Questions About the Future of Argentina Football National Team After Brasil 2014

Alejandro Sabella stepped down as head of Argentina National Team after achieving the second place in Brasil 2014. With his departure, the team he assembled will exist no more.

Yet, will the spirit and the defensive mentality that he created live on?
Will the new manager – supposedly Tata Martino – build on the legacy created by Sabella?
Will the next manager force a complete makeover or just a face lift?
And most importantly: Who will continue to represent Argentina from the current squad and until the next World Cup in Russia 2018?

Many key figures are already in their late 20’s and adding 4 years to the age of those players, we will end up with many squad members in their early 30’s. The most prominent name in this case is Lionel Messi who will be celebrating his 31st birthday in 2018.

Many current players will surely be fit for Argentina’s next big challenge: Copa America – Chile 2015 (from 11 June – 4 July 2015).

And hence, the next manager should depend on them before he decides on one of the three options he has:
1- Build on the legacy of Sabella
2- Complete makeover
3- Face lift and enhancements

Whatever happens next, the big question is:

Who will keep on representing Argentina from the current squad members?

My next post may hold some expectations, but I may postpone it until the next manager’s name is announced.

On a final remark, and since Sabella’s resignation is not official yet, and in case he stayed as head coach, then it is normal to face him with the same questions above while adding one more aspect to his tactics: Have some balls.

 

Attempts to Empathize with Messi and Argentina in the World Cup

The World Cup Final between Argentina and Germany is now another game that will haunt me forever.

Argentina had better chances – or actually gifts from the German defenders – to score, but it was exactly what Gary Lineker said one day: “Football is a simple game. Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win.”

Looking back at how Argentina performed throughout the tournament, it was a joy for the eye.

Well, if you were expecting the best forward players in the world to score 10 goals a game, then you were surely disappointed. Argentina played beautiful defence, whether you liked it or not. Before Sabella existed, Argentina never knew how to defend. Sabella did the best thing to ensure this squad makes it to the semi-finals – at least – for the first time in 24 years. He created a defensive system that I haven’t seen anything like it when it comes to the Argentina National Team. He knew his team’s weaknesses and worked hard to turn them into strength. Sabella succeeded in doing so, and showed extraordinary skills crafting the system he played with during the tournament.

However, while paying extra attention to the defence – which, again, was the only way to make it to the semi-finals – Sabella undermined the super attack he had and disengaged the midfield from the front line. He only depended on Messi to do what Messi wanted to do. Messi in return, scored half the team’s goals and created many others. He sacrificed himself for the team and always had 2 or 3 defenders from the opposition trying to take him down. He did not sit in the attack and waited for balls that will never reach him but rather sat deep in the second third of the pitch and created something out of nothing. He may have disappeared in the semi-final match, and in the second half of the final match, too, but he was instrumental why Argentina reached a World Cup Final for the first time in 24 years.

The “disappearance” of Messi resulted in anger by the fans when he was handed the tournament’s best player. I was the first to slaughter Messi and refute the choice, but I was wrong to an extent. I forgot the golden rule that humans should not make statements or take action when under any kind of extreme emotional influence.

To be fair with Messi we should list the following:

• Messi was over pressurized by media, fans, and everyone to win the World Cup on his own. He was asked to be a god.
• Comparisons with Maradona were the only thing he ever heard; to the extent he forgot his own name.
• Muscular burnout and fatigue were obvious to the eye but we decided to overlook them. He was vomiting all over the pitch, in the Final, while we were criticizing him.
• Without Messi’s goals, Argentina would have earned only 2 points in the Group Stage and left the competition early. That’s how Argentina is weak, even though the opponents were mediocre teams at that stage.
• Messi was given the role of the leader and he only accepted it so as not to be faced with treason. He never led a squad by his spirit or presence and always depended on his performance and goals to gain popularity.
• Aguero, Higuain, and some others did not play well, but were not criticized as heavily as was Messi.
• Sabella chose Gago to sit in the playmaker role, and both failed miserably, while Pastore and some other names could have done a better and much needed job.
• Lavezzi played a great first half against Germany, but it will remain unknown why he was subbed off at halftime.

Messi was made the scapegoat when Argentina failed to win the Final. Fact is: If Argentina won, no one would even care about the physical and mental state of Messi.

I am disappointed that Argentina did not win, and sort of confused if I should celebrate the best tournament achievement in 24 years or retreat in tears.

But what I am sure of is that I am worried about Messi. Is Messi’s body failing him? Is he mentally obsessed with stuff we do not know? Is he stuffed with titles and trophies that he doesn’t have anything to play for anymore? Did he lose passion for the ball? He needs to be checked by a psychologist, physiotherapist, and every possible doctor alive.

Between 2008 and 2014, Messi gave us some mesmerizing football. We should be thankful for that. For the better of the game, and for our own benefit, let us hope that he gives us at least four more years of extraordinary displays and plenty of goals.

World Cup Final – Brasil 2014: Argentina VS Germany

If you are looking for the extremely tactical analysis of the World Cup Final match, then please try to Google that.

Here, I am writing for you and me and for every fan about the waiting game before kickoff. We all have some thoughts before any match, and these thoughts are too overwhelming especially if it is a World Cup Final match.

For Argentina, this is the first final in 24 years, and players know that it will take them 24 more years to reach another Final. It is going to be played on their archrival’s home land and this is a thing they never dreamed of. It will be a chance to avenge the 2010 humiliating quarter-finals loss against the same opponent (and the 2006 feature, too). It is the game when Diego Maradona’s 1990 demons will finally rest in peace. It is one game that will put their names next to the best in the history of football. It is when Messi will be closer to the throne of Maradona.

Germany on the other hand, will play the second final in four tournaments, and the first since they gave away the 2002 one to Brazil. They are well equipped, more organized, and tactically diversified, as opposed to Argentina. They already got the acknowledgment and recognition for being one of the best teams, but they want to add the cherry on top: The Title. Players have nothing to prove against an opponent they already humbled four years ago, but it will be ‘lovely’ if they win it. They know they can reach another final or at least a semi-finals stage again in 4 years because they are really good and over confident. Winning 7-1 will be a source of motivation for them to win teh final as they want to prove it was not merely luck that helped them trash the host nation.

The best player in the tournament will be with no doubt picked up from the two finalists. It might be a 2002 repeat for the Germans when their keeper was on the losing side but got picked up as the tournament’s best. A failure for Messi will always haunt him, more than others, as he will not be voted the best in this cup or in history.

I wish I could have said: May the best win…

If I never post again on this blog, then it means I died out of extreme grief…

Maradona Singing: Brasil, Decime Que Se Siete!

Adding salt to the wound, the legendary Maradona joined the crowds. Maradona was seen from inside the World Cup’s International Broadcast Center in Rio de Janeiro celebrating Brazil’s loss with the staff of an Argentine television network. He was singing the now famous “Brasil, Decime Que Se Siente” but changed the word ‘siente’ with ‘siete’ to indicate number 7 and point out the 1-7 loss of Brazil.

 

 

Enjoy the video!

 

Argentina Song For the World Cup: Brasil Decime Que Se Siente

If you have been following the World Cup in Brasil 2014, you surely couldn’t miss the one song that is repeated and heard everywhere by everyone.

The song is titled: Brasil Decime Que Se Siente.

 

It is set to the tune of “Bad Moon Rising” by Creedence Clearwater Revival — and predicts not just triumph for Argentina, but deep humiliation for Brazil. And the players themselves have joined the choir [Check this video from the locker room of Argentina after the win over Belgium >>> HERE].

The same song and tune have been around for some years, but the lyrics are altered to fit the occasion of the World Cup – Brazil 2014. The words focus on Argentina’s celebration on Brazilian ground, with reference to four main things: 1- Brazilian humiliation at home by Argentinians 2- The goal that Claudio Cannigia scored in the World Cup – Italy 1990, against Brazil [check HERE] 3- Messi winning the World Cup in Brazil 4- Maradona is greater than Pele.

The lyrics of the song in English are sort of not structured (you can blame Google Translate for that), but here they are in a way or another:

 

Brazil, tell me how it feels

Having your Daddy here at home

I swear after all these years

We are never going to forget

That Diego slipped it by 

To Cani who banged it home

You have been crying since Italy

Messi with no doubt

Will bring the Cup to us

Maradona is greater than Pele!

The Spanish words for the song are almost the following [You can download a clean version HERE]:

 

Brasil, decime qué se siente
tener en casa a tu papá…
Te juro que aunque pasen los años
nunca nos vamos a olvidar…
Que el Diego te gambeteó
que Cani te vacunó
que estás llorando desde Italia hasta hoy

A Messi lo vas a ver
la Copa nos va a traer
Maradona es más grande que Pelé…

 

Enjoy the song… Enjoy the atmosphere… Enjoy the videos below from everywhere…

 

 

 

 

Diego Maradona Sends the Finger to Julio Grondona After Argentina vs Iran Match

Julio Grondona – the Argentina Football Association President – claimed, as many did, that Diego Maradona is bad luck to the Argentina National Team in Brasil 2014 World Cup.

The claim was based on the fact that Argentina was held to a scoreless draw against Iran while Maradona was watching the match from the stadium with his daughter. The moment Maradona left the stadium, Lionel Messi decided to show up and score the winning goal.

Maradona had a simple reply on live TV as per the photo below. [You can read more details about the incident HERE]

 

Euro 2012: Match Day 2 – Germany, Holland, and Argentina’s game

It was a good day for football, away from the results. Go google the reviews and the post games analysis, but here are my quick thoughts:

• Netherlands 0-1 Denmark: The Dutch got #Robbened
• Germany 1-0 Portugal: Did Cristina play? Were the Germans happily efficient and that’s all?
• Argentina 4-3 Brazil: It was a game taken seriously although it was a friendly. Messi with a hattrick because he scores when he wants. Else, Argentina needs a lot of work to enhance.

Messi scores when he wants (photo: mundoalbiceleste.com)

After Bolivia: Argentina vs Colombia – World Cup Qualifiers for Brazil 2014

On 11-11-11 Argentina had a 1-1 result. Meh! Disappointing? Frustrating? Alerting? No single word can describe the match against Bolivia in the World Cup qualifiers, yet it is not the end of the world.

Argentina is now second in the CONMEBOL group with 4 points after three rounds, having won one game, lost one and drew one (again, 1-1-1, meh!). The next encounter before a long break until June 2012 is with Colombia. The game will be played in Barranquilla on November 15, 2011, at 23:00 GMT (01:00 Dubai Time – November 16). Colombia is third in the groups having played one game less than Argentina and gathered 4 points. The game will not be the best of all times, yet it will not be the easiest nor the toughest. It will be an interesting encounter between a supposedly attacking Colombian side and a hurt Argentinean one.

Even he who saved Argentina looks like this

Yes, Argentina is hurt. The fans are too. The players are also low on morale because they cannot find their clubs’ forms with the national team recently. Sabella is bemused. He had to deal with Aguero’s late injury occurrence and fielded in Pastore, the new fans’ favorite, to maintain a seemingly strong side as the names on the paper suggested. But everything went wrong. Even the fans did not fill the stands in the famous, recently ominous, El Monumental.

What happened in the match cannot be blamed on one person but the suspects are many:

Demichelis – Need to say more? He is now the reason why I want Coloccini back in the national team. I am that hopeless.

Referee – Mr. Carlos Vera did a great job hiding his yellow cards and calling wrong decisions.

Messi – He is not to be blamed on where he was asked to play but on how he played. The woeful ball he attempted with the outside of the foot at the edge of the area said it all.

Pastore – Yes he needs more play time to gel with the team but that is not an excuse. And he should have passed that wayward ball to Higuain rather than shooting it into empty stands.

Now, and just after three official matches, I will still hold on to Sabella at the helm. I do not want to see changes in the coaching staff as yet. Maybe some upgrading is needed and the rumors about Veron joining in the management of the team are uplifting. Yet Sabella has a lot to do.

As per Messi and Alejandro Sabella, the disallowed goal could have changed the game because Bolivia could have changed their attitude of play if it was not cancelled. Messi added that he is angry of how things went on the pitch while Sabella believes Argentina deserved to win.

Carlos Vera decided that Argentina did not deserve to score more than one goal against Bolivia

I agree with both but to win the next game against Colombia Mr. Sabella has to concentrate on two departments:

Defence: It is not a secret that Argentina looks like an amateur team when defending. It is also evident that Demichelis and Burdisso are not the names to stand still in the backline. Yet it is a dilemma as Argentina has no world class defenders at the time being. One option can be the inclusion of Mascherano who is doing a great job in Barcelona in the back four. Another option is changing the tactics into 3-4-3 or 3-5-1-1 to assure that we do not include mediocre names in the back. A third option can be asking the wing-backs/full-backs not to move forward at any expense.

Central Midfield: The weakness in distributing the balls and linking up the midfield with attack is becoming more evident. The transition from defence to attack is also not a joy for the eye. Seeing Higuain attempting a full field run attempting a counter attack against Bolivia is just saddening. The options are: 1- Deploying Messi as the link and not as a false 9 or winger 2- fielding in 4 midfielders in a 3-2-2-1-2 formation two of which are with holding roles 3- Opting to a 3-5-1-1 formation where Messi is a second striker or a free role player in a pentagon shaped midfield

Beating Colombia will surely be uplifting before a long break from the qualifiers for the players, coaching staff, and fans. Whatever options, mentioned above or not, Sabella has promised that: “It’s probable we’ll change some things (vs. Colombia)”. Quick change is needed now for the sake of the 3 points only. More and bigger and thorough changes are needed on the long run.

Keep the faith!

Keep The Faith for Brazil 2014 (photo: @mundoalbicelest)

Argentina vs Bolivia – World Cup Qualifiers for Brazil 2014

Round 3: Fight! Yes, fight for regaining the confidence and the hope. Fight for reclaiming the honor of wearing the jersey and representing a victory hungry nation. Fight for gaining the ball in the middle and defending well in the back.

It is not the end of the world, and it is only round three of the World Cup Qualifiers for Brazil 2014, yet every game should be played as if it were the last. If we stand still and only observe the progress we will not see the light at the end of the tunnel by 2014.

Argentina steps again into official competitions and faces Bolivia at home on November 11 in Buenos Aires (kick-off in Estadio El Monumental at 20:00 GMT; 00:00 Dubai Time) before travelling to face Colombia in Barranquilla on November 15 (kick-off at 21:00 GMT; 01:00 Dubai Time). The two games will be the last official ones for Alejandro Sabella troops in 2011. The CONMEBOL qualifiers will not proceed before June 2012 which allows a lot of time for observation afterwards. But for now let’s fight.

The call-ups for the two games are:

Goalkeepers: Mariano Andujar, Sergio Romero, Agustin Orion

Defenders: Nicolas Burdisso, Martin Demichelis, Federico Fernandez, Luciano Monzon, Pablo Zabaleta, Leandro Desabato, Clemente Rodriguez

Midfielders: Ever Banega, Fernando Gago, Pablo Guinazu, Javier Mascherano, Javier Pastore, Jose Sosa, Rodrigo Brana, Ricardo Alvarez

Strikers: Sergio Aguero, German Denis, Nicolas Gaitan, Gonzalo Higuain, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Lionel Messi

(Angel Di Maria and Marcos Rojo withdrew from the squad because of injury and celebrations were everywhere especially because of the latter’s news)

Sabella to Gago: Behind you is a weak defence, help them (Mascherano: I wish there were two of me, one for the middle and one to replace Demichelis)

There has been news about Alejandro Sabella using two different teams in the two upcoming matches, and fielding in the weaker side in the first game. Yet, Sabella has explained that no such decision is made and that they will “play the best ones against Bolivia and discuss who’s right and who isn’t to see if we should make changes (to the Colombia match)”. On the possible starting eleven for the Colombia match, Sabella is pondering the following:

Romero; Zabaleta, Burdisso, Demichelis, Clemente Rodriguez; Sosa, Mascherano, Gago; Aguero, Higuain and Messi.

The formation looks like a 4-3-3 and can be changed into a 4-1-2-1-2. The inclusion of Gago comes on the expense of the injury doubtful Banega and after the former has started playing regularly with his new team; AS Roma. Clemente Rodriguez might stabilize the backline especially when facing a counter attack situation. However, starting Sosa ahead of Pastore, who is in a good form recently, is still unwelcome by everyone. The three starters upfront will be the center of attention and the source of hope. Messi is Messi, Higuain is in a scoring mood, and Aguero is being magical in England.

Winning the game against Bolivia will be vital and the qualifiers are proving strong. Bolivia are last in the group with zero points but Argentina just conceded their first ever defeat by Venezuela so the possibilities for any result are open. You might prefer to watch the Euro 2012 playoffs instead (matches start an hour earlier from Argentina’s), but I promise you goals.

p.s. Thanks for @MundoAlbicelest for being active in providing all Argentina’s news

Argentina vs Venezuela – World Cup Qualifiers for Brazil 2014

“Not the best performance you would have wanted from Argentina, but an inspiring start and hope for a better Argentina.” Pessimistic? Well, a 4-1 win is something to rejoice, but if you watched the match you would agree with me.

Argentina opened the World Cup Qualifiers campaign for Brazil 2014 on home ground with a good win against Chile. Higuain bagged a hat-trick and Messi scored the fourth in his first official game as team captain. If you want the match report from FIFA here is a link for you, and if you want the report from an Argentine blog here is one for you: Three-pita too strong for Chile.

I stayed up till 5:00 a.m. in Dubai watching the game, trying to tweet less to concentrate more on every single move. The game was worth watching given the result but the same old fears were rejuvenated. Our defence is still in a bad shape and the midfield is not doing the best of tasks covering and linking play. The good news came from a surprisingly in form Di Maria, who dived less and played football more, and Higuain who scored his second hattrick with the team after his first in South Africa. Messi was also in a good form. He scored a goal, created chances, wasted some, and got his share of fouls and refereeing discussions. He showed that he plays with heart for his nation and that his performances with Barcelona can be the same with the national team, at moments for now. He played as Sabella promised earlier: “completely freely on the pitch.”

This is how Argentina play defence, and this really not the right way (Picture captured from a TV screen)

In general, what was proven against Chile is: If Argentina can attack the same way in every match, this will cover up for a shaky defence, and that the current defence might be in big trouble against sharper teams in front of goal.

The next game for Argentina will be away from home against Venezuela in Puerto La Cruz on October 11, 2011 (Wednesday, October 12, at 04:50 Dubai Time – +4 GMT). It will be worth it staying awake to watch this game if you are on my side of the world. Venezuela may not be the toughest opponent to play but they were fourth in Copa America 2011, right? Here are some scattered notes concerning the encounter:

• Javier Mascherano is now eligible to play after serving his one match suspension against Chile
• Venezuela is the only South American team of the CONMEBOL which has never qualified for a World Cup
• Captain Jose Manuel Rey is suspended for the match after he was sent off against Ecuador
• Venezuela lost the first qualification match in Quito against Ecuador 2-0
• Banega, if featured, should remember he is not wearing his Valencia number 10 jersey
• Sergio Aguero will miss out the encounter due to injury
• Pastore is in a good form recently and he might offer a better option than Sosa
• Last time Venezuela and Argentina met was in September 2011. It was Sabella’s first game and Argentina won with Otamendi’s goal. The game was a friendly played in Kolkata, India.
• Sergio Romero and Martin Demichelis are still in doubt and may not play due to injury
• Messi needs one goal to join Mario Kempes in ninth position of the best scorers in the history of Argentina
  

  Playing with heart and holding the armband and the hopes of a nation

The expected Argentina lineup might look like the one that featured against Chile, with some changes:

Andujar/Romero (GK) – Pablo Zabaleta (RB), Nicolas Burdisso/ Demichelis (CB), Nicolas Otamendi (CB), Marcos Rojo (LB) – Jose Sosa / Ricardo Alvarez (RMF), Rodrigo Braña / Mascherano (DM), Ever Banega (CM), Angel Di Maria (LMF) – Lionel Messi (SS), Gonzalo Higuain (FW)

A win against Venezuela will give Sabella and his troops a much needed boost and confidence. It might prove to be the push needed for a better future.