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Your friendly new Argentina blogger on the squad list for the qualifiers

October 5th, 2007 | By: Linda | 66 Comments »

Greetings, earthlings! I’m your friendly new Argentina blogger. When I asked Bob for this role, he told me that the commenters here were a very passionate bunch. Not surprising, I thought - we’re Argentina supporters, after all. As far as I’m concerned, passion is never a bad thing, and it’s great that there has been so much discussion on this blog. I only ask that you refrain from any personal attacks. Any comments that step over the line will be deleted. Anyway, looking forward to getting to know all of you.

I’ve been blogging about all things Argentina (and FC Barcelona) for over a year at the beautiful game. You can also find a little bit more about me on the sidebar there, as well as my previous posts on various Argentina-related issues and controversies, including Pekerman, Riquelme and Saviola. But anyway, on to the business at hand.

“We hope to give satisfaction to our people, who could not celebrate the Copa America title. However, I’m sure it won’t be easy for us because Chile will be the surprise team of the qualifiers.” - Messi.

Bob has already posted the squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, at home against Chile on the 13th and away to Venezuela on the 16th, and you’ve all had a chance to vent in the comments. I’m far from pleased myself:

Goalkeepers: Roberto Abbondanzieri (Getafe, Spain), Oscar Ustari (Getafe)

Pato’s just been injured, which is not good news. Even worse is the fact that Getafe coach Michael Laudrup saw fit to blame poor Oscar Ustari for both of the goals he conceded against Valencia on the boy’s debut in European football. Thanks, man. That’ll really help his confidence. Thankfully, Ustari has an old head on his shoulders and should bounce back given time.

Defenders: Daniel ‘Cata’ Diaz (Getafe), Gabriel Heinze (Real Madrid, Spain), Gabriel Milito (Barcelona, Spain), Fabricio Coloccini (Deportivo La Coruna, Spain), Javier Zanetti (Internazionale, Italy), Nicolas Burdisso (Internazionale), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich, Germany)

I still expect to see Ayala’s name everytime. Nevermind, that’s in the past now. I’ve got no problems with these selections in general, although I have to question the continued presence of Coloccini, who in my opinion has yet to prove that he can be trusted at international level. It would also be nice to see Garay get another chance. I believe that the disaster in Norway does not reflect his true level.

Midfielders: Fernando Gago (Real Madrid), Maxi Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Jonas Gutierrez (Real Mallorca, Spain), Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal, Spain), Esteban Cambiasso (Internazionale), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool, England), Federico Insua (Club America, Mexico)

Riquelme is the selection that sticks out like a sore thumb. Having said he would not select the playmaker if he was not playing regular football, Basile has now gone back on his own word and done so. Much as I adore Roman - look at the sidebar at my old blog for some evidence - I can’t understand it. He hasn’t played any football since the Copa America, and what good is he going to be? Surely Basile doesn’t intend to actually start him?

Other than that, Gutierrez took a knock playing for Mallorca, and it remains to be seen whether he’ll be fit. I’m also starting to get concerned about the amount of playing time Gago’s getting at Real, but we’ll have to wait and see on that.

Forwards: Javier Saviola (Real Madrid), Leo Messi (Barcelona), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Carlos Tevez (Manchester United, England)

Where’s Crespo? I thought we’ve already been over the problems with the short-short combination. Having said that, if these weren’t actual competitive internationals, I would very much like to see what Messi and Aguero are like playing as a strike partnership. They’ve done it before at junior levels, and they’re both on such good form. But it’s a competitive game, and we shouldn’t be still trying out combinations. (All the hype in the Spanish press this week has of course been about the coming Barcelona-Atletico Madrid game, which will pit one ‘new Maradona’ up against another.)

As with Gago I’m concerned that Saviola’s move to Madrid hasn’t given him any more playing time, given the permanence of Raul and Ruud van Nistelrooy in their starting line-up. Hopefully that will change as the season goes on.

One for the future, perhaps: Sam at Hasta Lo Gol Siempre can tell you all about the kind of goalscoring form German Denis of Independiente is in right now and the growing calls for him to be considered by Basile.

Personally, I’ll wait and see what happens against Chile before passing judgement, but I’m certainly not optimistic, at least in the short term. The problems I raised in my post about the Australia friendly haven’t magically gone away.

Tags: 2010 World Cup Qualifying, Aguero, chile, coloccini, Crespo, Gago, gutierrez, Messi, Riquelme, Saviola, ustari, venezuela, wc qualifying

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 66 comments.

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By Linda | October 7th, 2007 at 5:30 pm

Good point, day1star. Argentinians have been so dominant in Spain recently, it’s great to see them emerge in England and Italy too.

maradona: that wasn’t necessary, especially given the total lack of provocation from Ken.

I agree with you about Boca - they clearly planned for him to be there this season and when that fell through, where’s plan B? Paletta saddens me because I thought he had potential when I saw him in the WYC - but perhaps he went to Europe too early.

Also, regarding your point about Messi, that’s why I think we need a partner for him who is a clinical finisher and won’t miss those chances.

Albo: Firstly, good for the Pumas!

Hopefully the Argies of Zaragoza are getting back on form - we could use some of them in the qualifiers ahead, IMHO. For those who saw River-Boca, is Palacio still off colour? It’s good to hear that Ortega is getting his magic back after all his troubles.

Posted from Australia

By Rio | October 7th, 2007 at 6:33 pm

Saint Messi de Rosario

Have you seen Messi playing lately?

From ESPN Soccernet:

Something highly significant occurred at the Camp Nou this week.

Barcelona, normally so reliant on Ronaldinho, put in one of their best performances for quite some time, without the former world footballer of the year. That Zaragoza were comprehensively destroyed in a 4-1 mauling, says much about the team’s evolution, not to mention the rise and rise of Lionel Messi.

Don’t get the wrong end of the stick. I’m not here to tell you Ronnie is finished, or for that matter, viewing plush property and tasting the nightlife near the Kings Road, as others might have you believe.

Ronaldinho remains one of the finest footballing talents of them all and we have been privileged to watch him sparkle during most of his career with the blaugrana. Frank Rijkaard will still get good value from the Brazilian on the park this season.

The fact is though, Messi is the man of the moment, and probably the future, at the Camp Nou. His performance on Wednesday night had everything and a bit more. At his best Messi gives us Cruyff’s vision, Gascoigne’s gallus genius and Zidane’s touch all rolled into one. Of course, he can also finish like Van Basten and entertain in the manner of a modern-day Maradona.

The little 20-year old Argentinian, while reminding us of these all-time greats, still succeeds in offering us football lovers something that’s uniquely his own.

The wonderful thing is the Lionel Messi era has only just begun. A few weeks ago, Kaka looked set to run away with the Golden Ball and FIFA World Player of the Year awards. Who’s to say Messi can’t close the gap in the next few weeks and even pip the AC Milan star at the post?

Barcelona pride themselves on being ‘mes que un club’ (more than a club.) Maybe in Messi’s case it should read ‘mes que un jugador’ (more than a player).

Messi is far more than just an illusion of Diego. Stop calling him Messidona, show him the respect a player of his statue deserved!

Posted by Rio at 6:21 PM 8 comments

Thursday, September 27, 2007
Player list

For the 2010 WC qualifier against Chile:

Goalies:
Roberto Abbondanzieri (Getafe)
Oscar Ustari (Getafe)

Defenders:
Daniel Diaz (Getafe)
Gabriel Heinze (R. Madrid)
Javier Zanetti (Inter)
Nicholas Burdisso (Inter)
Martin Demichelis (Bayern)
Gabriel Milito (Barcelona)
Fabricio Coloccini (Deportivo)

Midfielders:
Fernando Gago (R. Madrid)
Maxi Rodriguez (A. Madrid)
Jonás Gutiérrez (Majorca)
Esteban Cambiasso (Inter)
Javier Mascherano (Liverpool)
Federico Insúa (America)
Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal)

Forwards
Javier Saviola (R. Madrid)
Sergio Agüero (A. Madrid)
Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Carlos Tevez (Man. Utd)

This is for real, so let’s hope our NT got their shit together.

I had to ask one question though: Why is Insua still on the team when Roman is enlisted?

Getting pwned by Bielsa’s Chileans at our home would really go down well in history… At least, for this occasion, Basile was willing to pick up Riquleme even without the player seeing pitch time at Villar… Like I said though, we don’t have a better choice atm, especially so if we continue with Basile’s system. Who else would you trust more than Roman playing the enganche? I surely don’t see another figure of that statue or charisma.

Crespo is not enlisted. I think it’s a good thing. At least Basile is determined to use the short-short combo. We don’t have a ideal #9. It’s a fact whether we wanted to face it or not, so let’s take the hit now, instead of later when we have no time to piece up a solution.
It is still necessary to hope…

The outside midfielder lineup featured the reintroduction of Cambiasso. Cuchu is a difficult to replace element that had worked relatively well on this Argentine NT, but with both him and Zanetti playing outside mid, we will not have sufficient support for Roman… Especially without the width from fullback we so badly needed. So I believe Maxi and Cambiasso will start on the flanks, while Zanetti picking up his usual right back position. We didn’t have Maxi in Copa, and he had worked with Riquelme very well in the 06′ WC. That’s the fundamental difference between this and the summer team. Maxi will add pace and we should become more productive on the floor. In the case Riquelme and the forwards were all contained, Maxi should be able to process the ball better than Veron did in Copa final.

Garay isn’t called up, and Diaz is back on the list. Well, there are plenty CB so it’s ok to have Garay sitting out for now. I’m not very happy to see that Diaz again became Basile’s approach to the fullback/width problem. It’s not like he’ll play him… Everyone and their mother knows that Heinze will occupy the left rear.

The goalie. I thought he was hurt? Does this mean Ustari is going to get a real game?
Maybe I’m wishing for too much again?

Anyway. I wanted us to lose.
I think we can benefit more from a loss than a win, especially against these mediocre south american oppositions. Better hurt now than later

Posted from United States

By Albo | October 7th, 2007 at 7:25 pm

Linda, I’ve been following most of Boca’s games, and believe me, this one was probably the worst game they played this year.
Boca is usually a pretty balanced team, considering the amount of important players that club regularly produces and sends to Europe.
Gracián has been sharing his enganche position with Banega and it has worked very nicely.
In fact Banega is more important to Boca than Gracián.
But Banega had a terrible day today. He even got 2 yellow cards and was sent off pretty early in the game.
Ledesma, who also helps in the creative zone, was totally off today.
Of course, and at the time, River had a good plan and they played to win.
This “super clásico” belonged to River, no doubt.
About Palacio, he’s not the same this year as the one I saw last year.
That explosive acceleration that would give him the edge in his one-on-ones, is not there now.
He came back from a couple of injuries, and a nasty cut in his leg a couple of weeks ago and showed he’s not in form yet
Palacio is a special player (they call him “the jewell”), once he gets a few inches on his opponent, he has the ability to score with killer instinct.
Lastly, Paletta looks to me like he is now becoming a serious defender, but still has some work to do. Keep in mind that the mistakes a central defender makes, are always big mistakes.

Posted from United States

By maradona | October 7th, 2007 at 7:50 pm

Linda,
I wouldnt say Ken’s post was not provocative at all. Imo, calling upon people like Ali and Mane to post is a direct provocation. And saying that other posters deliberately intimidated the three of them is provocation too. Anyway I wont pursue this further but let me assure you that once Ali, Mane and Ken turn on their style, things can get ugly very fast.

By Golazo | October 7th, 2007 at 8:12 pm

By Golazo | October 7th, 2007 at 8:02 pm

Gerardo Bruna is a 16 prodigy just bought from Real Madrid and is now playin with Liverpool and is allowed to train with the 1st team but only play for the reverse still thats really impressive for a 16 year old.
Posted from United States

By Golazo | October 7th, 2007 at 8:03 pm

http://www.anfieldroad.com/news/200709292625/reds-capture-youngster-from-real.html/
Posted from United States

Posted from United States

By Golazo | October 7th, 2007 at 8:15 pm

Belluschi, Carrizo, Denis, Ibarra y Montenegro,

has been added onto the sqaud.

AFA confrimed it.

Posted from United States

By Albo | October 7th, 2007 at 9:41 pm

My choice (starters) to play Chile is a 4-3-3:

—————Carrizo—————
———Demichelis-Díaz———
Ibarra————————Zanetti
————Mascherano————
———Gago——Riquelme——
Messi—————————Tevez
—————Denis——————

Posted from United States

By Linda | October 7th, 2007 at 10:33 pm

Albo: thanks for the info! Hopefully Palacio will get fully fit soon. As for Paletta, I think going back to Argentina was the right move for him.

You’d play Roman even though he’s not match fit?

maradona: well, I am new, and I’m starting off with a clean slate. Let’s just see what happens.

Golazo: thanks for the information on the additions! I’ll post about that soon. Gerardo Bruna was touted as the ‘new Messi’ (nevermind that Messi is only 20). We’ll see how he develops, I guess.

Posted from New Zealand

By aimar10 | October 7th, 2007 at 11:04 pm

rio could you please post a link with your website once again. i read some of those in the past but i can’t seem to find the linkto get back tothe site. i really enjoy reading your anylist of the national team. espically the way you speak of lucho. you give a bold and interestiong assment of the team and you say things most anylists would only dream of saying.

By Rio | October 7th, 2007 at 11:36 pm

http://albicelestesforever.blogspot.com/

Posted from United States

By Miany | October 8th, 2007 at 12:49 am

Is any channel showing the match with Chile, in INDIA? Espn or Star or Ten sports or Zee sports????

Posted from India

By MaxiLopez | October 8th, 2007 at 1:25 am

Hi everybody.

Wow so many posts during the week end. I’ll read when I have some time and will respond to the interesting stuff because this blog has been created to discuss, not to post for posting.

Albo, i forgot to remind you that in 06, against Mexico, Pekerman used a 4-3-1-2 formation. It was a difficult game. Pekerman wanted to face the 3-5-2 of La Volpe but our team wasn’t efficient. Hopefully, he launched the Tevez-Aimar-Messi combo who destroyed Mexico.

Out of subject: The Rugby WC is absolutely amazing. I respect this sport more than futbol. No doubt about that. The respect, the fair-play, the equity, THE REFERRING, the mentality, THE PASSION, the hymns (!) make this competition outstanding. No referring cheating, we have the video. No Blatter. I love this sport. The Fiji game yesterday was absolutely incredible. And as expected, Argentina are in semis because of this great Hernandez (who has Riquelme’s right foot).

Vamos Argentina.

Posted from United States

By Linda | October 8th, 2007 at 2:14 am

MaxiLopez: I live in a rugby-mad country, so I hear what you’re saying about the sport. Although football is, for my money, still the best.

Three aspects in which I believe rugby is currently superior to football: one, as you said, the use of video evidence; two, the respect players show for the referee; and three, having the referee miked up so everyone can hear what he’s telling the players.

Posted from Australia

By Ken | October 8th, 2007 at 2:36 am

Linda,

you raise a great point in the use of video technology
in football. This is a “must”. Another useful technology is
already here, yet untapped. A chip is included in the ball and when it crosses the line, the referee is alerted through a signal on his watch.

Instead of taking care of useful issues such as this, Blatter
is obsessed with having too many foreigners in EPL. That is he wants
to limit the number of foreigners per team. This is a very ridiculous idea.
It is like telling a great player like Messi, you are great but I cannot offer you a place on the field simply because of your origin. As Arsene Wenger recently stated, this ridiculous idea will breed pure mediocrity.

I like what Sven is doing at Manchester City because he has created a league of nations.

Special regards,
Ken

Posted from United States

By Rune | October 8th, 2007 at 2:47 am

Messi can’t stop scoring at the moment. He is just awesome. I have not felt this way when watching a player since Diego’s days. I is so exiting to see Leo play. Nice goal by Carlitos also this weekend.
I am a Boca fan, so the game in Argentina yesterday made me sad….

Posted from Norway

By Linda | October 8th, 2007 at 3:54 am

Ken: I can understand the objections to stopping play, but surely goal-line technology is a must, as you said.

Rune: commiserations, then. However, as you said, Leo is in a state of grace, and long may it continue.

Posted from Australia

By MaxiLopez | October 8th, 2007 at 5:31 am

FIFA doesn’t want to use video referring because they want to have influences on the score of a game like they have done in 2006 & 2002 (with Blatter) or even in 1990 (with his mentor, Havelange). I’ve almost read the FIFA book. Aurelius, you will not believe what I’ll say one day on the blog. FIFA is just a dictatorial company. It’s incredible. Grondona is just one of these bastards who is killing the sport and making millions for himself. Just like Jack Warner, Blazer, Khaddafi, …

Referring in Italy is just a disaster, but it’s the same everywhere. Players cheat a lot and some referees are horrible. Quite disgusting. For example, Corradi was excluded for having accidentaly touched a ball with his hand. His first yellow card was just ridiculous, because of Totti the best diver of the futbol planet. Roma then easily destroyed Parma.

It is nice to have you here Linda.

Posted from United States

By Linda | October 8th, 2007 at 6:04 am

MaxiLopez: the funny thing about Blatter is that his arguments against the use of video evidence make no sense. Well, perhaps in 20 years we will have someone who understands the problem. I say 20 years because FIFA is transparently out of touch with reality by that much.

Actually, you bring up an interesting point: video evidence would encourage players to dive less as well. Now, because sometimes it’s difficult for referees to spot fouls on attacking players, they exaggerate contact. I’m okay with that to an extent, but when players go down with no contact what so ever, then that is shameful.

And thanks!

Posted from Australia

By the full Argentina squad for the qualifiers and Argentine watch - Argentina | October 8th, 2007 at 6:18 am

[...] Linda | No Comments » ‘Coco’ Basile has added 5 domestic-based players to the previous squad list, which now looks a bit more reassuringly complete. Additions are in [...]

Posted from United States

By MaxiLopez | October 8th, 2007 at 7:17 am

Referees are respected in rugby because they are almost right. Linda, you are the one who always missed on the blog. You raise the interesting points that people say to make the others discuss about it. It’s nice.

Posted from United States

By MaxiLopez | October 8th, 2007 at 7:26 am

Rio, the only problem to solve for Argentina is the following one:

How are Cambiasso and Maxi gonna avoid counter attacks from our opponents with Heinze and Zanetti attacking on the sides?

As I said it before, Pekerman used a 4-3-1-2 formation against Mexico. It wasn’t a success. But we managed to solve all the counter attacks from Mexico. Scaloni and Sorin were used on the flanks, attacking a lot. Playing against Mexico with this kind of formation was not the best thing we did in WC 06.

Posted from United States

By AURELIUS | October 8th, 2007 at 1:35 pm

Linda my comment to the All Blacks .They are a great team. Yes they export players to the islands but they removed Samoa from the S10 ,keep dragging their heels over Argentina & took away a RWC from Japan.In short everything to retard global development.

Maxi I wholeheartedly agree. Rugby is miles ahead in terms of player behaviour. Technology must be brought in to retrospectively punish players for simulation & similarly no referee should have to put with verbal abuse.

Blatters excuses are pathetic. The technology is almost real time.The only problem is that below a certain level teams will not be able to afford the technology so it would be incumbent on the national association to make it so. It would take seconds to make decisions.

Referees get so much criticism but players often escape criticism when they commit mistakes.

Pleased to see Carizzo in. He’ll get past Muslera in Janaury at Lazio without any doubt. Shabby from Boca truth be told.

And yet again the EPL are stealing more talent.Soon this league will drain the rest of Europe due to its economic strength to the detriment of the England NT for certain. Expect to see more & more Argentines appearing. Elano has been a sensation .His distribution ,pace & overall play are very impressive.

Off topic .And huge congratulations to the Pumas. A bit of an underpar withdrawn performance. I’m sure if they keep it tight don’t kick posession away & use their brains they can defeat South Africa who are far from sparkling .Bit worried though about the Bok pace out wide.

Vamos Pumas carajo (Albo). Hope to see you in the final.

Posted from United States

By Linda | October 8th, 2007 at 9:24 pm

I’d rather not get too much into rugby here, but the comment made often - particularly by the English press - about the Pacific Island players on the All Blacks squad makes me so angry. Why? I live in New Zealand’s biggest city, which has a massive immigrant Pacific Islander population - and they are part of New Zealand society. It seems to me perfectly normal that kids who grow up as Kiwis should play for the All Blacks. But as I said, we’re getting off topic. I just wanted to get that off my chest.

Referees get so much criticism but players often escape criticism when they commit mistakes.
Excellent point, and well made. This is a big problem in many leagues.

MaxiLopez: the interesting thing about rugby referees is that despite the physical nature of the game, rugby players never get physical with the ref, even if they disagree with a decision, because it’s just not done. Unlike in football, in which it’s a disease of the game.

Posted from Australia

By Argentinaboy | October 9th, 2007 at 2:29 am

Rugby is OK. Let’s stick to the #1 sport in the world, football. What’s the better combination Messi and Tevez or Messi and Aguero? Tevez is just now finding his form at ManUnited. Messi and Aguero are both on fire in Spain. Riquelme is our only option as playmaker. Mascherano is the best defensive midfielder. The rest of the positions we have strong players but no true superstars as the above mentioned. Is PATO getting too old as goalkeeper? I think we need to give one of the younger guys some playing time so we can build on that position for the future.

Posted from United States

By Eric | October 10th, 2007 at 12:34 pm

PATO is the MAN he can play another 7 year easy!

But don’t just blog about your team, I found a way to call Argentina for FREE

It is excellent!!!!

talkitup.50megs.com

the site is lame but the calls are clear and Free

I used ited all weekend for hours

Check it out,

Comments are closed