World Cup Preview - Group C - Argentina
Argentina
Coach: The excellently-named Jose Pekerman.
Game Schedule:
June 10 – Argentina vs. Ivory Coast (3 p.m. EST)
June 16 – Argentina vs. Serbia and Montenegro (9 a.m.)
June 21 – Argentina vs. The Netherlands (3 p.m.)
Prospects: Argentina has every reason to feel aggrieved – for the second consecutive finals tournament, they’ve been drawn in the “Group of Death.” Lucky for them, they’re possibly even stronger than they were in 2002, when Daniel Passarella buried the campaign by packing the side with loyal servants the wrong side of thirty, only to see his tournament favorites bounced out humiliatingly in the first round. There are plenty of stumbling blocks again. The Ivory Coast could upset them in the way that Cameroon did at the Italia ’90 tournament, the Serbs went through qualifying giving up only a single goal and we all know about the brilliant but mercurial Dutchmen. Somehow, however, I think the Argies have too many weapons. Their backline is loaded with experience from Ayala to Placente to Samuel. They may have lost a step or two, but will bring much needed tournament nous. The midfield will be run by Villareal’s Juan Riquelme, who can be alternately brilliant and sluggish. Pekerman looks unlikely to combine Riquelme with the exciting power of Corinthians marksman Carlos Tevez. However, with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, Chelsea’s Hernan Crespo, and Sevilla’s Javier Saviola to choose from up front, defenses shouldn’t be easing up at the prospect of facing them.
Big Media Story: Who runs the team – Riquelme or Tevez? Can they play together?
Key Player: Villareal playmaker Juan Riquelme; much will depend on his confidence and form. He runs the show for Argentina.
Youngster to watch: Barcelona wunderkind Lionel Messi.
Who Will Get the Goals: Hernan Crespo rides the bench for Chelski. Pekerman sees his full value; he’s full of goals.
Who Will Get the Cards: Walter Samuel – his age will show in this tournament.
Funniest Name: Hard to beat the manager – Pekerman.
Prediction: Champions! This is the second time running that I’ve chosen Argentina as favorites. Last time they came third in the Group of Death involving England and Sweden and caught the quick flight home. I find it hard to believe that they’ll slip up again. Simply the best out there.
~Bob
posted by Anonymous @ 3:07 PM
2 Comments:
Well predictably, I'm going to mention what a brown-pants sh***r Riquelme is. I can only hope that Pekerman has the death wish that a decision to go with him bossing their midfield would be.
But I'm not likely to get that wish because my prediction is a narrow escape by the Argies over the Ivoirians in the first match, largely due to Riquelme's substitution after being completely and utterly worthless up to the 65th minute. The Argies might be 1 up or drawing at that moment, and on roars Tevez who despite being more psychotic than a tank of meth-addicted crocodiles, will immediately have an impact and ice the game for the Argies.
At that point, they'll have a crucial game against the Dutch(memories of Van der Saar and that midget from the midfield, ???) and Pekerman will go with Tevez until either some ref sends him off or he has to be subdued with an elephant tranquilizer.
I also think that tall Collochini bloke will be in and amongst the cards. Frankly, he's really unskilled. He can't trap the proverbial bag of leaves, he's got no vision of the game, he's a ball-watcher who's frequently seen nan-seconds from hacking down an opposite forward who he's somehow missed picking up. Riquelme may be a lazy liability, but Collochini could miss 4 games this time due to suspension.
I'd like to think that the Argies will be let down by their defence and out of it before the inevitable match up with England
There's a great story going around about the Rolling Stones' recent tour where they played River Plate Stadium.
As a lark, Jagger puts on an Argie Blanco-Celeste Number 10 jersey and prances out to the mike to "start it up." He yells out in English..."Who's going to win the World Cup?!!!"
You could have heard crickets, because the 30K strong crowd were struck dumb--and long enough for somebody with a death wish to yell out, "Brazil!"
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