Copa America 2011: Angel di Maria Profile – Player To Watch

 

The 23-year-old winger seems to be on his way to great fame, due to his massive efforts and remarkable progress at club level. Since his entry in Real, di Maria has not missed the spotlight, as not only has he been effective, but also has he shown great character.

 

It is his exertion that actually makes him the dangerous player he is, and knowing how well he can cope with different styles of play, he simply appears as an audacious fighter for any other team challenging Argentina in the Copa America.

Unlike Lionel Messi, di Maria is not troubled by clear contrasts between his attainments at club level and his achievements at international level. Still, he is far away from reaching lasting glory with Argentina; thus, an improvement in the imminent Copa America would be more than necessary. Below are some of his lowlights and highlights with Argentina in general, (readers must note that youth tournaments without veterans are excluded from the events below):

 

 

6-1 Humiliation Against Bolivia: Angel di Maria was introduced in that 2010 World Cup Qualifying match in the 56th minute as a substitute for Maxi Rodriguez, but did nothing to restore the broken Argentines.

 

2010 World Cup: Considering the expectations behind him, it is fair enough to say that di Maria was not impressive in South Africa. Furthermore, he did nothing special in Argentina’s rude 4-0 defeat to Germany in the quarterfinals.

 

 

2008 Summer Olympics: Di Maria was in the Argentina soccer squad that received gold medals in China.

Pace, courage and precision are definitely strong characteristics of the growing starlet. From long-range bullets to exquisite through balls, Di Maria has showed the public how active and versatile he was. Unfortunately, he has not yet brought out the best of himself, especially from a psychological or mental perspective. This weakness makes him a much less “special” player than he could be; being not developed enough to make miracles when they are needed.

 

For an idea of his displays, readers are advised to watch the video below:

 

 

The player is currently in great form, having featured in Argentina’s friendly against Albania, which ended 4-0 in favour of the home side in Buenos Aires on June 21. There has been no transfer offer for him lately, and he is expected to remain with Real Madrid for more seasons to come. 

“We need to aim for the Copa America title because we are the hosts and we have the right players. We also need mental and physical speed to cope with Lionel Messi, try to make him comfortable and be united.”