Eurosport - Sat, 26 Sep 09:37:00 2009
Struggling Argentina called up Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain and Liverpool left back Emiliano Insua for the first time for next month's decisive World Cup qualifiers against Peru and Uruguay.
Coach Diego Maradona, who named 18 players, also recalled midfielder Pablo Aimar and Angel Di Maria, team mates at Benfica, and Luis Gonzalez of Olympique Marseille.
French-born Higuain (pictured), who has turned down the chance to play for France, has been rewarded for his patience in waiting for this call and his good form in La Liga. He could earn a starting place up front alongside Lionel Messi.
Argentina must beat Peru at home on October 10 and Uruguay in Montevideo four days later to be sure of progressing to next year's finals in South Africa.
A revamped squad includes winger Di Maria who has served a four-match suspension following his dismissal in Argentina's 6-1 drubbing by Bolivia in La Paz in April and playmaker Aimar, who was last in the squad at the 2007 Copa America.
Maradona has also recalled Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta and Newcastle United midfielder Jonas Gutierrez, who has recovered from injury after missing the defeats by Brazil and Paraguay earlier this month that left Argentina in danger of failing to reach the finals for the first time since 1970.
He has dropped Inter Milan defender Javier Zanetti, Real Madrid midfielder Fernando Gago and Olympique Lyon striker Lisandro Lopez from the squad.
Argentina are fifth in the 10-nation South American group from which the top four qualify. The team finishing fifth will play off against the fourth-placed side from the CONCACAF region.
A victory over a weak Peru side who are bottom of the group would send Argentina, who have lost their last three qualifiers, into a potential decider away to the Uruguayans.
Brazil, who have 33 points from 16 matches, and Paraguay with 30 points have qualified. Chile are third on 27.
In a tight race for the fourth spot and the playoff berth, fourth-placed Ecuador have 23 points, Argentina are on 22, Uruguay and Venezuela 21 and Colombia 20.
Bolivia (12) and Peru (10) are out of the reckoning.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Mariano Andujar (Catania)
Defenders: Emiliano Insua (Liverpool), Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle United), Gabriel Heinze (Olympique Marseille), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Nicolas Pareja (Espanyol)
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Luis Gonzalez (Olympique Marseille), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle United), Angel Di Maria, Pablo Aimar (both Benfica)
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Diego Milito (Inter Milan), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli)
Comment 1 - 9 of 9
f,.k argentina hope the little bast.,ard maradona gets rap,d by a gorilla,,,have all england fans forgot the hand of god.
To be fair to Maradona, Argentina may have a phenomenal attacking choice of players, but in terms of midfield and defence, it's very weak. A lot of the top Argentinian defenders are highly overrated and just not up to it in terms of top level football. Colocinni for example, incredibly slow and leggy, Burdisso is the same, very slow, Walter Samual, again too slow. They need to have a pacey centre back next to them to be any good, and that's what Argentina really lack, a good pacey centre back. Demechelis is very dodgy also. And in terms of wing backs, they're not much better. Insua and Heinze are the left back options, who are both ok, but no where near world class, and I hate to say it again, but Heinze is also very slow. And at right back, Zanetti is the only quality option they have to choose, and he usually plays midfield anyway. The midfield isn't much better. Midfield wise, they can play a good three man midfield, but they lack the options to play a 4.4.2, as they don't have a quality left mid to come in. Up front is obviously world class, but I believe the problem is Maradona has no idea which forwards work best together.
My team would be: 4.3.3- Barcelona style. Ustari, Zanetti, Samuel, Milito, Insua, Mascherano, Cambiasso, Lucho Gonzalez, Messi, Aguero, Higuain... This would rely on Milito recovering from injury, Colocinni, Zabaleta, Demechelis, Burdisso and Heinze are all decent options to come in, I've gone with Ustari because I feel he will be they need to settle on one keeper and he has the most potential. And Insua at left back because he gives them more pace down the flank than Heinze. Midfield 3 is good, and someone older and more expierienced could always come in to, like Aimar or Riquelme. Up front, I've gone with Higuain because he's taller and stronger, and could do well as front man. Aguero and Messi behind him, creating. Then options of Lopez, Rodriguez, Lavezzi, Tevez and Milito are excellent subs.
Maradonna is a legend no question but he really shouldn't be the coach for this team, especially at such a crucial stage. I mean it's the World Cup and Argentina may not qualify. It's just not right.
I think they should play Oscar Ustari in goal and get rid of Coloccini at the back.
Argentina MUST qualify!!!!!!!
How could he call 6 forwards and 5 midfielders and defenders, this isn't right
I dont know if you knew but Gabriel Militio has no chance of playing for Argentina at this point he has been injured since the end of the 2007-2008 season and not been seen since.
Where's Samuel, Garay, Millito,Fazio,Demichellis??? 5 top defenders who all play at the top.
If they manage to qualify to SA2010, they should immediately sack Maradona. Otherwise, they won't progress in the world cup 2010.
an attack to die for, but a hugely inexperienced defence for a team like Argentina at such a crucial time.
apart from great attacking positions, the squad is really weak. can't fail to qualify directly but they have no chance in south africa. the only team capable of winning the world cup, except the strong european sides like spain and netherlands (with the germans always among the favourites regardless of the names of the players), is brazil.
Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account