Argentina

[GiantKiller]

I've heard good things about Lanzini, so I'll be looking forward to his performances. And yes, I hope Lamela stay in Italy. He'll learn a lot in Serie A.

Btw, is Giovanni Simeone related to Diego Simeone by any chance?

 

[AURELIUS]

I've heard good things about Lanzini, so I'll be looking forward to his performances. And yes, I hope Lamela stay in Italy. He'll learn a lot in Serie A.

Btw, is Giovanni Simeone related to Diego Simeone by any chance?

He is indeed GiantKiller. He is his son and unusually (for father son footballers) is as talented as his father was. Has scored plenty of goals in River Plate's junior divisions. Should Argentina qualify for the summer he will be part of a very potent strike force.

 

[GiantKiller]

Ah, nice to know. Although, I'd have liked it more if he was a defender.

 

[AURELIUS]

Ah, nice to know. Although, I'd have liked it more if he was a defender.

I think there are 2 cracks in the defence. Pezzella and Peruzzi who will emerge over the next 2 seasons prior to the World Cup. Sabella has already called up Peruzzi for the full seleccion not just the domestic based squad.

Coaches are working within the club game to make sure not every kid want's to be the next Messi or number 5.

 

[GiantKiller]

I think there are 2 cracks in the defence. Pezzella and Peruzzi who will emerge over the next 2 seasons prior to the World Cup. Sabella has already called up Peruzzi for the full seleccion not just the domestic based squad.

Coaches are working within the club game to make sure not every kid want's to be the next Messi or number 5.

Fantastic. About time for Argentina to produce another batch of fine defenders.

 

[AURELIUS]

Some changes to the u20 squad see Iturbe and Cartabia released by Porto and Valencia to play in this tournament with Giovanni Simeone dropping out. Won't be too much of a hardship for him seeing as he is still 17 and part of the u17 set up.

Leandro Paredes will be playing for Boca and is therefore rendered unavailable seeing as he is a key part of their side aged just 18. Should be there in Turkey though should the side qualify which will make a monster midfield and frightening attack and pretty reasonable defence.

 

[Doobs]

The question remains Aurelius, will Argentina produce a squad good enough to lift the WC?

 

[AURELIUS]

The question remains Aurelius, will Argentina produce a squad good enough to lift the WC?

Do you mean this summers u20 World Cup or the one in Brazil in 2014 ?

Regarding the latter the attack is functioning well and the midfield has improved significantly. The fluidity of the side is greater, there is more confidence and togetherness.

Defence has been relatively solid and has improved in terms of defending from the front and pressing as a unit. Yes there are still concerns about the goalkeeping and central defensive positions but then again few national sides have a world class defence at present.

It does all hinge on Messi though. If he is fit and fresh in 2014 I can see him being the ingredient under a competent coach in taking Argentina to the semi finals. Beyond that is anyones guess. A little luck will be needed too.

The main threats are the obvious ones. Spain, Germany, Brazil and France. Holland and one or two of the other South American teams will also be on the fringes.

If the u20 qualify they have a very good chance of doing well in Turkey.

 

[Doobs]

I was referring to 2014, yes.

Yeah, the attack has looked good in recent times. Are there any upcoming CB's that could be important in 2014? What about Lamela? he's been very promising but isn't getting that chance in attacking midfield. By the looks of his recent performances I would play him over Pastore.

 

[AURELIUS]

Pastore hasn't been terrible and neither has he been excellent. He looks weighed down by his price tag, the players who have arrived with egos to match and being away from his Sicilian sweetheart.

Lamela could operate in di Maria's role for the time being as Sabella is unwilling to play a fixed attacking midfielder or enganche. Pezzella, Lopez are two of the young centrebacks to keep an eye on. Munoz has been solid at times for Palermo and is good in the air but slow and apt to get caught out of position.

Musacchio was very good in a poor Villareal side. Good anticipation, strong and decent at passing the ball out of defence. Needs to move ASAP seeing as Elche are running away with the Segunda. Gonsalez-Pirez has gone off the boil and made some horrendous mistakes in his games for River Plate but he can come back and depending on how he does rebound still has potential.

Several Argentine defenders have had the odd good season. Silvestre though has had a shocker for Internazionale. Spolli deserves a chance and Paletta has done reasonably well at Parma but unlike Spolli is not good enough for a crack at the seleccion. Other youngsters have made poor career choices like Guillermo Burdisso and Ignacio Fideleff though the former is reestablishing himself at Boca.

The question is will the better kids be integrated into the team by 2014 or will Sabella persist with Campagnaro for example who himself was scandalously overlooked for nearly 3 seasons prior to being picked.

 

[La Furia]

Two Argentine coaches have made it to the IFFHS top 10 national team coach ranking.

1. Vicente del BOSQUE of Spain
2. Cesar PRANDELLI of Italy
3. Luis Fernando TENA of Mexico
4. Joachim LOW of Germany
5. Herve RENARD of Zambia
6. Alejandro SABELLA of Argentina
7. Paulo Jorge Gomes BENTO of Portugal
8. Jose PEKERMAN of Colombia
9. Fabio CAPELLO of England
10. Reinaldo RUELDA of Ecuador

Only Argentina and Italy produce more than one coach here. And people on this forum want a Spaniard to coach Argentina to make Messi feel more comfortable.

 

[jamrock]

I am still waiting on pekerman to coach messing again.

 

[Garrus]

I want to ask, Does sabella use messi as a false 9?, And if not, Why?

 

[veryfatchocobo]

I think he does <_<. It's worked well enough where he scored more than he played.

And dunno why Bento is on that list.................................. Tena 100% deserves it.

 

[MrXavi_The_Midfield_King]

I was watching highlights of Argentina in WC2006, they were a real good unit, the defence, midfield and attack really used to click really well. I wonder if they can have that kind of chemistry again for WC2014