If Lionel Messi (left) and Sergio Aguero maintain
the form they showed against Mexico, Argentina will be downright
scary(AP)
If its 4-1 drubbing of Mexico was any indication of what's
to follow, Argentina is a serious contender to win the 2010 World Cup
in South Africa. There's no doubt the Argentines will qualify for the
tournament, but what's more important at this stage is that Alfio Basile's
side is playing like future world champions.
Argentina's demonstration against Mexico in San Diego on Wednesday was
simply outstanding. Not only was it an emphatic victory against a potential
World Cup opponent, but the Argentines seemed to understand each other
as if they had been training together for much more than just a couple
of days.
The U.S. should expect much of the same treatment when they clash with
Argentina at Giants Stadium on Sunday in what will be the Argentines'
final warm-up match before the restart of World Cup qualifying.
For years, Argentina has been producing an exciting brand of soccer that
has been envied by the entire world. It has to do not only with the quality
of its players -- namely European-based strikers Lionel Messi, Sergio
Aguero and Carlos Tevez -- but also with the tactics adopted by their
respective coaches.
Basile, who replaced Jose Pekerman as Argentina's coach in late '06, has
assembled an extremely solid unit that is based on youth and experience.
In the friendly victory over Mexico, he fielded a side that looks like
the one that will be featured in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against
Ecuador and Brazil in mid-June.
The only additions to Los Albicelestes will likely be those of Boca Juniors
playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme and Estudiantes de La Plata veteran Juan
Sebastian Veron (two key figures of the national team).
Riquelme will provide Argentina with vision and creativity in the midfield.
He is a skilful attacking player who is capable of unsettling any opposition
and is arguably the most effective dead-ball specialist in the world at
the moment (three of his four goals in the qualifiers have been free-kicks).
In recent weeks, Basile has confirmed Veron will return to the side, even
though he hasn't made a single appearance for the national team since
last year's Copa America final defeat to Brazil. But is he worth another
call-up? "La Brujita" may be 33 years old, but he continues
to be one of the stars of the Argentine First Division and the Estudiantes
captain has been the main reason why his club still has a shot at the
title with only two rounds to play.
Although there is still speculation linking Veron with a move to MLS,
he is determined to participate in what would be a third World Cup, and
the chances of this becoming reality would be much greater if he maintains
a consistent level in the Argentine league. His intelligence could prove
all the difference for an Argentina side who always seems to lose its
head at the final hurdle.
Riquelme and Veron should reinforce Argentina, but Manchester United ace
Tevez will miss both qualifiers. The menacing striker is suspended for
the match with Ecuador and will be rested for the vital clash with Brazil
because of accumulated fatigue. "Carlitos" is evidently tired,
after a long season with United, where he played a key role in the club's
sensational campaign where it lifted both the Premier League and the UEFA
Champions League crowns.
But even if the No. 1-ranked team in the world is without Tevez , Basile
has more than enough options to choose from to select an equally strong
side. He could either bulk up his midfield, or include another of the
many strikers that he has at his disposal. The likes of Julio Cruz of
Inter Milan and Lisandro Lopez of FC Porto have shown that they are capable
of performing, after having won league titles with their European clubs
last season.
But despite the abundance of talent in the squad, and the fact that Argentina
continues to play breathtaking soccer, what stands in its way is the pressure
factor. Whenever the two-time World Cup winners enter the field, whether
that be for a World Cup qualifier, a Copa America match or even a friendly,
they're expected to win and usually quite comprehensively.
Anything less than a victory stirs serious debate amongst the local press
who, despite knowing that Argentina hasn't lifted a senior international
trophy since '93, continue to be as demanding as ever.
When Argentina was thrashed 3-0 by Brazil in the Copa America final last
year, the press saw this as a major setback, mainly because Argentina
was clearly the best team in the tournament right until the decider, but
ended up being ripped apart by a Brazil side who was missing its two most
influential players: Kaka and Ronaldinho.
Argentina will have an opportunity to put this defeat behind it when it
faces Brazil in Belo Horizonte on Jun. 18 in a crucial World Cup qualifier.
A positive result here would be essential for the confidence of the side.
Still, Argentina isn't as underachieving as some other world powers, such
as England or Spain -- teams that continue to struggle on the international
stage despite having the two most important leagues in the world. The
situation with Argentina is quite different: It has no trouble overcoming
equally strong teams, and it regularly reaches decisive instances of major
competitions. But what has limited its success to youth titles is its
lack of temperament.
"El Coco" Basile understands Argentina has lacked a winning
mentality in recent years, and in order to change this he has looked to
the success of Boca Juniors. He regards the six-time Copa Libertadores
champions as being an institution that only produces "true winners,"
and is hoping Boca transmits this attitude to the national team.
For Argentina's qualifier against Colombia last November, Basile fielded
five players in his starting 11 who have played for Boca at some point
in their careers. All of these players have won important titles with
the Buenos Aires giants, and with the club's current production line as
effective as ever, more of this should follow in the future.
Argentina may have all the necessary ingredients to cruise into the '10
World Cup, but if it wants to make its mark on the world stage, and possibly
win its third title, it has to begin to put its past failures behind it.
Los Albicelestes have confirmed their status as one of the most potent
national teams in the world, but in order to claim their first major title
in almost two decades, they must keep their head. The World Cup is clearly
in Argentina's reach.
