Is Higuain likely to get a lot of game time? I was looking for a bit of value in the top scorer market earlier and @ 20/1, this clinical finisher could be worth a flutter if he gets enough time on the pitch.
Don’t think he got his first cap until the Peru game which was the second last qualifier - he scored an excellent goal in that. Scored in the friendly v Germany too. He should definitely start.
Cambiasso out, Zanetti in.
Argentina 32 man squad
Arqueros: Sergio Romero, Mariano Andújar, Adrián Gabbarini o Diego Pozo.
Defensores: Nicolás Otamendi, Martín Demichelis, Walter Samuel, Gabriel Heinze, Javier Zanetti, Clemente Rodríguez, Gabriel Milito, Nicolás Burdisso, Marcos Angeleri.
Volantes: Jonás Gutiérrez, Javier Mascherano, Juan Sebastián Verón, Angel Di María, Mario Bolatti, Javier Pastore, Juan Mercier, Maximiliano Rodríguez, José Sosa, y Fernando Gago, Jesús Dátolo o Ever Banega.
Delanteros: Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuaín, Carlos Tevez, Diego Milito, Martín Palermo, Sergio Agüero, Ezequiel Lavezzi.
Scratch the above list, here’s the real one
Zanetti is out after all
Goalkeepers
Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar)
Mariano Andújar (Catania)
Diego Pozo (Colón de Santa Fe)
Defenders
Nicolas Otamendi (Velez Sarsfield)
Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich)
Walter Samuel (Inter)
Gabriel Heinze (Marseille)
Clemente Rodriguez (Estudiantes)
Nicolas Burdisso (Roma)
Juan Manuel Insaurralde (Newell’s Old Boys)
Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle)
Ariel Garcé (Colón de Santa Fe)
Midfielders
Jonás Gutierrez (Newcastle)
Javier Mascherano (Liverpool)
Juan Sebastian Verón (Estudiantes)
Angel Di María (Benfica)
Maria Bolatti (Fiorentina)
Javier Pastore (Palermo)
Juan Mercier (Argentinos Juniors)
Jose Sosa (Estudiantes)
Sebastián Blanco (Lanus)
Jesús Datolo (Olympiakos)
Maximiliano Rodriguez (Liverpool)
Strikers
Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Gonzalo Higuaín (Real Madrid)
Carlos Tevez (Manchester City)
Diego Milito (Inter)
Martin Palermo (Boca Juniors)
Sergio Agüero (Atletico Madrid)
Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli)
Maradonna leaves out Cambiasso and Zanetti and Fabricio Coloccini makes it. :unsure:
This is the ultimate example of a great player not being a (even average) great manager. What a tool, he spurning a very good shot at a WC here. Idiot.
I fancied Brazil before this started and it was mainly because of their 'keeper and defence with the sprinkling of class upfront. But irrespective of Pato having some injuries lately, I can’t believe he’s not included ahead of the likes of Baptista. I would have brought Ronaldinho too.
It’s also quite incredible that Benzema can go from first choice national team striker to not being considered one of the best nine, all within the space of 7 or 8 months.
The Italian squad looks a bit workmanlike and lacks that bit of genius or guile of a Totti or Cassano. I rate Gianluca Curci as one of the best 'keepers in Europe so I can’t fathom how he’s not considered one of the best 4 or 5 'keepers in Italy - he’ll hopefully show his class on Sunday.
I’m trying to think of notable exclusions in the Argentina squad other than Zanetti and Cambiasso - I don’t see Gabi Milito or Fernando Gago there either. Anybody else?
Its suicidal. 7 strikers and no Gago, Cambiasso etc. But Milito i had forgotten about, thats arguably the worst call. Well that and Cambiasso. I mean how good does a guy have to be in 2 of the best competitions in World football, and 2 championship players make it. Zanetti’s leadership qualities will be a massive loss as well.
Madrid have ruined Benzema, but the manager is a crazy cunt anyway, so its hardly surprising.
I don’t think Brazil have the strongest squad in the tournament but they still have a very good starting eleven - particularly at the back as you say. These are thirty man squads being chosen at the moment so there’s a fair chunk of guys there who won’t see any action or even be part of the playing squad.
The Fiver today said that Bent had “fought off the challenge from Zamora to be the non-playing, non-travelling striker” in the squad. And while there are some notable absentees from the squads floating around, and one or two odd inclusions, the likelihood is that those on the fringes weren’t going to be involved anyway. I think Argentina might be the exception to that as it’s hard to believe that Zanetti isn’t good enough for example. It’s not like they’re overloaded with full backs.
brazils outstanding defense will win them the world cup- they have the best centre half in the world & all the main players from inters defensive group - spian wont do well as half the team are quizlings from catalonia- Italy without totti are severly lacking in creativity but we have the dig to win this & i wouldnt be surpised if we were to win it- engerland, australia & the USA are too waspish to win it- now that kev has written off maradona ill be throwing money on them to win it
Some Inter Milan players clearly not popular with National coaches, does anyone think Jose has had anything to do with this.
which inter milan players not going would suggest this?
You’ll win fuck all without solid defense (as you point out time and time again) and a serious ball winning center midfielder. Mash gets injured and the Argies will barely get out of the group.
mash?
Barcelona won the CL Final last year without a ball winning central midfielder either serious or funny.
Yet kept United scoreless, i don’t see your point. If they were winning the big games 5-4 or something you may have one, but their defense shut out a top notch attack, so they had a solid defense.
Plus Busquets played that night, and broke up a lot of ball.
Don’t fancy Brazil’s front six. There’s a good chance they’ll go with Melo and Gilberto as the 2 in a 4-2-3-1. Melo by all accounts had a shite season in a shite Juve team and Gilberto is 33 and playing in Greece. Kaka will be playmaker but he’s had a poor season and I definitely would have had Ronaldinho ahead of him. Never been convinced by Robinho. I know Brazil won the Copa America and were good in the qualifiers under Dunga but the World Cup is a huge step up from that. Are the likes of Ramires and Elano really players good enough to win you a World Cup? Seems to me that some managers, particularly Dunga are taking their obsession with tactical systems and dislike of peronalities too far. I hope they fail.
Diego on the other hand doesn’t seem to have any tactics. Some of Argentina’s performances around September/October were unreal they were so bad. Riquelme and Lucho Gonzalez are two other omissions for Argentina. Maybe with some kind of a settled team Argentina might pick up momentum as the tournament wears on the way France did last time even with a shit manager.
The favourites in the last two tournaments have performed very badly. In 2002 France and Argentina were out in the group and Italy in Round 2. Brazil were dire last time. Dark horses will emerge and I expect England to be one of them. The draw gives them a great chance of reaching the semi finals. Holland have a good chance as well if their defence holds up.
I’m not surprised he didnt make it. Capello clearly doesnt rate him. Form wise I can understand why someone like Adam Johnson got in ahead of him. But Joe Cole and SWP have been predictably hopeless this season. Young at his worst is still far more of an attacking threat out wide than those two. In terms of assists and goals this season he is way ahead of every other English wide player.
Hopefully this will act as a kick up the arse for Young in any case. His attitude has stunk at times this season. Mainly early on. Hopefully after a summer off he will come back refreshed for Villa and eager to prove a point.
Think Gabby Agbonlahor should have been brought ahead of Heskey, Crouch and Defoe aswell. His pace could have really stretched defences particularly if England are losing in midfield.
:lol:
You are genuinely clueless.
How England are half the price of a side (Holland) who are clearly superior is anyone’s guess.
The more I think about it, the more I really fancy the Dutch. They have some of the most inform players in Europe (Van Bommel, Sneijder, De Jong (My EPL team of the year), Robben etc) have left RVN at home (he was shocking at Euro 2008), Van Persie looked sharp after coming back from injury etc.
They walked qualifying, they will walk their group, bar any slip up from Italy they will be playing probably Paraguay in the second round. It should be a quarter final place without breaking sweat.
I’m thinking about a serious investment at 12/1.
Elaborate please.