U23 1-0 Catalunya: Good intentions, bad execution

I was really looking forward to watch this offensive juggernaut that Checho BATISTA had in store for all of us when his U23 stars faced Catalunya at the Camp Nou of Barcelona.

After watching this match, I have to admit I'm a little bit worried if this is the way MESSI and AGÜERO are planning to play offensively. No cohesion, no team-work, no one-two combinations. It was like watching them trying to do all individually. HIGUAIN was anonymous. LAVEZZI was the best of those four with great mobility and scoring the only goal but still, they left a lot to be desired.

I applaud Checho's idea of picking his best offensive weapons and use them all together. The problem is that I think they are going to need to work a lot in playing with each other. But I don't think they will play like this in Beijing. The reason being JRR. RIQUELME will completely change the way they play. Of course one from MESSI, AGÜERO, HIGUAIN and LAVEZZI will have to sit on the bench when Roman joins the team. But RIQUELME is the key to give our attacking game another dimension and to exploit our weapons in the best way possible.

I liked the job the full backs did. ANSALDI looks very solid on and off the ball and he is a great option on the left. We all know what ZABALETA can bring to the team. Together, they helped GAGO and BANEGA in midfield, compensating the lack of marking from the likes of HIGUAIN and MESSI.

FAZIO and INSUA were OK. Just OK. It looks like if DEMICHELIS is not released by Bayern Munich, Checho will use his Over23 wild card in another central defender. Maybe COLOCCINI, maybe HEINZE or even BURDISSO. Whoever it is, he'll play alongside FAZIO and INSUA will compete with ANSALDI for a job at left-back.

USTARI had an easy afternoon and was only challenged by a shot from just outside the box that he magnificienly tipped over the bar. He showed great confidence and that was really important for his team-mates.

Finally, a few words on the holding midfielders' combo of GAGO and BANEGA. They were very good today. They complemented well with each other and started a lot of plays with clever passes to the wings. BANEGA was better in recovering balls while GAGO played more of a mixed role and his distribution was superb. He gets my man-of-the-match award for his immense composure, his quality and his work-rate.

The result is irrelevant in my opinion. It was a 1-0 win against a team with a few decent players and nothing else.

I liked the way Argentina played the ball on the ground and kept possession for most of the match, but I didn't like the way we played up front, the lack of through passes and the desperate way in which sometimes we made the transition to defensive positions.

A lot of work to be done by Checho. He's got the personnel and he's got some time. I'm confident the addition of a senior central defender, MASCHERANO and (most importantly) RIQUELME, will give this team the dimension it is capable of reaching.

Did you watch the match? Who was your man of the match? What are your thoughts after this test?