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Can Gerardo Martino end Argentina’s cup drought with Copa América glory? Can Gerardo Martino end Argentina’s cup drought with Copa América glory?
(about 1 hour later)
When Santiago hosts the final of the Copa América on 4 July this year, it will be 22 years to the day since Gabriel Batistuta received a quick throw-in from Diego Simeone, turned away from Mexico’s Raúl Gutiérrez and curled a brisk left-foot finish into the bottom corner of Jorge Campos’s net. It was a goal that meant Argentina defended their continental crown; it was also the last time that any Argentinian scored a winner in a major international final.When Santiago hosts the final of the Copa América on 4 July this year, it will be 22 years to the day since Gabriel Batistuta received a quick throw-in from Diego Simeone, turned away from Mexico’s Raúl Gutiérrez and curled a brisk left-foot finish into the bottom corner of Jorge Campos’s net. It was a goal that meant Argentina defended their continental crown; it was also the last time that any Argentinian scored a winner in a major international final.
Nobody could have foreseen then that seven Copas América and six World Cups later, Argentina would still be waiting for another title. They have won five Under-20 World Cups and two Olympics in that time, their clubs have lifted the Libertadores eight times since but the drought at full international level goes on. The urge to scratch that itch has motivated almost everything Gerardo Martino has done since he replaced Alejandro Sabella as the Argentina coach, and certainly explains why his squad selection, even for the upcoming friendlies against El Salvador and Ecuador, seems so conservative.Nobody could have foreseen then that seven Copas América and six World Cups later, Argentina would still be waiting for another title. They have won five Under-20 World Cups and two Olympics in that time, their clubs have lifted the Libertadores eight times since but the drought at full international level goes on. The urge to scratch that itch has motivated almost everything Gerardo Martino has done since he replaced Alejandro Sabella as the Argentina coach, and certainly explains why his squad selection, even for the upcoming friendlies against El Salvador and Ecuador, seems so conservative.
The rhythm of international football in South America is different to that in Europe. In Europe there are qualifiers for the World Cup, then the tournament itself, then qualifiers for the Euros, then the tournament itself, then the cycle begins again. In South America there are World Cup qualifiers – a gruelling 18-game marathon – then the tournament itself and then for a year there’s nothing, just friendlies before the same 10 teams who will meet in the World Cup qualifiers are joined by two guests – Mexico and Jamaica this year – for the Copa América.The rhythm of international football in South America is different to that in Europe. In Europe there are qualifiers for the World Cup, then the tournament itself, then qualifiers for the Euros, then the tournament itself, then the cycle begins again. In South America there are World Cup qualifiers – a gruelling 18-game marathon – then the tournament itself and then for a year there’s nothing, just friendlies before the same 10 teams who will meet in the World Cup qualifiers are joined by two guests – Mexico and Jamaica this year – for the Copa América.
It comes only a year after the World Cup and tight on the end of the European season – five days after the Champions League final in this case – and the result is that teams often arrive at the Copa América under prepared. There is a frisson to the opening games as the favourites, starved of competitive football for a year, seek the balance and edge a qualifying series might have given them.It comes only a year after the World Cup and tight on the end of the European season – five days after the Champions League final in this case – and the result is that teams often arrive at the Copa América under prepared. There is a frisson to the opening games as the favourites, starved of competitive football for a year, seek the balance and edge a qualifying series might have given them.
Four years ago Argentina sleepwalked into the Copa América it was hosting, distracted by the ramifications of River Plate’s unexpected relegation and by the insistence of Sergio Batista, then the coach, that his side could play like Barcelona. They couldn’t, drew with Bolivia and Colombia, beat Costa Rica, and then went out on penalties to Uruguay in the quarter-final, despite having a man advantage for 48 minutes.Four years ago Argentina sleepwalked into the Copa América it was hosting, distracted by the ramifications of River Plate’s unexpected relegation and by the insistence of Sergio Batista, then the coach, that his side could play like Barcelona. They couldn’t, drew with Bolivia and Colombia, beat Costa Rica, and then went out on penalties to Uruguay in the quarter-final, despite having a man advantage for 48 minutes.
Martino is determined that won’t happen again, which is why he has overlooked the claims of the likes of Palermo’s Paulo Dybala, Internazionale’s Mauro Icardi and Villarreal’s Luciano Vietto, all forwards who have been in fine form this season, preferring to stick with those who got Argentina to the World Cup finals. The time for experimentation, Martino has said, comes after the Copa América – although the schedule is complicated by the special centenary Copa América to be contested in the US in 2016, with all 10 Conmebol sides and six teams from Concacaf.Martino is determined that won’t happen again, which is why he has overlooked the claims of the likes of Palermo’s Paulo Dybala, Internazionale’s Mauro Icardi and Villarreal’s Luciano Vietto, all forwards who have been in fine form this season, preferring to stick with those who got Argentina to the World Cup finals. The time for experimentation, Martino has said, comes after the Copa América – although the schedule is complicated by the special centenary Copa América to be contested in the US in 2016, with all 10 Conmebol sides and six teams from Concacaf.
Not that Argentina are short of forwards, with Carlos Tevez returning from exile to join Lionel Messi, who is fit, despite rumours he would be ruled out with a foot injury, Gonzalo Higuaín, Sergio Agüero and Ezequiel Lavezzi in the squad. Tevez, Higuaín and Agüero, Martino has said, will all be given game time over the two friendlies, his implication being that he will stick with the 4-3-3 shape he has preferred so far, with a central forward flanked by Messi and Ángel Di María.Not that Argentina are short of forwards, with Carlos Tevez returning from exile to join Lionel Messi, who is fit, despite rumours he would be ruled out with a foot injury, Gonzalo Higuaín, Sergio Agüero and Ezequiel Lavezzi in the squad. Tevez, Higuaín and Agüero, Martino has said, will all be given game time over the two friendlies, his implication being that he will stick with the 4-3-3 shape he has preferred so far, with a central forward flanked by Messi and Ángel Di María.
There is the option of playing Di María deeper, as one of the three midfielders, as Sabella did at the World Cup, or of bringing in Javier Pastore and playing a 4-2-3-1 as Argentina did in their defeat by Portugal last November but Martino has tended towards caution. The glut of high-class attacking players in the Argentina squad means, paradoxically, that fewer of them can be picked. Deficiencies in defensive areas mean Martino prefers the blunt solidity of seven largely defensive players to provide a platform for his rotating cast of three stars.There is the option of playing Di María deeper, as one of the three midfielders, as Sabella did at the World Cup, or of bringing in Javier Pastore and playing a 4-2-3-1 as Argentina did in their defeat by Portugal last November but Martino has tended towards caution. The glut of high-class attacking players in the Argentina squad means, paradoxically, that fewer of them can be picked. Deficiencies in defensive areas mean Martino prefers the blunt solidity of seven largely defensive players to provide a platform for his rotating cast of three stars.
Javier Mascherano’s place at the back of midfield is certain but elsewhere there are places in the Copa América starting lineup to be earned. Martino has spoken of his admiration for Benfica’s Enzo Pérez but he is out injured, leaving Lucas Biglia and Ever Banega as the two most likely players to flank Mascherano. Javier Mascherano’s place at the back of midfield is certain but elsewhere there are places in the Copa América starting lineup to be earned. Martino has spoken of his admiration for Valencia’s Enzo Pérez but he is out injured, leaving Lucas Biglia and Ever Banega as the two most likely players to flank Mascherano.
The situation is no clearer at the back. Martín Demichelis, Santiago Vergini and Federico Fazio have been left out of the squad, opening the door for Mateo Musacchio of Villarreal to come in alongside Ezequiel Garay in the centre of defence and perhaps add some much-needed pace to the back four.The situation is no clearer at the back. Martín Demichelis, Santiago Vergini and Federico Fazio have been left out of the squad, opening the door for Mateo Musacchio of Villarreal to come in alongside Ezequiel Garay in the centre of defence and perhaps add some much-needed pace to the back four.
Martino needs solutions soon. The clock is ticking; after these two matches Argentina have only one friendly scheduled – against Bolivia on 6 June, when they may be missing players to the Champions League final – before they begin their Copa América campaign on 13 June against Paraguay in La Serena.Martino needs solutions soon. The clock is ticking; after these two matches Argentina have only one friendly scheduled – against Bolivia on 6 June, when they may be missing players to the Champions League final – before they begin their Copa América campaign on 13 June against Paraguay in La Serena.