Coco Basile will be starting the following:

Roberto Abbondanzieri
Nicolás Burdisso, Martín Demichelis, Gabriel Heinze
Javier Zanetti, Javier Mascherano, Fernando Gago, Maximiliano Rodríguez
Lionel Messi
Sergio Agüero, Julio Cruz

Though Mexico is a team currently in transition, they should present a formidable challenge to el albiceleste, and if recent history is any indication (Maxi Rodríguez in the 2006 WC; Messi in the 2007 Copa America), there could be some beautiful goals on display.

While I still question some of the starters (Cruz looked weak against Egypt, and until Carrizo is available, the inclusion of Pato speaks for itself), this should still be a very entertaining and telling performance.

If anyone is attending the match, please leave your comments, pics, and videos below.

here are somethings that are burning me.

Heinze – he has said we will know his future by this weekend. I really hope he stays at Man U and fight. The only reason he wants to leave is because Evra is challenging him. Heinze is a fighter, i hope he stays. Ferguson has said time and time again, the problem with hienze is, his agent. His agent is whats causing all this drama.

Tevez – looks like its almost done. Westham are expected to announce the agreement tomorrow. I am curious however. Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez, Giggs, Nani on the same team. No real poacher. no Valnestroy.

Crespo – You deserve so much more. Crespo has came out to defend argentina. He said we arent “losers” surely we have lost some important games, but we have won important games as well. He has also said, He will fight for a place for the 2010 WC. I wish all our players would have the heart of CRESPO. Fight for the shirt please. fight for your flags. fight for your country. fight for your people.
- see international soccer is huge in my eyes, because the players arent just playing for themselves. they are playing for every single countrymen of their country.

Maradona – He is at it again, criticizing Basile. He said he wasnt sad when we lost. From the looks of it, diego doesnt really approve the jobs of all our coaches, may be he is throwing a hint at the AFA to appoint him at the head coaching possition.

VERON – He has said, he has told tevez not to go to MAN U. I dont know about you guys, but i am just so tired of veron. every since 2002 i just never liked him. WHy come out and say this to the public? specially at this time, where tevez is going through so much. so low of him. its one thing to tell tevez in private, but to say this to the media is trash.

Aguero – this is his year to shine. rise up. Show the world.

Higuain – many has said he should be laoned. I am not one of them. higuain has played well the last few weeks of the regular season. Matter of fact extreemly well. He is too young, but he has great potential.

Messi – maradona has asked that messi be given the #10 again. what did messi say? He said it would be nice to wear that number, but i care less about the number on my back as long as i am wearing the shirt. My desire is to always be in the national team. (what a jewl we have).

What game am I most excited about seeing this year?

Real Madrid vs Barcelona.

What transfer am i curious about?

Riquelme, where will he end up.
as well as Palacio.

what about you?

They are what nations have aspired to be on the football pitch, playing with grace and beauty as they overwhelm their inevitably less talented opponents. With players such as Kaka and Ronaldinho still in their peak years, and exciting new stars like Robinho coming to prominence all the time, it would seem perhaps a tad strange to suggest that now is the time for a new super-power to emerge and be the envy of footballing nations worldwide.

But it is a claim I make, nonetheless.

Step forward, Argentina.

While it would be easy to spend time extolling the virtues of players like Messi, Tevez, Riquelme and Mascherano, to name but a few, it is not simply the great players they have at their disposal now that makes them so fearsome.

Football has changed the last 10 years or so. There is more emphasis now than ever on fitness and tactics in the game. Gone, despite the impressions given to us at St. James’ Park the last few years, are the days of putting 11 square pegs in 11 square holes and saying “Go out and play football.” In its place we’ve been introduced to severe attention to detail and the need for a strong work ethic in teams.

This is where the Argentinians will overtake the Brazilians.

Anyone who, like me, has been lucky enough to have a severe dose of the flu over the last couple of weeks will have seen some of the football Argentina have played in this year’s Copa America. The passing and movement has been phenomenal, players working and moving as a team as opposed to what we’ve been served by their Brazilian counterparts, which seems like little more than directionless ball retention while they wait for one of their impact players to do something special.

You could argue that the Brazilians are not at full strength, but one need only look at last year’s World Cup for proof that this is as much a result of mentality and tactics as it is what particular players are on the pitch. While Brazil’s much lauded all-stars stumbled through the World Cup, Ronaldinho proving totally ineffective throughout due to not being able to influence the game in dangerous positions, before eventually going out with a whimper, Argentina produced by far the best football the tournament saw.

Cambiasso’s goal against Serbia and Montenegro in the group stages is one of the greatest goals ever scored, and for me is the perfect representation of what modern day football should be all about. Players constantly moving, showing for the ball in midfield. Patient build up, one-touch football that gradually drags the opposition out of position and allows runners from midfield to exploit the space.

In defence, they also possess a toughness not common in their Brazilian counterparts, which stops teams from having any chance of bullying them off the pitch. Once they’ve matched their opponents physically, their talents on the ball will inevitably start to show and win them the game.

You could very easily ask the question ‘If they were so good, how did they get knocked out by Germany?’

Anyone who saw that particular match, however, will know that Germany only progressed due to a truly baffling display by the former Argentina manager who, with his team 1-0 up and looking good value to go on and put the game to bed, bizarrely proceeded to substitute Riquelme and replace him with a holding midfield player. With Argentina’s main man out of the picture, the game evened up a bit. With ten minutes to go Pekerman, the Argentinian coach, made his last change, replacing Crespo with Cruz, a like for like swap.

Inevitably, Germany got a lucky break and scored the goal to send it to extra time and then penalties. Not only were Argentina without Riquelme for the crucial extra-time period, but they had also used up all their subs and couldn’t bring on Lionel Messi, who had been explosive throughout the tournament.

From 1-0 up and coasting to out on penalties, I firmly believe that it was only such a managerial catastrophe that could have prevented them from winning that World Cup. It’s a lesson that I don’t expect will soon be forgotten, and with players like Messi and Tevez set to provide the spark for years to come, I would expect Argentina’s wait for a World Cup trophy won’t be too much longer.

- an english man named shak

Basile is starting the same team that started against the USA. I am a bit disapointed by not seeing AIMAR start, but i understand. it would really crush cambiasso or veron if they are to get benched now. Veron i really dont care about.

I pray that MILITO would stop being so unstable. I hope he is positioned right this time around. if he screws up again, i think Burdisso should get called in. He has a good player.

I WONT BE WATCHING THE GAME LIVE. i am disapointed, but i will watch it tomorrow at 1. so i dont want to hear the score or what happend. I am gonna pretend it is a live game. so i wont be writing anything untill tomorrow. YOu guys enjoy the game. be blessed.

1. Tevez – he has been rumored to move to every big club available. But the main once are Liverpool, Chelsea, Real Madrid & Man U & Barca. Tevez has admitted of his interest to play in a big club, he has also admitted of how flattered he was by the link to chelsea and real. Chelsea and Madrid are willing to pay the big bucks. As his value is high.

my suggestion – I suggest he goes to liverpool. I dont know if they have all the money to pull it off, but mann would i love to see him play with masch, paletta, leto, and insua. Rafa has already told his owners to do whatever to get tevez. there is a rumor that bellamy is being shopped around to lobby some cash for tevez. Mascherano has also said he would try to convince tevez to come to liverpool. Liverpool are in desperate need of a true goal scorer.

2) Heinze – AC MILAN, REAL & JUVE. he is one of my favorite players. Gabby has had a tough year the past two years. if he wasnt injured i think he could have been one of the best defenders in the world. He still is however. The position changes and so on has created a little problem for him this year, and now he is on his way out of MAN U. probably for the better. There are some paperes that has said he has already aggreed to go to Real. He was seen at their game this sunday.

my suggestion – I think this is a pretty good move. GABBY WILL BE A TIGER where ever he goes.

3) Gabby Milito – Barcelona, Liverpool, Juve, Arsenal. Zaragoza know they cant keep him any longer.

My suggestion – Either barca or Liverpool. Liverpool could be another inter milan as long as rafa is there.

4) Diego Milito – Barcelona, liverpool.

My suggestion – barca. if eto leaves then barca could use him.

5) Riquelme – ??? Boca has confirmed that they wont have riquelme next year. They said his wages are as equal as the whole boca jr squad.

My suggestion – I dont know why, but I would love to see riquelme go to either at INTER MILAN or Man U.

6) Crespo – Chelsea , Inter – Murinho said earlier that he is going to call crespo back. because he is in need of a striker. since sheva has been a bust. But crespo doesnt want to return to london at all. Inter are also doing all they can to make his loan a permenant deal.

my suggestion – INTER. I hope he stays there.

Saviola – Juve, Arsenal, Real, Sevilla, Zaragoza, Villareal, (pretty much everywhere).

My suggestion – Juve.

My opinion???

In a recent interview KAKA said Ronaldo & “Messi are the best players in the world”. Deco a teammate of Ronaldo in the Portugal national team said of Messi “There’s no other like Leo. Not even Cristiano Ronaldo”

Surely C. Ronaldo has had a great year, but Ronaldo is 22 years old, but his physical form is the key element of his game, and some fancy footwork, which in many cases never produce anything but a highlight film.
Rooney has some tempermant issues. He is strong, but fails in craftiness and creativity in comparison to the rest, but is still creative in comparison to others (outside of Riquelme – whom I think is the most creative player)

Kaka is now 25 years old, kaka is a speedy player who gets all his production from counter attack. You will never see kaka dictating the game with his creativity unless he is on the counter attack. Kaka isn’t a playmaker.

Ronaldinho is still one of the best. Though most of his goal this season came from PK & free kicks, thats still talent and when he is on his game, no one could out surpass him.

Messi is 19 years old, but yet he is the most dangerous player. Remember Messi was out due to injury for 4 months, yet came back firing. A hat trick at the classico, and wondrous goal last week has made him the face of soccer. His speed, craftiness, technique & ability to control the ball so close to his feet while running full speed makes him a dangerous player. Messi isn’t a future world best, he is the worlds best.

My question is simple. Which players should be selected?

In my humble oppinion; i like Basile’s idea of training with players, but i see the copa as the foundation for the future of our national team in preparation for 2010 world cup. So we must use this opportunity to call players that have a shot at making it to the world cup, or call players that could teach the youngans a thing or two.

Here are my list of players that must be at the tournament.

Messi, Aguero, Tevez, Gago, Mascherano, AIMAR, D Milito, G Milito, Heinze, G. Rodriguez, Lucho, Ustari, Higuain, Crespo, Ayala, Sebastian leto, Neri Cardozo

Youngsters such as Messi, Aguero, Gago, Higuain, Tevez and the likes will most likely lift the trophy in July of 2010 in South Africa.
- Messay Getahun

Cavenaghi – proved to me again that he is on his way back. Not just because his goal was spectacular, but he created the goal. He did a brilliant move and then crossed the ball with his right leg to the right side of the field running left. The pass was accurate. Then he ran all the way and recieved the assist and scored with his left leg.

Cavenaghi, if he plays with his potential he undoubtdly could be our Batistuta. Cavi is more like Bati rather than crespo because Cavi is good with both feet, and has deadly long range strike. He is fast and strong. Remember Batistuta turned heads when he was 24 years old. Cavenaghi is 23. Matter of fact many people didnt like it when Basile called Bati for the Copa in 1993. It was only after he scored those two goals that helped us get in, that people started appreciating him. He had a marvelous year in 1994 and had a good world cup during that same year. Cavenaghi should learn from Bati and start playing with a hunger. May be then he could get a place in this years copa.Messi scored all three goals for Barcelonamessi

Well, Basile has said he is going to call local players and work with them regularly. Pretty interesting. That is a pretty good idea. It will give some of the local players a chance to show what they can do for the National Team. This also lets the local players know that the National Team coach notices them. These are the good things, but I HAVE SOME MAJOR CONCERNS WITH THIS IDEA.

1) I am thinking Basile is doing this so that he could get a feel of what these players can do right? I say that because, i sure dont want to see any of these guys a head of our world class players that play in European Leagues, except maybe two or three. so basile will give them a chance to see what they can do. If this is so, then what is the point of basile calling all these players? why doesnt he attend their clubs practice sessions or sit and watch their games as they play for their clubs? Who benefits from this? The National Team??? how??? Are these players going to play for the National Team because they simply have the time since they live locally, where our stars are abroad??? these are major concerns.

2) What kind of message does this send to our Regular starters, rather the players abroad?

- If you ask me this idea only benefits the local players (even so, i am not sure to what extent). The only way i see it benefiting the National Team is if these are the only players the Main selection is going to come from) If so, then it is a DISASTER.

The VERON issue, is another hot TOPIC. If there is one guy that I wouldn’t want near the National Team; it will be JUAN SEBASTIAN VERON. Why would we need him??? I would rather Basile go to The Media (from Argnetina ) and force them to Never criticize Riquelme, and have the Media Do a Live Apology on the Radio and on TV to Riquelmes Mother for putting her Health in Jeopardy. Go to a RIVER vs BOCA game and during the half time, go to the middle of the Field and ask for RIQUELME to come out and then Get on his knees and Beg Riquelme to come back to the National team, before I LET VERON get on that National Team. But again thats just me.

I will never forget Verons effortless display he produced in 2002. I will never forget how imature he acted with fighting with Sorin. He caused so much division in the locker room. He doesnt deserve a second chance. he had that chance for two world cups. THIS SHOULD BE AIMARS TURN.
BUT I would love to see NERI CARDOZO in the National Team. He is a monster.

May the God bless you all.