Yeah! International football is back. I'm sure many of us are still in that mood from our Olympic success but the time has come now for us to move forward towards 2010.
I'm pretty sure all of us here just can't wait for the upcoming World Cup Qualifier. I know that because I've realized that I have been missing something for the past couple of weeks.
This weekend we will face Paraguay, who currently lead the South American Qualifying table ahead us. For the record, we never had good times against them in the past three campaigns (1998, 2002 & 2006). We have only won once, draw four times and lost once.
Our recent results have not been that good either as we drawn in our last four games (including friendly matches). Therefore, my personal message to Coco BASILE & the team; let's start winning guys!
If you wish to know the full squad details, just click here. So far no news from Coco on the starting line up yet.
In the meantime, let's kick start our discussion about the game. I'll give you my personal choice on the first eleven later.
VAMOS ARGENTINA!!!
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This is our home game and with the recent Olympic success, we just have to win this one.
But I am again wary of Coco Basile's tactics. He likes to dominate play but yet he scoring goals has not been easy, even with the talents we have. Witness the Belarus game recently.
I think Paraguay are fully expecting us to come at them. So they are going to close up and wait for their chance. We have to find a way of drawing them out of their half.
My guess is 1-0 to us and it could be Di Maria again.
Okay here is my take on the first eleven. From a positive perspective, I really hope that Coco will employ more or less the same strategy that BATISTA used during the Olympics.
In goal, my only concern is that either he will give Pato another chance or will he go for CARIZZO. My mind is on him but heart keeps telling me that Coco will prefer to go back to his usual choice.
In defense, I don't think he is going to tinker on the wingbacks so it will be ZANETTI on the right and HEINZE on the left. In central defense, preferbly I would like him to use DEMICHELIS and Gonzalo RODRIGUEZ.
I also hope he adopts the central midfield pairing of Javier MASCHERANO with Fernando GAGO rather than Esteban CAMBIASSO. On the wings, once again lets revive the success we had in Beijing. RIQUELME and Angel DI MARIA could do no wrong. Yes! you guys heard me, DI MARIA should start! After all, there can't be any bigger reason for Coco to call upon Angel at the expense of Maxi RODRIGUEZ.
Lionel MESSI will be employ as the enganche behind in what I would think could be Carlos TEVEZ. I have to admit that I'm skeptical about this as I would prefer an out-and-out striker to fill in that role (LOPEZ, DENIS etc. ). But something tells me that TEVEZ will get the nod.
That's said we still have a long way to go before kick off. There's no telling what Coco has up on his sleeve with the likes of GUTIERREZ, COLOCCINI, KUN or PALACIO available at his disposal.
Just incase if any one of you get the news on our starting line up first, please do post them here.
Finally please check out this link on the match, hopefully this was helpful.
http://www.justin.tv/claudio1982
hey guys when is the game on
Lucas
Hi John,
Thanks for your invitation... It's less than 24 hs. before kick-off and I can't wait!
In Paraguay, people are very optimistic about a win tomorrow.
Our team's most distinguished characteristic has been the excellent collective performances we have had. The Brazilians were very worried about Cabanas, but it is the team more than anything that has been working very well. They have a very aggressive style and mentality.
Incidentally, there has been a little bit of crossfire between Aguero and Haedo on this matter. Aguero said that Paraguay was going to defend itself in Bs. As. I don't think this is going to be the case.
I think it is going to be a very even game. Roque and Cabanas are both hurt, but it seems Roque will be ready by tomorrow, Cabanas probably won't. Even so, "Tacuara" Cardozo and Estigarribia will be very anxious to play.
Ther is enough talent on our team to give Argentina hell tomorrow. I don't think we will lose.
Thanks again for the invite.
Let's see how it goes and good luck!
Un abrazo,
Victor
http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=851278
It seems like Pato is gonna start. Can someone PLEASE explain to me why? Also, it seems Di Maria is gonna start.
His starting XI is likely to be made up with the following players: Roberto Abbondanzieri, Javier Zanetti, Martin Demichelis, Fabricio Coloccini, Gabriel Heinze, Javier Mascherano, Esteban Cambiasso, Angel Di Maria, Juan Roman Riquelme, Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez.
Arghh..seeing you guys talk about the game is making me jealous. I have to go to work during the game. So yet another miss. How unlucky! Anyway I hope to we will win with ease although Paraguay will be tough. So enjoy the game. I hope to see some highlights after the work.
Vamos Albiceleste
Today, my representation Macedonia start the Euro quallifies with victory over Scotland 1-0. Now it's time the Albiceleste to take the 3 points!
Vamos!
Ni hao! Still in Beijing! Went to the Opening Ceremony for the Paralympic Games and it was simply magnificient and very emotional!
Unfortunately, for the first ocassion in a long long long time, I'm going to miss an Argentina match. It's a 3 AM kick-off in Beijing. I didn't sleep much last night and I've got to wake up at 6:30 AM because Football 5-a-side (for blind athletes) will start in the morning. At least, I'll get to watch our very own Los Murcielagos (The Bats) playing against Spain, in their quest for their first Paralympic Gold medal.
I'll let you know how it goes. In the meantime, keep posting your comments here. You know I'm relying on you to read the complete coverage of this very important match.
VAMOS ARGENTINA!
Let's get ready to rumble !! It is about 45 degrees F and 7 degrees C here in BA. A little rainy. So, not perfect weather and I am glad I will be watching from the comfort of home.
Messi got a haircut.
Carlitos tripped up just outside the area. Free kick coming.
Ouch ! Roman's free kick off the crossbar !
Very aggressive Argentina ! A cross from Di Maria a little to high for Carlitos' head.
Carlitos taken down just outside the area once more. Another free kick.
Messi's attempt is blocked.
Oh no. Goal Paraguay. Heinze and Pato collide and the pelota casually dribbles into the goal. Pato with a bad knee after the collision. He is going to be carted off. He looks to be in alot of pain. The fan's favorite, JP Carrizo enters.
That was Heinze at his "bull in a china shop" worst. He lost track of the ball and Pato. Disaster.
Red card for Carlitos !!!! Looked like an inadvertent step on a defender's leg to me. Maybe a yellow, but no more. The ref must have thought it was intentional. Ugh.
This is ugly. Carrizo almost with a major error, and then able to foul up a Paraguay breakaway.
If Argentina loses you can kiss Basile goodbye!
Jack!
ANYINE KNOW WHERE I CAN FIND THIS GAME ONLINE?
Is it me or is Tevez a cancer for the team? Some straight game for a WC qualifer he gets a red and forces the team to play a man down.
Jack!
Second straight*
1-0 Paraguay at half. A promising, aggressive start for Argentina goes sour in a hurry. Paraguay scores as both centerbacks are caught out of position on a chip into the area, and Heinze runs over Pato. Pato wheeled off. Muy feo. Then Carlitos, who appeared to be a man on a mission, gets a straight, questionable, red. Down one goal and one man.:(
WHAT THE... Seriously, what the hell. We were playing so well, then Heinze decides to mess up and collide with Pato which causes the goal. There's only ONE upside to this(and I actually feel bad saying this), Pato's National Team career is over. Carrizo is now our new number 1. Now onto the match...
Di Maria is been playing very well so far, especially considering the pressure on him and the little amount of time he's actually seen the ball. Our backline is horrible(I'm blaming this on the pitch/rain), Riquelme is next to invisible, Messi is Messi and Masch/Camb are doing their best considering everything.
That was NOT a red card on Tevez, not even close. The commentators mentioned how this is an all Brazilian Referee team, so you decide if they're against us or not. Can the game on Wednesday really be Coco's last match with the NT? Oh and bring back Crespo, PLEASE for the love of all that is Holy. Please. And I can see Aguero coming in for Di Maria or Cambiasso.
OOPS ! My bad, it appears that I missed an earlier yellow on Carlitos. So, that was not a straight red, which makes more sense.
I think Basile is done done done! Pato is done and you know what ohh well this guy can not save a beach ball from going in. I would like to see Romero given a chance or when Ustari comes back from a year or so. Riquelme should be called fantasma because thats what he is.
Jack
Yes, I have zero confidence in Coloccini or Heinze. I just don't think Coloccini is a very good player, period. And Heinze gets slower every time I see him. Not only does he possibly end Pato's career, he has made a number of bad passes out of the back. I thought the offense was very dangerous early on, but one man down they are struggling and with too much one on one action. So, Coco can make two substitutions at this point. I vote for Gutierrez to replace Cambiasso right away, and then see what happens.
Second half. Cata Diaz on for Heinze and Aguero on for Di Maria. I don't understand either move at this point, though I like Cata far better than Heinze.
Pato is back on the bench, so maybe he is not as severely injured as it appeared.
Coco smoking a cig on the bench ! Nervioso !
they just can not find a rythem. They just seem can not pull it through.
jack!
GOAL!!!!!!!!! KUN!!!!!!! Pass from Messi!!!!!!!!!!!!
JACK!!!!!!!
Masche with a hitch in his giddy up. No more subs available !
Goal !!!!! Aguero with a nice left footed finish off a aweet pass from Messi !!!
Yellow on Masche. Free kick for Paraguay.
No trouble for Carrizo on the kick.
Well, Cata is playing well and Aguero scored, so Coco hasn't completely lost his mind ! :)
Argentina came close again 2 times in less then a min. Man!!!
Jack
Ouch, Coloccini misses a wide open chance on a header.
Then Aguero shoots wide on a good chance. Both chances set up by Roman.
Ouch again. KUN set up perfectly by Roman right in front of the goal but skies it.
1-1 Final. Probably lucky to get out of this one with a tie. That said, Argentina was much the better side in the second half despite being a man down. There were a number of chances to make it 2-1 or 3-1, but they went begging. Actually, a very entertaining second period as Argentina played with more urgency.
On to Lima.
Thats all she wrote another tie 1-1. Argentina could of won this game but could not finish some easy put aways. 3 points in 3 games? A big result is needed in Peru next week.
Jack!
Thats all she wrote another tie 1-1. Argentina could of won this game but could not finish some easy put aways. 3 points in 3 games? A big result is needed in Peru next week.
Jack!
Time for Coco to go out ?
Back from work guys and straight to the match which my bro had recorded for me. So it was like a late live telecast for me. But I watched from 27 mins and from my perspective we were just too good for paraguay but some bad referring, a bit of bad performance especially from kun and also a lot of bad luck took the day away from us. If we just had 11 in the field, I am sure it would have been different. Carrizo is far better then pato. Period. El Kun needs to be more stable or else soon people will start talking about him, in the wrong way. Roman was as usual although we can always say he could have done better. And Messi, well guys, I just don't have any words to describe him. Seriously, he is just Messi. Nice haircut :-D
Anyway I hope we win the next game easily hopefully.
Vamos Albiceleste
Nice review p2bn ! I agree !
Heinze was horrible.. he misjudged the high ball, collided with Pato and scored an own goal. How can just a experienced player misjudge a high ball like this? A normal player should have been able to jump at the correct timing and nod the ball to Pato.. on the other hand, his ability to support the offensive end was as bad as usual. He just gave away passes cheaply. I was so angry watching him play, I have never been a fan of Henize, due to his poor offensive ability, but his defensive ability was not that bad usually, may be he is suffering a poor form as the club season has just started. If he is in poor form, how come Basile was unaware of this?
I think Monzon should have done a better job.
The only consolation was that I got to watch Carrizo play. Thanks Henize for injuring Pato.
Demichelis was poor also, there was one occasion he lost the ball near the box cheaply and luckily Carrizo was there to the rescue. If not we would be 2-0 down and there would be no way back.
For Tevez, I was not able to see the foul clearly as the replay did not show it clearly, however, I think Tevez knew that he deserved for the red card as he did not complain at all after the red card.
This is the second time he was sent off in a qualifier match, I think Basile has to look at this seriously.
Damm it!!! No live telecast on my local TV. Instead they rather show Portugal/Malta!!! For God sake, that's not even a football match.
Luckily I manage to catch the repeat just a few hours later.
I don't agree with TEVEZ sending off. That look pretty much harsh to me.
Not a good day for me at all. Once again we just can't seem to beat these guys in our own turf.
I am STILL confused !! Was that a straight red that Tevez received ! I thought he got two yellows.
He got a yellow in the 16th minute, and then a straight red in the 30th, but after he got the first yellow, he should have been more careful, even though it wasn't a straight red card incident, his studs were showing and he still would have got a second yellow and been sent off.
In the next game Mascherano is suspended, that's of more importance.
Aguero did fine, yes he missed one clear chance which was a bad miss but apart from that he linked up well will both Messiand Riquelme, and if Basile gives him a good run in the team he will get better and better.
day1star
Messi is back to be a teenage boy again with this haircut.
Carrizo do not deserve to play second fiddle to Pato anymore. He's much better. I like him a lot in the clausura when River won the chmapions. He should be the No.1 goalkeeper.
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