The Copa Nuestra

So the Copa America is underway and some good and not so good signs for the Argentina :-)

Just comparing the team from the world cup 2006 to this one gives a very good indication of the progress Argentina has made over the last 1 year. The world cup marketed the passing-game of the team primarily due to that Cambiasso goal. In fact, Argentina have been one of the most attractive side in the last decade or so. The current coach has decided, from the looks of it, to take it to a different level altogether. Argentina are playing with 2 (or 3??) play-makers in the XI - and with Riquelme in the side it makes it tougher as Roman likes to be the midfield boss channelling those quality passes from the centre. Veron reminds me more of a Pirlo - a deep-lying play-maker. The team also has plenty of quality in the bench as well. Basile, the Argentine NT coach, can additionally rely on the likes on Pablo Aimar, Luis Lucho Gonzalez and the classy Fernando Gago. Additionally, Messi has done a decent job in that position given the limited opportunities presented to Lionel. The options for Basile are plenty- I feel that midfield is a bit slow mainly due to the lethargy :-) of Riquelme and Veron. Argentina would do well to put some pace into their midfield by for example moving Messi a bit wider to the right or starting with Aimar- who does run around a lot. Basile would also do well to plan for the future instead of solely focussing on this tournament. A midfield combo of Messi (as #10), Gago and Mascherano would be mouth-watering. Anyway, Basile does have options and one can be rest assured that the team will play continue playing that nice one-touch football at least for some more time.

One wonders the reason behind starting with Messi especially given that Messi is playing just behind the striker. Its a role tailor-made for Saviola or even Carlos Tevez. Saviola would be an ideal foil to Crespo (oops he is out of the tournament) or Milito and with his fantastic off-the-ball movement he does open up space in the most decisive area of the field. Anyway, my guess is that Basile being a huge fan of Messi (anybody who loves football is a fan of Little Lionel :-), cant fault Basile on that) would like to see Messi play in the field for the entire game.

An honorable mention needs to be made of the star of this Argentine side- Javier Monsterano (intentionally). Which planet is he from?? A true monster who has shielded the defense brilliantly and has shown amazing maturity and composure (he is just 23) and even has started playing a role in the attack. I personally do feel that the way Mascherano reads the game he should be able to contribute a lot more in the attack. I think that is one aspect of his game that needs a lot of improvement.


The defense has been sloppy and the Milito-Ayala combination has been poor. A roster of Ayala-Milito-Heinze-Zanetti should give nightmares to the oppostion attack- on the contrary its only giving nightmares to Mascherano, Cambiasso and Basile.
I am a bit skeptical about Milito and Heinze. Both these players do posses some amazing mental strength and in the case of Milito some great anticipation as well. However, do they have the arial command demanded from a Central Defender is the real question.

The lesser said about the Goal keeper the better-I guess its time to give a starting position to either of Leo Franco, Ustari or Carrizo (that Riverplate keeper)
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The big question is will all this attractive and positive game of the team bring the trophies - time will only tell.