Argentina at the WC

Raoul

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Tevez omitted from the provisional squad.

Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero, Mariano Andujar, Agustin Orion.

Defenders: Ezequiel Garay, Federico Fernandez, Pablo Zabaleta, Marcos Rojo, Jose Maria Basanta, Hugo Campagaro, Nicolas Otamendi, Martin Demichelis, Gabriel Mercado, Lisandro Lopez.

Midfielders: Fernando Gago, Lucas Biglia, Javier Mascherano, Ever Banega, Angel Di María, Maximiliano Rodríguez, Ricardo Alvarez, Augusto Fernández, Enzo Perez, Jose Sosa, Fabian Rinaudo.

Forwards: Sergio Aguero, Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Rodrigo Palacio, Di Santo.
 
Sure, Sabella stubbornly refuses to see or hear Willy Caballero for 3 years, but Demichelís has half a decent season and gets back in just like that? What a joke...

Oh, and Di Santo :lol: provisional squad or not :lol:
 
Di Santo over Tevez? That's pretty crazy.
 
They look very average (apart from the attack, obviously).

No surprise with Tevez though
 
Skorenzy said:
Not really if you've been paying attention since about 2011. (Well, not the Di Santo part of it, but the no Tévez part anyway)
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I know he had some sort of falling out but to take Di Santo over him is crazy.
 
Argentina will win it. Messi will blow all this Ronaldo nonsense into the weeds.
 
It's not really exclusive to Sabella. Tévez has been poor for Argentina since 2007, but he's the man of the people and has that passion and all that shit so... yeah. He was atrocious in their disastrous qualifying campaign for the 2010 WC (he accumulated more red cards than goals), then had one excellent game v Mexico in the actual WC but proved completely incompatible with Messi because they were in each other's way on the pitch. CA 2011 was his last shot as it turned out and he gave an embarrasing performance against Uruguay, also him being the only one missing their penalty in the shoot-out, directly responsible for them going out.

In short, he's never really performed apart from early on. Since Messi became the main man in 2008-09 they've never really found a way to fit him in that didn't disrupt the team.
 
Raoul said:
I do think the Argies will win it.
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Sabella is certainly a lot more defensive than their previous two managers -- and I mean a lot (played a 5-man defense against Bolivia ffs). That being said, if the Agüero-Higuaín-Messi-Di María quartet isn't purring then they'll just stumble at the QF stage again when they face their first real test.
 
Skorenzy said:
Sabella is certainly a lot more defensive than their previous two managers -- and I mean a lot (played a 5-man defense against Bolivia ffs). That being said, if the Agüero-Higuaín-Messi-Di María quartet isn't purring then they'll just stumble at the QF stage again when they face their first real test.
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I like their chances because its in South America. Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay should have an advantage.
 
tevez was awful at the copa america... i don't think argentina miss him at all.

people talk about portugal being a mediocre team with a superstar in ronaldo... honestly i look at argentina and i see portugal having a stronger goalkeeper (by far), stronger defence (one of the strongest in the euro's), and stronger midfield.

argentina's attack has kind of struggled for chemistry as well, they don't have the right balance, and too many players that occupy or enjoy the same types of spaces.

if sabella tries a risky or stretch formation like maradona did at wc10, they'll be torn to shreds. if he gives them just balance and stability, and keeps romero from fecking up, they have chance for messi to create something. otherwise, argentina have their backs to the wall with this team.
 
Skorenzy said:
Sabella is certainly a lot more defensive than their previous two managers -- and I mean a lot (played a 5-man defense against Bolivia ffs). That being said, if the Agüero-Higuaín-Messi-Di María quartet isn't purring then they'll just stumble at the QF stage again when they face their first real test.
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I remember seeing an interview with messi and he said argentina play similar to mourinhos Madrid. I suppose the players they have suit that.
 
Other than the attack that has to be one of the poorest Argentina squads in recent history.
 
Malva said:
tevez was awful at the copa america... i don't think argentina miss him at all.

people talk about portugal being a mediocre team with a superstar in ronaldo... honestly i look at argentina and i see portugal having a stronger goalkeeper (by far), stronger defence (one of the strongest in the euro's), and stronger midfield.

argentina's attack has kind of struggled for chemistry as well, they don't have the right balance, and too many players that occupy or enjoy the same types of spaces.

if sabella tries a risky or stretch formation like maradona did at wc10, they'll be torn to shreds. if he gives them just balance and stability, and keeps romero from fecking up, they have chance for messi to create something. otherwise, argentina have their backs to the wall with this team.
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Only thing I disagree with in your post really. Would say just about the opposite re: chemistry, the quartet has been marvellous for the most part of the qualifying campaign (especially Di María and Messi), apart from when they were playing away against packed, deep defending sides like Peru or Venezuela. With some more space to counter in they're absolutely deadly. They're not in each other's way at all. Unlike when Tévez was there.

Overall the team does have lots of imbalances, and some issues with lopsidedness (Zabaleta for example will have to defend his side by himself for large parts of the game).

The question is, will Sabella have the balls to go with what's worked for him so far? He could easily opt for Lavezzi (instead of Agüero) if he needed more energy and work rate wrt defensive duties. In fact he has done this in certain games, but I'm not so sure it would even pay off mitigating the risks if the cost is breaking up that wonderful attacking unit. Maybe against Spain that would work.
 
Holy Shit, just realized this:

No Musacchio

Yes Demichelis


edit: i don't see Argentina getting past quarter finals. It's a great group of players, but they don't have a system. I watched them a lot and im still trying to find their playing style even though there is some improvement with Sabella. Too many average managers in the last 10 years for Argentina.
 
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Skorenzy said:
Only thing I disagree with in your post really. Would say just about the opposite re: chemistry, the quartet has been marvellous for the most part of the qualifying campaign (especially Di María and Messi), apart from when they were playing away against packed, deep defending sides like Peru or Venezuela. With some more space to counter in they're absolutely deadly. They're not in each other's way at all. Unlike when Tévez was there.

Overall the team does have lots of imbalances, and some issues with lopsidedness (Zabaleta for example will have to defend his side by himself for large parts of the game).

The question is, will Sabella have the balls to go with what's worked for him so far? He could easily opt for Lavezzi (instead of Agüero) if he needed more energy and work rate wrt defensive duties. In fact he has done this in certain games, but I'm not so sure it would even pay off mitigating the risks if the cost is breaking up that wonderful attacking unit. Maybe against Spain that would work.
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i'm probably too affected by the memory of the copa america honestly.
 
Malva said:
i'm probably too affected by the memory of the copa america honestly.
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Well, they're not flawless and the imbalance the quartet causes on the rest of the team will undoubtedly take its toll in the bigger games, but as a unit itself I thought they functioned quite well -- even if basically EVERYTHING about the offense is dependent on Messi and Di María. It's like @George Owen mentions, great players in an extremely precarious system.
 
No Caballero, No Gaitan, No Gonzalo Rodriguez, No Salvio, No Musacchio, No Pastore, No Tevez, No Vietto. This is probably the most confusing squad choices from all the squads announced today.

Caballero is their best goalkeeper, ffs!
 
skeeta said:
No Caballero, No Gaitan, No Gonzalo Rodriguez, No Salvio, No Musacchio, No Pastore, No Tevez, No Vietto. This is probably the most confusing squad choices from all the squads announced today.

Caballero is their best goalkeeper, ffs!
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No Tevez shouldn't be a surprise to anybody. He's been out of favor since 2011.
 
Tevez's omission is ridiculous really. So what he played poorly in a competition over 3 years ago and missed a crucial penalty that cost his country that was hosting a place in the final, get over it FFS. He's had a great season for Juve.
 
The inclusion of Jose Ernesto Sosa always makes me laugh... :cool:

He is in the Argentinian team again since about 2 years. I haven't watched him in the Argentinian team, but he is not a regular at Athletico and he never was in his career. Van Gaal sorted him out at Bayern. He did not make it at Hitzfeld and Klinsmann before. Played in 14 matches 439 minutes in La Liga since winter - without being injured.
 
Cheech Wizard said:
Tevez's omission is ridiculous really. So what he played poorly in a competition over 3 years ago and missed a crucial penalty that cost his country that was hosting a place in the final, get over it FFS. He's had a great season for Juve.
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I don't think it's ridiculous. He's not good enough to play ahead of Agüero, Higuaín and Messi, he doesn't provide a different kind of option that would be useful if the main plan isn't working and he isn't going to sit happily on the bench. Why bring a player that's going to cause more trouble than he's worth?
 
Blackwidow said:
The inclusion of Jose Ernesto Sosa always makes me laugh... :cool:

He is in the Argentinian team again since about 2 years. I haven't watched him in the Argentinian team, but he is not a regular at Athletico and he never was in his career. Van Gaal sorted him out at Bayern. He did not make it at Hitzfeld and Klinsmann before. Played in 14 matches 439 minutes in La Liga since winter - without being injured.
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I thought he was still at Mentalist Kharkiv, and didn't even know he was playing in Spain.
 
Cheech Wizard said:
Tevez's omission is ridiculous really. So what he played poorly in a competition over 3 years ago and missed a crucial penalty that cost his country that was hosting a place in the final, get over it FFS. He's had a great season for Juve.
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It's not ridiculous and it's not just a case of him playing poorly in the 2011 Copa America. See Skorenzy's post from earlier...

Skorenzy said:
It's not really exclusive to Sabella. Tévez has been poor for Argentina since 2007, but he's the man of the people and has that passion and all that shit so... yeah. He was atrocious in their disastrous qualifying campaign for the 2010 WC (he accumulated more red cards than goals), then had one excellent game v Mexico in the actual WC but proved completely incompatible with Messi because they were in each other's way on the pitch. CA 2011 was his last shot as it turned out and he gave an embarrasing performance against Uruguay, also him being the only one missing their penalty in the shoot-out, directly responsible for them going out.

In short, he's never really performed apart from early on. Since Messi became the main man in 2008-09 they've never really found a way to fit him in that didn't disrupt the team.
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Much more difficult for a single player to win it a la Maradona today.

Game has become heavily tactical.
 
These squads are all a bit iffy thus far, aren't they? Spain aside, I haven't been overly impressed by any nation, on paper anyway.
 
their goalies are atrocious and Maxi fecking Rodriguez made the squad. Wow.
 
Raoul said:
Tevez omitted from the provisional squad.
Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero, Mariano Andujar, Agustin Orion.

Defenders: Ezequiel Garay, Federico Fernandez, Pablo Zabaleta, Marcos Rojo, Jose Maria Basanta, Hugo Campagaro, Nicolas Otamendi, Martin Demichelis, Gabriel Mercado, Lisandro Lopez.

Midfielders: Fernando Gago, Lucas Biglia, Javier Mascherano, Ever Banega, Angel Di María, Maximiliano Rodríguez, Ricardo Alvarez, Augusto Fernández, Enzo Perez, Jose Sosa, Fabian Rinaudo.

Forwards: Sergio Aguero, Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Rodrigo Palacio, Di Santo.
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The bolded I think are terrible selections. Why no Emiliano Insua? He's argie right, and a decent young left back for Atleti
 
Rykker_4united said:
The bolded I think are terrible selections. Why no Emiliano Insua? He's argie right, and a decent young left back for Atleti
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I don't think Argentina can do much better on defence. I mean, there's Musacchio, but he never played for the team. He should have been called, but it's understandable to doubt from a player who was playing in the second division last season and was not part of the qualifying process. Demichielis is the usual experienced backup player managers prefer.
The strikers you mentioned are getting cut anyway, and probably some of the defeders too.
 
Blackwidow said:
The inclusion of Jose Ernesto Sosa always makes me laugh... :cool:

He is in the Argentinian team again since about 2 years. I haven't watched him in the Argentinian team, but he is not a regular at Athletico and he never was in his career. Van Gaal sorted him out at Bayern. He did not make it at Hitzfeld and Klinsmann before. Played in 14 matches 439 minutes in La Liga since winter - without being injured.
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The main reason why Sosa gets picked (and so too the likes of Orión, Andújar, Basanta; and Braña during qualifying) is because of Sabella's Estudiantes fetish. To be fair, Sosa's been a handy utility type player for Atlético this season and Sabella's Argentina whenever he's played.
 
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