Sergio Checho Battista's second test will have the Albiceleste receiving home Fury's World Champions.
Argentina and Spain will play one of the hottest matches of the week. Almost 80% of the players on the field belong to Spain's La Liga, and so this game will have a particular flavor for many Argentinean players. Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria, Gonzalo Higuain, Javier Mascherano and many others will be looking forward to taking the crown off Roja's head.. will they make it?
Brave new Argentina
Diego Maradona had trouble throughout his whole time as Argentina's coach to understand how to balance and harmonize the powers of his squad, and Sergio Batista adopted a less offensive perspective to make the best of the Gauchos. Two European champions return to the starting eleven, Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso, to sharpen Argentina's defense and contribute with experience on the needed places. Zanetti's call was subject to certain critics by local media, as Argentina is clearly lacking powerful wingers and the coach should be giving opportunities to the most promising defenders rather than relying on players that would most likely not make to to the next World Cup. Il Capitano, on the other hand, appears to be invulnerable to the pass of time, maintaining the same level and finesse that made him a legend in Milan.
The defense is likely to Argentina's classic during the last years: Martin Demichellis, Gabriel Heinze, Walter Samuel and -back after two years- Javier Zanetti. Gabriel Milito might also have a shot within the starting eleven, back to professional football after a long time injury.On the midfield, Argentina's captain Javier Mascherano presence is the back bone of Argentina's scheme. The manager wants four midfielders ahead of the Jefecito: Messi, Cambiasso, Ever Banega and Angel Di Maria might be the chosen ones, though this might leave Carlos Tevez on the bench. Another possible substitute is Andres D'Alessandro, who has gained major attention once again by lifting this year's Copa Libertadores with FC Internacional. Gonzalo Higuain and Diego Milito might be the offensive choice to start this game.
A furious visitor
Sergio Del Bosque's boys are still drunk on the honeys of success, as the team appears to have gone berserk after their first match in South Africa. No one has survived against Spain from that moment on, and the loose victory 4-0 over Liechtenstein for the Euro Qualifying have shown their present is as shinning as it was only two months ago. Fernando Torres scored two goals on the last game for the Fury, and now he's tasted the net again David Villa might find his ideal partner. Andres Iniesta, struggling with injuries, might be unable to perform.
Another absent for this clash will be Carles Puyol, who suffered a strong impact on La Liga's first match day and had to stay in Spain due to physical distress. If David Villa scores another goal, he'll become Spain's most prolific striker in all history, leap-frogging Raul, who scored 44 times with the Fury. When asked about Argentina, Del Bosque said "They're a great National Football Team, they've always been. I have enough evidence about this from the past and from the very present" he highlighted. "The Argentineans are always utterly competitive, full of technique and can adapt fast to every kind of football. When asked particularly about the game, he declared "I expect this to be a fair show, a good propaganda for football" were his words.
Of course everyone's eyes will be over Lio Messi, who will be meeting his regular partners on the other side of the field. "He is an outstanding player who can change everything even without scoring" were Del Bosque's words regarding Argentina's diamond. The monumental will host a battle between world's two heavyweights. Will Argentina's renewed squad have what it takes to send the world champion back home empty-handed?
