Any list of the world's elite teams always includes Argentina. It includes Brazil, Germany, Spain, even France and Italy. It also always includes Argentina, but why? Yes, they are full of talent and they have two World Cup and 14 Copa America titles under their belt, but when was the last time they won a senior team trophy? You would have to go back all the way to 1993 for that when they won the Copa America championship.
Copa America 2011 Preview: Argentina Looking To End Trophy Drought
At least recently, Argentina has been anything but a world power. They made it to the final in the last two Copa Americas, where they lost to Brazil both times, and that is nothing to be ashamed of, but prior to that they hadn’t even made the semifinals since their 1993 title. They haven’t made it to the semifinals of the World Cup since a final appearance in 1990 and in 2002 didn’t even make it out of the group stage. That’s hardly an elite team in the world.
Copa America 2011 can change that though. Argentina are hosting the tournament for the first time since 1987 and they have the world's best player in Lionel Messi, something they last had when Diego Maradona led the team to Copa America and World Cup titles. Also, while South America may have more depth than they have had in a while, Brazil isn't the uber elite team that they have been in the past. The road to Argentina's first major senior trophy is wide open for La Abiceleste.
The focus of the Argentina team will be Messi and for good season. He’s the best player in the world and coming off of the best season of his career. He scored 53 goals and added 24 assists as Barcelona won both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League. It was yet another great season in a great player’s career, but that hasn’t quite translated to his play with Argentina. He’s scored two goals for every three matches for Barcelona, but just one for every 3.25 matches for Argentina. If Argentina are to win Copa America, they will need a best player in the world tournament from the best player in the world.
One thing that Argentina knows they will be getting now is better management. At the 2010 World Cup, they were completely outmatched tactically as the naive Diego Maradona was exposed by more experienced and sophisticated managers. Now Sergio Batista is in charge of the team and they are better for it.
For one, top players are not being left out of the team because of some personal grudge or other strange reason that only Maradona really knows. Esteban Cambiasso is back. You know, that guy who won the Champions League with Inter Milan and is widely regarded as one of the best central midfielders in the world, but didn't play in the World Cup because Maradona said so. With him back and being able to put him next to Javier Mascherano and Ever Banega gives the team an incredible midfield.
With some actual tactics and a midfield behind an attacking trio that can distribute and tackle, Argentina will actually be able to play with shape and precision. That's a scary idea for teams that are looking at Messi, Carlos Tevez and Ezequiel Lavezzi running at them. The question will be whether or not their backline can hold up.
If the backline holds up, Argentina could be looking at a Copa America title. They can win the trophy in Buenos Aires then parade it around the country. Lose it though and Argentina are underachievers yet again with an entire country ready to point the blame at each and everyone involved as the trophy drought continues.
Projected Starting Lineup (4-3-3)
GK Sergio Romero LB Javier Zanetti CB Nicolas Burdisso CB Gabriel Milito RB Marcos Rojo LM Javier Mascherano CM Ever Banega RM Esteban Cambiasso LF Ezequiel Lavezzi CF Carlos Tevez RF Lionel Messi
Key Player
Lionel Messi: This one may seem obvious, but there’s more to it than the best player in the world is going to be the best player for Argentina. Mesis hasn’t quite been the best for Argentina, struggling to play to the same level he’s played at for Barcelona. With Copa America being hosted by Argentina, the pressure is on Messi to take the tournament by storm and dominate. If Argentina doesn’t win, Messi will likely bear the brunt of the blame, fairly or unfairly.
Prediction
The Argentineans were outclassed at the World Cup by Germany and didn’t look like an elite team, but that was in part due to the mismanagement of Diego Maradona. With Sergio Batista the manager now and top players like Esteban Cambiasso back in the squad, the home support and the world’s best player, Messi, Argentina will win their first Copa America since 1993.
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