South America Youth Championship: Brazil V Argentina LIVE

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DEBASISH,
Sorry man but you are beginning to be boring. Please forget about the past and move on.
Each country has its culture. Argentina, the country of futbol, has always used 4-3-1-2 and 3-5-2 for 30 years, in general. It’s our tradition. Argentina wants enganches and use its magnificent midfielders, possession, etc. Holland for example, has a different story, use their talents differently, they like to play on the wings and 4-3-3. Argentina is not Holland. But in today’s modern football, Argentina must adapt its system to the opponents, if necessary. We can use 4-3-3 if needed thanks to the plenty of fast little forwards we have. It’s an interesting topic.

I hope our players are going to MOVE and KEEP the ball tomorrow. I would hate to see Argentina plays static like all these European teams (and wait for Messi to dribble 10 players). We’ve seen our team playing like that since mid 2007. Enough (Maxi must start).

Brazil are good tonight. They are trashing Italy and are playing a bit like in that Confederation Cup final when we lost 1-4. They succeed in what they want against the Italians.

Here’s an interesting read:

http://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2009/02/10/1103050/how-maradona-will-elevate-messi-to-greatness

The are some simple differences between Barca of last season and this season:

- They are moving the ball much faster on the pitch (especially in the midfield).

- They are also seamlessly changing styles from Argentina style possession football, Brazil style one-touch and Holland-type counter attacks within a single game.

- They are changing players’ on-field positions more efficiently.

- Their opponent half defense has been outstanding (defense by forwards and mid-fielders).

Posted from  United States

DEBASISH you are not boring keep it coming. Maxi I love your thoughts but please don’t always assume you know everything. We all want the same thing I beleive which is Argentina winning and playing the beautiful game . I am not sure that you can say that we have to play a certain way because of tradition, Is that not what we hated about Basile that he could not think on his feet and make tactical decisions ? I will repeat my sa,e boring statement. This has on it the greatest player of our time and it is not just me saying this. The line up and strategy should be based around him and his capabilities. For me this means players that can give and go with speed and that we have enough attacking options that hte other team cant put three defenders on Messi and not worry about the ramifications. Players like Lucho Di Maria Higuain Lavnezzi Lucho Tevez fit the bill. Players like Denis Cruz Veron Heinze dont. I would really love a 4 3 3 but it does not look as though we will get it at least to start the game. Messi is the greatest when bring the ball from the righ t side to the center and then looking at the options. In a 4 4 2 who will be in the middle to play the give and go with ? Aguero might be there but might also be on the otherside of the field. That means Messi makes his cutback to the middle and who does he pass it to that is a threat ? Gago ? Mascherano? This is my concern with the 4 4 2.

Posted from  United States

This place is hot today. We’re all a bit fired up, it seems.
Now all we need is for our Albicelestes to play a decent 90 minutes of football.
Like if the knew what they’re doing.
Am I pushing the envelope too much?

Posted from  United States

César “Chelito” Delagado must have felt a bit weird giving an interview to Argie media and talking about Les Bleus.
Maybe his time will still come but today it’s a fact that Delgado is not a part of the precious team that plays under Diego. And it hurts when you know you’re good, when you are convinced that you belong with them.
I feel for Chelito and I hope he bounces back. He’s really got game.

Anyway, he said to argy media:
“France is not only Ribery and Henry. There are several great players in France who might be not known to argie fans.
Benzema, my teammate at Lyon, is a forward with both technique and power.
Another one, Toulalan, a player similar to Mascherano in style.
Another one to keep in mind is Lass Diarrá (Madrid), very aggressive and strong.
Also, Gourcuff!!!, France’s enganche, who is playing at top level these days, and is the closest thing to Zidane for many fans.”

“What would I do to win?
I would attack by the side lines, that’ll open them up. And then our little rockets have to finish.”

Poor Chelito, what he wouldn’t give to be a part of that bunch.
The great thing about life is that one never knows…

Posted from  United States

It was reported that Maradona had a meeting with Tevez last night, where he told him that unfortunatelly he was NOT going to be starter against France.

Posted from  United States

Just so everyone knows the game will be broadcast on both ESPN2 and on ESPN Deportes =]

Posted from  United States

Debasish:
My answer to you is Eto’o.
That is the biggest change. For instance if you look at the semifinals against United last season you’ll see that Eto’o was toatally out of form. He just couldn’t do anything right. Messi was actually playing pretty good, togehter with Xavi and Iniesta, but he didn’t get any help from Eto’o. They still kept the ball and played their possesion football, but it led to nothing cause there was no lethal striker there to finish off the attacks. This season Eto’o is back to his best. Scoring and scoring. It makes both Barca and Messi incredibly better when there is a player like Eto’o around to help them, a lethal poacher who just can’t stop scoring. This is also the reason why Messi probably will not play as good in tonights game as he is playing for Barca these days, he will not get enough help from other forwards. There are very few like Eto’o.
And of course at club level you have much more time to train togheter and bulid relations, wich Messi has done in Barca with Ronaldinho, Xavi, Eto’o and Dani Alves.
Ok, I am off for work.
See you guys here tonight.

hahah tevez will start.. he is in form now

Posted from  Canada

The game is at 20.00pm UK time and 21.00pm european time. Is that at about 15.00pm US eastern time?

I remember Delgado from the last qualifying campaign, he was/is technically gifted, good dribbler and good pace, why didn’t he make it to the WC squad? Was it a case of we had too many of the same type of players? He used to have very creative hairstyles? Have i got the right player, Albo?

Maxi,
For all your nice posts, you make me laugh these days . You trashed people who wanted 4-3-3 on 15th Jan, but by 11th Feb we have got fast players who can play 4-3-3. To me, it looks like this, you are seeing it on February where some people could see it on January itself. I do not mind at all, if you think I am boring, just don’t read it man, simple . But I would politely request you to be humble, don’t assume you know everything as u really make lots of mistakes, don’t use abusive words (using words like bastards is really cheap – you did not say it to me) as that does not prove a point

I surely feel that you understand the game very well and have great passion for it, learn to keep the respect you have earned. Now, as you say, forget the past, and LETS WIN IT TODAY, AT LEAST 2 GOALS. CHEERS!!!

this is goal.com probable 11:

carizzo
zannetti-demichilis-heinze-papa
maxi-macherano-gago-jonas
messi-aguero

i guess jonas is in their to cope with the strong physical nature of France. the only problem i have with this line up is heinze i would have preferred samuel there. well i am sure this will be a good game, it will be interesting to see where our creativity will come from though.

Maradona says he’s going to play Messi in the same position he plays for Barca, so either that formation isn’t correct or the players in the middle and front are wrong. Not all of them, but a couple.

Albo – is this confirmed, that Tevez is not starting?

Posted from  United States

It is a little confusing that maradona is saying this and then not starting tevez. I am still hopeful that even if it is the 4 4 2 that Tevez starts where Jonas is becuase then you can ask Aguero to move over and it is a 4 3 3 when attacking. Maybe the conversation with texez was just askin ghim to play in the 4 4 2 when we defend. One thin gI love about this line up is the right side of the field with maxi zanetti and Messi having a chance to cause some havic on that side.

Posted from  United States

AJ, he really said that yesterday but the argie papers keep showing the original formation I posted above.

——————Carrizo———————
Zanetti—Demichelis—Heinze—Papa
——Maxi—Mascherano—Gago——
—Messi———Tevez———Agüero—

Posted from  United States

Good news

Getafe goalkeeper, Oscar Ustari has returned to training today after nearly a six month lay-off with injury.

AS reports that Ustari, who was injured last August when playing with the Argentina national team, trained alongside goalkeeping coach, Juan Carlos Arevalo this morning, and did so without any signs of trouble.

Posted from  United States

Its amazing how outlook, views and thoughts changes so quickly , faster than the game and form in football.
In one of my comments I said once , I prefer to not get into technicalities after all every one sees the game differently.

Related to Barca’s last season ( I felt it yesterday when my local team lost similarly, had the full possession but lost with 2-0), it was a disjoint group with no common motives or objectives. Game styles of Deco and Eto was not matching. Ronnie was slowing down the game and was having issues with somethings/people. There were players who could not form the balance.
Now Barca has Revived Eto in a mentality similar like Henry (but Henry is still havent catched form for Barca’s style of play). They all work hard that matches with the speed of Messi, dynamism of Ineista, vision of Xavi. Additional impacts are mainly the Achor in the middle of the field in the form of Keita, Toure.
But I will point to the partnership of Messi-Alves they are amazing. In case Hleb catches form then Barca will be more dangerous but would need to be cautious in defense.

Guys whoever is getting too much distracted towards self imposed excellence in technicalities , impatience , over-friendly, boring, redhot chicken etc etc …chill out!!!! we have a game tonight and it will be a joy to watch win or loose , I am suspecting finally El Diego is going to experiment.
Afterall he will do things after talking to Bilardo so I dont see why he should not play Tevez ( I am conflicting my previous post….no… I wont like it since Tevez has lost something in his style of game , but Bilarodo-Diego will put him in the field with Aguero and messi).
Who is the middle 3 then (Mache/Gago/Maxi) or (Di-Maria/Mache/Gago) …or will there be innovative 3-4-3 ..???

Latest thought : I think there is a problem in Argie dressing room , not in personalities but how they perceive the game as a whole. The way we play there is a major problem that if we are continously hacked in the middle of the ground and have a tight defense in opposition some of them loose the concentration(may be its generation gap) and leave big gaps in our defensive positions.
I wont get into technicalities …. we will see in the game.

Posted from  Cyprus

Los once serán: Juan Pablo Carrizo; Javier Zanetti, Martín Demichelis, Gabriel Heinze y Emiliano Papa; Maximiliano Rodríguez, Javier Mascherano, Fernando Gago y Jonás Gutiérrez o Carlos Tevez; Lionel Messi y Sergio Agüero

Even the papers don’t know as they have it listed as Jonas o Tevez. I would really love it if he did something totally different to just show that he can keep this to himself until game time.

I guess in a few short hours we will know for sure. As far the Barcelona analysis to me it is quit simple. Even if you hvae talent and skill more than your competitor you still have to be in shape enough to counter their hunger and stamina. Hunger and stamina can win ouit over skill and talent any day. Howver if you have more talent and skill and you are at lleast equal in hunger and stamina you will win. now look at a team like barcelona they have the talent superior to almost any team and now their hunger and fitness matches or exceeds their opponents. This is what Guardiola has brough tmore than anything else. This is what Maradona can bring as well. There is also no dvoubt that Messi has improved and will continue to do so as he is young.

Posted from  United States

toddutah , you mentioned exactly what I meant … and effectively in fewer lines.

Posted from  Australia

how much time left? who are the starting 11?
INSHALLAH we will win

Man, this will be exiting. I can hardly wait!
Vamos Argentina!!