I want them out of the group stage.
Argentina at the WC
- Thread starter Raoul
- Start date
This could be the winners of World Cup 2014 for these reasons:
- Messi, He has never shined for the national side IMO. If he want's to be regarded as the greatest he needs to win it. He will always be in Maradona's shadow until it happens. A disappointing club campaign and being eclipsed by CR7, you feel this could be his moment!
- Climate, The tournament being set in South America will be an advantage. The european teams will struggle, Argentina would love winning it in a rivals back yard.
- Balance, They finally have the right balance of attack and defense. Zabaleta, Garay and Mascherano are aggresive and solid. Then Augero, Messi and Lavezzi are a formidable threat up front.
- Group. They have the easiest group in my opinion. They could rack up the goals and confidence for the knock out stage.
- Timing, They are long overdue to win this trophy. The players will be in decline by the time the next one comes. Think about it Messi will be nearly 31, Aguero 30, Mascherano 35 in World cup 2018?
Still my pick to win it, I pick them most years but close to the reasons above, I just feel they will do it.
Climate doesn't have much to do with it I think. Only the very north of Argentina can be hot, the rest is a rather moderate climate. I've been there twice, and it can be f*king cold in South-Argentina (Patagonia). Even in Buenos-Aires the average temperature is about 20° Celsius I think.
The South American teams would be more used to playing in similar climates because of Copa América, World Cup qualifiers etc. though right?
Don't think it's as important as it was given the amount of players who play in Europe now though.
yeah, didn't think of that. But as you say, most of them play in Europe, so it isn't as much of an issue as in the past.
I always support them (closely followed by Holland) on world cup. Batistuta is one of my favorite players ever and because of him started supporting them on France 98 and then always supported them. They are more balanced than in the last tournament but still their defense, midfield and especially their keeper aren't top quality. Their attack is by far the best one but not sure that other departments of the team are able to win the tournament. Messi needs to do a Maradona (i.e drag them all the way) in order for them to become victorious. It will be hilarios if they win it on Brazil though.
Arrogant pricks.
Getting the first place with Brazil not being on the competition wasn't the most difficult thing to achieve.
It actually isn't as easy as it seems because how difficult qualifying out of South America really is.
how can such a good attacking team have such a crap defense
They don't really need a good defenders just a good defensive system.
How are the chances for Banega to get in the first eleven ?
Exactly why I think they wont win it. Just not good enough at the back. Their keeper is a complete joke.
Not sure how well he's done in Argentina but from what I've read his only chance of starting is if someone gets injured, otherwise it'll be Mascherano, di María and Gago in midfield.
Given their group, he will definetely start one of the matches but if it was their strongest eleven, he would just miss out probably.
What about Enzo Perez in midfield, I heard he had a good season for Benfica.
With the players ahead of him, I highly doubt he will play.
Only if Gago injured and Gago usually performs for Argentina.
Sergio Romero is a starter while Willy Caballero is sitting home. What is Sabella thinking?
ok thanks.
Gago ist injured at the moment I think. I don't know anything about specific though.
Argentinas defence doesn't look that strong. Will be interesting if their offensive players can compensate for that.
Aye, see Holland last time out.
Romero was their best player at last Copa America.
He's one of the worst GK's going to Brazil, shame on Sabella for ignoring Cabellero. what is the obsession with players having domestic routes to Argentinian clubs that works so much in their favour???
I forgot about them. Great example. Everybody was downplaying their defense and it reach the World Cup final. We reached a final in 98 with Junior Baiano in the central defense and he was awful.
Aye, that team was only really lacking a top quality centre-half in place of Baiano.
What absolute horseshit.
When you put it like that?
If you want to criticize my post fine but use your brain. It's an opinion, just not yours.
Explain why you don't share it? Instead of using three words
Because you've used so many clichés and inaccuracies in 5 sentences.When you put it like that?
If you want to criticize my post fine but use your brain. It's an opinion, just not yours.
Explain why you don't share it? Instead of using three words
1. Messi has performed for his country, he scored 12 in 9 in 2012 including a hat trick against Brazil, and 6 in 7 in 2013. Messi wasn't played in the 2006 World Cup and while he did underperform in 2010, he was in a team managed by Diego Maradona lest we forget. He was in an Olympic winning team, so it's not been all failure.
2. Since when did this "You have to win a World Cup to be the greatest" point exist? It's a team game, and Messi can't do it on his own. What about players like Best who played for Northern Ireland? Argentina are a good side, but they aren't outstanding. Pele played in an amazing generation of Brazillian football, Maradonna was the star in a well structured team. Messi and Ronaldo don't need to prove anything, they are up there anyway.
3. A disappointing club campaign for Barcelona? Sure. He still scored 41 goals in 46 matches. Funny how Suarez supposedly had an amazing season and Messi a poor one. We need to remember that Messi did well considering he has been injured more this season than in any of the last 5.
4. Eclipsed by Ronaldo? Okay, let's just dismiss the previous 5 years then. I respect both players, but that's nonsense.
5. "You could feel this could be his moment" - Football isn't a soap opera.
Well done, you replied properly with your opinion?
I like Messi, he might be the best player of all time. Anybody would think I hated him from your angry post.
- Messi has never shined on the biggest stage for Argentina. He clearly hasn't, don't bring of pointless stats. David Healy has a record for scoring the most in qualifying for the Euros, what does that mean? Nothing! The Olympics, is that suppose to be funny? Mexico won it in 2012, wow. He was poor in 2010, don't blame Maradona it wasn't all his fault. In my opinion if he wins the World Cup he will be regarded as the greatest, that's what I was getting at.
- Since when did this "You have to win a World Cup to be the greatest" point exist? It doesn't, that's my opinion again. It's only a point a view, who said you had to accept it? I never said Messi had a disappointing season, I said Barcelona did. Do not insinuate I did, I said he was eclipsed by CR7 which he was.
- You feel this could be his moment, stick to the point? You feel it's a cliche, fine that's your opinion.
I think Messi is one of the greats, I would love to see him triumph win Argentina this summer.
Unfortunately people who read posts like an argument, not debating a point of view. Everyone is entitled to post their thoughts.
Next time you post something, read it properly!
Have a bit of respect for people. Move on to another thread and share posts instead of hostility.
He's only played in one world cup. Messi's international scoring record from the past two years isn't pointless stats, it's fact.
He was only used as a sub in 2006.
Wrong again.
2 World Cups (Was a sub in 2006) and 2 Copa America'a Messi has played in.
I still cant believe they didn't call Caballero and Mussachio ...A Shame than they have such a poor defensive side , and their midfielders lacks creativity aswell ....Messi will have to be at a' Maradona 1986' level for Argentina to be able to win it , can he do it? I dont think so.
You're dismissing the Olympics because Mexico won it? That Brazilian team they beat was loaded.
I agree Sergio Romero is trash.
How do they line up up front? I'm thinking of backing Higuian as top scorer, but will he definitely start?
At the moment he is a starter, I think. Depends a little on Messis position and Agueros fitness, I guess.
most likely line-ups imo:
Aguero/Lavezzi---Higuain----Di Maria
---------------------Messi
-------------Mascherano ---Gago
or
Aguero/Lavezzi-----Higuain---Messi
--------------Di Maria-----Banega
-----------------Mascherano