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Angola Review and a Prediction

May 30th, 2006 | By: JP | 100 Comments »

In general, we have to be pleased…

Angola’s only chances came, as we’ve been predicting for 3 months, from egregious ABBONDANZIERI screw-ups. The defense was air tight, but Abbondanzieri was so bad that we should fully expect every team we face to just unload from half field and crash the net looking for rebounds. So far, Abbo is exactly the time bomb we’ve discussed ad nauseum. Either we’ll pay the price or Franco will be seeing some action.

SORIN was Man of the Match. Two of his crosses ended up in goal. Others should have. He was a lion on defense and ball recovery.

RIQUELME made a nice pass or two but, if anything, this game proved that the team can look pretty good even when Riquelme’s not much of a factor.

BURDISSO held his own and didn’t look out of place aside the always reliable AYALA & HEINZE. Defense generally looked outstanding…SCALONI was decent defending, but man does he lack ball skills. In the passing, everyone was singing the same tune but Scaloni.

MESSI is flat-out unreal. The things that can happen between him, TEVEZ, and AIMAR might be all-time, off the charts. I have to believe Pekerman will start Tevez.

Frankly, Pekerman might be the only person in the world who would start Saviola - Crespo over Tevez - Messi. One thing is certain: If a team is holding a Riquelme, Saviola, Crespo line-up to a draw (or down one). Pekerman has a NITRO button which is to bring on Aimar, Tevez, Messi. I’m hoping he finds a look that blends the two by the time we face Holland. Riquelme, Saviola, Crespo should be more than enough for Ivory Coast however.

Otherwise, MAXI looked great as the scoring threat he’s become (save one dive); CAMBIASSO had a quiet game and MASCHERANO looked solid. He got tagged a couple of times but seemed to recover OK.

In sum (and in my opinion), Argentina has more raw material than any other team in their history, OR in this World Cup. If Pekerman and Abbondanzieri don’t drop any t_rds in the proverbial punch bowl…this should be quite a party. Predictions:

Argentina 4 Ivory Coast 2 (Factoring that Abbo is relieved of duty by Franco after at least one gift goal)
Argentina 2 S&M 1
Argentina 2 Holland 1

Argentina 3 Portugal 2

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 100 comments.

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By farey | June 2nd, 2006 at 10:22 am

messi what a great player.he is really speedy gonzalez with the best driblling skills.Tevez too.Im very confident that arg can win in this WC with these players.

Posted from Maldives

By Cc | June 2nd, 2006 at 11:05 am

For some strange reason Aimar and Riquelme don’t play well together. Aimar is great and the team plays completely different and better with him in the game.However he is a 45 minute man.

Posted from Jamaica

By Cc | June 2nd, 2006 at 11:18 am

http://albicelestes.com/news/258-Messi-pleased-with-recovery

Messi says it was special to play with Aimar

Posted from Jamaica

By Ray | June 2nd, 2006 at 12:08 pm

I am a very big fan of argentina.And i want it to win this WC.But I am not expecting that much from argentina this time.The reason is pekerman.

I mean…he has made his team(arg) so much riquelme dependent that it effects the entire pace of the game.Riq is skilled but he is just too slow to build the attack.By that time toomany defenders gather within the penalty box and scoring gets just too tough.

I mean…you all saw what happened in the confed finals.Riq played the entire 1st half and the score was 3-0 to brazil.Aimar came at 65th and Tevez at 85th minute.And they created many chances.In fact if a little luck was on their side the defeat could have been a respectable 4-3(not 4-1).

For me the magic formula is
Messi-Aimar-Tevez combo.As you all noticed ,they all work really well together.And they should all start the game and not come as subs when they are 3-0 down.

Messi is at least as good as Rooney from as much as I have seen him.Tevez , i think is even better than Robinho.And Aimar I think is better than Deco.Do not underestimate Aimar.Valencia was nothing that big 10 years ago.Today it is in the same ranks with Real and Berca.And Aimar has been a major factor in that.

And i believe that yor best players should be at the starting line up.And I think this entire either Aimar or Riquelme tactics is crap.Ronaldo and Adriano are similar players and they will start together for brazil.And I am telling you that it will be a deadly combo.Brazil is so successful because it utilises and gives freedom to its best players.Thats exactly ther problem with Argentina.

Pekerman you listening?

Posted from India

By maxilopez | June 2nd, 2006 at 12:37 pm

Adriano will make shit at the world cup. He isn’t technique. He’s only powerful. Carlos and Cafu are old. They never defend. Juan isn’t that good compared to Cris which is fantastic, or even Luisao or Alex. Ronnie is great but he could make mistakes because he thinks he’s the best with all these promtions on TV. Brazil won’t win, it’s obvious. They never should’ve win in 2002.

Vamos ARGENTINA !

Posted from France

By Jason | June 2nd, 2006 at 2:14 pm

Ray I couldn’t agree with you more about the new tandem. Tevez, Aimar & Messi. Riquelme has flashes of brilliance though. We cannot deny that, but as you can tell we now have options and Peks tactics are starting to show. We have two totally diff. teams. One with Riq. and the other with Aimar. I hope he can get the better team on the field and push/leave his personal ties with the players out. We all know about the Pekerman boys. That is the only reason Sorin is captian, personally I think he sucks and Demichelis would have been a better choice, both endurance and ball skill, not to mention a better shot. Alright, Vamos Argentina Carajo!!!! Como en el “86″!!!!!

Posted from United States

By gino | June 2nd, 2006 at 3:11 pm

hello guys, does anyone know if the Argentina vs Saudi Arabia game was postponed?

Posted from United States

By Said | June 2nd, 2006 at 4:54 pm

I think Abbo is too much of a risk now … He should take the bench and franco should take his place .. We don’t need emotions, we need the cup ! Messi, Tevez and Aimar are great. Requilme needs some time to find his place among the team.
Vamos Vamos Argentina!

Posted from United States

By Jerry | June 2nd, 2006 at 5:31 pm

yow jason u talking about we dont have star players like brazil and italy have that is rubbish. italy is not a good team to me i watch them played and all the big names they have the did not do a thing totti is the main man for them and he is not up to standard like before and brazil definently counts on ronaldihno if he is not in the game they suffer u will see for yourself. I dont think ivory coast will put up any challenge they are gonna come with a defensive side and try to count on drogba who can hardly dribble only force his way and can b handle by our defense and i can assure u that the only challenge to me is holland the match can go anyway but ivory coast arent good they count on a 1 man that aint that good. We have players that if they play their game no side can stop us. ARGENTINA are number 1. u will all see. They know what to do.

Posted from United States

By Jerry | June 2nd, 2006 at 5:46 pm

ivory coast could not beat chile and drogaba did not even score

Posted from United States

By Jason | June 2nd, 2006 at 8:34 pm

Jerry I concur with your statement however the guy above me wrote that “maxilopez”. As for Brazil being dependent on Ronaldihno I have to disagree. There is so much talent on that squad it is ridiculous Kaka can arm that squad by himself w/o Ronnie. Don’t get me wrong I hate Brazil but I respect them none the less. We have a great team and we are deeper than 95% of the teams in Germany, we are depending on Pekermans lineups and formations at this point, TACTICS gents…!!!

By Cc | June 2nd, 2006 at 8:43 pm

Two words: Italia 90

Posted from Jamaica

By lol | June 2nd, 2006 at 8:55 pm

Argentina will awaken. This is OUR CENTURY.

MESSI TEVEZ AGUERO MASCHERANO GAGO GONZALO ZABALETA

Posted from Canada

By Jerry | June 3rd, 2006 at 12:59 am

Well that is true Jason Well hope for the best For Our Team Argentina

Posted from United States

By Ray | June 3rd, 2006 at 7:43 am

I am telling you , do not expect that much yet.
The 1st round will show how much we can really expect.

Posted from India

By Ray | June 3rd, 2006 at 7:52 am

And I believe Aimar and Riquelme should play together.

Posted from India

By farey | June 3rd, 2006 at 2:49 pm

Aimar,Messi,Tevez and Requelme should play together.But this will not happen.Pekermen has no full right to plan the game.coz there will be great interfernce from argentine foot ball association.remember about seven dwarfs!!!

Posted from Maldives

By Omar | June 4th, 2006 at 4:56 am

who can give me the formation played against angloa please ?
i didn’t watch the match , just heared the result

Posted from France

By Ryan | June 4th, 2006 at 11:03 am

Hey everybody,
Do you know that you can post your pridictions of who you think is going to win the world cup at http://www.itoldyouso.com
Its free….so if you think ARGENTINA is going to win(I hope!!!!!!!!!!!)…go ahead and post it!! You can prove your friends wrong.

Posted from Lebanon

By Ray | June 4th, 2006 at 11:47 am

I read that Messi has said that Aimar has been his inspiration.He believes that Aimar is currently the best player in Europe.

I cant believe that Pekerman just keeps him waiting till the 70th minute.Aimar is atleast as skilled as Riquelme and should play alongside with him the entire match.I hope Pekerman understands that.

By the way .Messi’s skills are just unreal.The more I see him ,the more I get shocked.He might as well be the best dribbler in the world at the moment and he is only going to get better).Argentina probably has the best midfield in the world.But what they really lack is a good finisher who casn put the ball into the net.And also the defence is a bit inconsistent .

Posted from India

By Cabrobro | June 4th, 2006 at 5:32 pm

jason is so right, u all worried about ronaldinho this and that with all his jazz, but the real nightmare for everyone will be Kaka, Juninho from lion could also replace ronaldinho easly and kick everyone ass, world class player and his is a sub, any other team in the world would die to have robinho, juninho, fred, etc… and they all are sub for brazil, dont say that Brazil dependes on ronaldinho’s football, its ridiculous…

Brazil have the best team and players, but i doubt Brazil or Argentina gonna win this WC, since ‘70 the WC have been swiching the champions between SA and Euro, because of all mistakes and self judgement from referees that can make a result for one team and who know what happens behind the scenes, so 4 years agoit was SA(Brazil champion) and now it will probably be a Euro team :/

By Kelvin | June 5th, 2006 at 12:22 pm

Why is everyone predicting Portugal vs. Argentina in second round? Argentina will finish top, ahead of Holland, and Portugal will finish top, ahead of Mexico. Therefore, second round will include:

Argentina vs. Mexico
Portugal vs. Holland

Posted from Canada

By sopel | June 6th, 2006 at 1:18 pm

hello, for those using torrent there’s a track of full game with angola http://tracker.denness.net:6969/stats.html?info_hash=f41326283f3296433043b9f229f94c5b9344a0f7

Posted from Poland