat Argentina. But, teams need defenders, mid-fielders and wicket-keepers to win world cups.
Argentina squad rating: 8/10.
Argentina coach rating: 3/10
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