The WC Qualifying campaign starts up again this weekend as the national team takes on Ecuador in Buenos Aires and then the following Wednesday in Belo Horizonte, the big one against Brasil.
Argentina is currently in second place, one point behind Paraguay in the standings, and while there are still many games left to play, the team is well positioned and should continue to progress towards securing a spot in the 2010 World Cup.
As is usually the case, there are some important issues taking place in and around the national team.
-The emergence of Sergio Aguero-
Ever since making his professional debut with Independiente at the age of 15, alot has been said and expected from el Kun Aguero. One of the greatest talents to come out of Argentina in the last 10 years. In the 2007/08 season he fully established himself in Atletico de Madrid, completing his best season in Europe, reaching new highs in goal scoring and in overall form.
This has crossed over to the national team as well. While still in its early stages, it appears that Aguero is starting to earn a permanent place in the starting lineup. More importantly, a fantastic partnership with Lio Messi is also beginning to develop.
Everyone obviously knows what Messi, even at his current age, means to Argentina but after Lio, I believe that Aguero is and will be for a very long time the national team's most important player.
All the hype and promise surrounding him is being fulfilled and at 20 years of age, el Kun has finally arrived.
- Maxi Rodriguez recovers from his injury -
Another Atletico de Madrid player. Since recovering from a knee injury that kept him out of the Copa America, Maxi went on to have a very strong finish to the 2007/08 season with his team , contributing some important goals along the way and as his performance in the recent national team friendlies in the USA confirm, Maxi is well on his way to earning a spot back in the starting lineup.
In the time that he's been away from the national team there has not been anyone who has impressed, let alone earned a permanent spot on the right side of the midfield. Basile has used other players but Maxi is the best option that Argentina has in that position and his strengths: pace, attacking ability, goal scoring, defensive skills, remains unmatched.
Maxi's recovery and return to the national team is truly fantastic news.
- Veron called up again -
After his poor performance in the last Copa America and his own announcement of retirement from the national team afterwards, it seemed that Juan Sebastian Veron's time with the national team had come to a disappointing end.
But Basile has decided to bring him back.
It's a callup that I find hard to understand. The immediate questions that come to mind are:
- Does the team need Veron?
- Is there a place in the starting lineup for Veron?
I think that Argentina has alot more to lose than gain at this point by having Veron back on the team. After the Copa America debacle, one of the very few positive outcomes seemed to be the end of the participation of a generation of players who had been with the national team for many years. The influx of younger talents and a revamping of the starting eleven, signaling the start of a new era with a new generation of players seemed to be the next logical step.
Viewing the team's footballing situation short term and long term that was clearly the way forward and it has been for the most part but that's why bringing Veron back is such a step backwards for the national team as it proceeds with its current and crucial generational transition.
In which spot would Veron play?
Basile has made one thing very clear. Juan Roman Riquelme is the teams playmaker and only an injury will take him out of the starting lineup. If the recent USA tour is any indication, without Riquelme in the lineup, Basile will change the tactical setup to 3-4-3 and even to 4-4-2. Leaving no room for any doubts that Riquelme is Basile's only choice in the playmaker spot and that he would go so far as to change the teams formation before using any other player in that position. That leaves Veron out.
The midfield?
Veron struggled enormously in the Copa America as he switched between playing in a deep midfield role, which has never been his natural position and it obviously showed as he did not have the pace and defensive skills that the role demands. There are players currently available who do fill that role. Mascherano, obviously, and to a lesser extent Gago.
Sharing the playmaking duties with Riquelme, an experiment conducted in the Copa America, despite the reality that both players have very different footballing styles, that neither one was used to sharing control of the ball and that neither was adept at allowing another player to lead the attack, resulted in a predictable individual and collective failure.
What purpose is being served by having Veron back on the national team?
- Mascherano & Gago midfield partnership -
One of the notable things that came out of the recent USA tour was Basile's experimenting with Mascherano & Gago in the midfield. Both players have strengths and weaknesses but I think that they have the potential to complement each others skills and deliver a superb amount of balance to the midfield. Mascherano's mobility and tremendous defensive presence combined with Gago's ball control and passing skills as well as being a more than adequate defensive partner.
It's a really interesting idea at the very least, that is worth pursuing. We'll have a clearer picture on the possibility of a permanent Masche/Gago partnership if Basile uses both players in the upcoming WC Qualifiers.
- Basile's tactical setup -
Another notable development during the USA tour was Basile's decision to try some different tactical formations. Most notably the 3-4-3 that worked well against Mexico. That setup won't be used with Riquelme in the lineup but as a system that would need more time and work, it could turnout to be a viable second option.
It's an important development as Argentina's WC Qualifying campaign resumes and the team continues to evolve and move forward.
