Imagine a world cup without the world’s best player? It’s still a distinct possibility with Argentina stuttering over the finish line. Defeat tonight and the unthinkable may become a reality.
If Diego Maradona’s Argentina lose to Uruguay and Ecuador beat Chile, who have already qualified, then Argentina will miss out.
You have to go back to 1970 for the last time Argentina failed to qualify. Winners in 1978 and 1986, The Albicelestes are usually among the favorites to win the tournament. But, with Diego Maradona’s catastrophic campaign coming to a close in Montevideo, World Cup elimination will confirm the biggest fall from grace for any sporting hero in the history of the game.
So why should they be worried? A Uruguay win will see them qualify. The Charrúas have only lost once at home, and that was to Brazil. Argentina on the other hand have lost their last four away games, 3 of those with Maradona in charge. They were less then convincing in a lucky injury time win over struggling Peru who had lost all 8 previous away games scoring twice and conceding a staggering 24!
So does Maradona actually know what he is doing?
His team selections are puzzling to say the least… Martin Palermo – while the last minute hero on Saturday – is a 36yr old journeyman who should be nowhere near the squad in the first place. Lisandro Lopez, Gonzalo Higuain and Diego Milito could all play a much better role as a focal point ahead of Palermo. (That’s supposing that Maradona wont play a small guy up front like Tevez or Aguero)
He has fallen out with Riquelme – the man who never loses the ball for his country – as such they are reliant on Veron and Aimar as the creative forces. Two players who promised much but have never quite delivered. Riquelme was also the man who gave the ball to Messi. Now Messi is crowded out and has no-one to play with.
He keeps picking players on reputation, Heinze, Veron & Aimar.
His tactics are terrible – totally lop-sided. On Saturday, he played Newcastle’s Jonas Guttierez (an average left winger) at right-back.
If they do fail to qualify then I for one will be very disappointed not to see Lionel Messi at the World Cup, however, nothing would give me more pleasure then watching the worlds biggest cheat finally get his comeuppance.
