Team selection process at AFA?

February 21st, 2012 | by: Maxi Lopez | Comments Off

Hola amigos,

In addition to all our tactical problems (creative/defensive) and the corruption at AFA, the team selection process has had a huge role in our failures since 2006. For years and years, AFA has been proceding like follows, in my opinion:

1) A little group of player is always called, composed of those who make Argentina sell friendly games tickets and produce AFA’s turnover (Mascherano, Messi, Di Maria, Higuain, Aguero), and the experienced leaders (Heinze, De Michelis)

2) The second group includes the coach’s favorites. Basile called his Boca boys. Maradona called what he thought were his patriotic soldiers/children/friends. Batista called the players he knew from the Olympics. Sabella calls the players he knows from Estudiantes.

3) The third group of players called is massive: all the good players playing in Europe who are good are selected. Those who deserve to stay in the NT are then always out to make room to new comers. There is no logic, but marketing, corruption and politics only.

4) The last part of the squad is composed of the bench players: generally young, periodically hyped and who can bring diversity in the locker-room. They will never complain about never starting. Like in 3), the recycling rate is very high.

The third and fourth groups are sometimes difficult to dissociate. Joined together, both represent 50% of the squad members called for friendlies.

What do you think about the selection process at AFA?
How do other national teams work?