OFFTOPIC: Copa America 2011

Thanks LMG. I agree with you to some extent. I don't think most Argentine players are intentionally selfish. I have followed Argentina for some years now and I can say they are one of the most patriotic groups who can go to great lengths when representing the national team. Instead I think they lack the qualities needed to play in this system. Having not practiced enough playing that way makes it even more difficult. As I said before that system is very difficult to implement successfully. Continuous link ups and off the ball movement are the very life blood for it. Here both are conspicuous by their absence. The sooner they give up trying to be Barcelona the better for all concerned. Last heard they are doing exactly that tonight. So let's hope for the best.

messixaviesta wrote:Thanks LMG. I agree with you to some extent. I don't think most Argentine players are intentionally selfish. I have followed Argentina for some years now and I can say they are one of the most patriotic groups who can go to great lengths when representing the national team. Instead I think they lack the qualities needed to play in this system. Having not practiced enough playing that way makes it even more difficult. As I said before that system is very difficult to implement successfully. Continuous link ups and off the ball movement are the very life blood for it. Here both are conspicuous by their absence. The sooner they give up trying to be Barcelona the better for all concerned. Last heard they are doing exactly that tonight. So let's hope for the best.

I don't think they are intentionally selfish either, I think perhaps I'm just used to watching Barcelona play. However, I do expect more fluid football from Tevez and better link ups with Messi. I don't expect as many mistakes when they have the ball in attacking positions. I mean, let's face it, they can't create endless chances like barca do (especially without a real playmaker), so when they DO create chances, they HAVE to be clinical.

As for them being one of the most patriotic bunch, I couldn't agree more. This is something I really took note of when I watched WC 2010. They have so much passion for the game it's unreal. It made me proud to support Argentina.

This game surpassed my wildest hopes. Thank god. I feel so relieved lol.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:This game surpassed my wildest hopes. Thank god. I feel so relieved lol.

me too man, who woulda thought all we needed was a little tactical change?

Messsssssssssssssssssssiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii MOM!!

He created more than 10 Goalscoring chances, with 2 assists!!

he is a playmaker.. but difference.. with these "Aguero & Di Maria + Gago" players Argentina played more teamwork, had more possession & alot of chances!!
great performace.. Batista should ahve played with this line-up longtime ago!!

Aguero-Messi Chemistry is Great! They played alot of time in youth Nts, especially WC U-20 in 2005, that argentina won it..

F*ck Sanchez, buy Aguero!!!

_LMG_10_ wrote:
I don't think they are intentionally selfish either, I think perhaps I'm just used to watching Barcelona play. However, I do expect more fluid football from Tevez and better link ups with Messi. I don't expect as many mistakes when they have the ball in attacking positions. I mean, let's face it, they can't create endless chances like barca do (especially without a real playmaker), so when they DO create chances, they HAVE to be clinical.

As for them being one of the most patriotic bunch, I couldn't agree more. This is something I really took note of when I watched WC 2010. They have so much passion for the game it's unreal. It made me proud to support Argentina.

lmg, very nice comments.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:This game surpassed my wildest hopes. Thank god. I feel so relieved lol.

alfred, yes the overwhelming feeling is of relief for all Argentines and Argentina fans world wide.

alex had suggested a counter attacking system. However we still played our possession game itself. This time the tactical setup was a little different - more direct rather than trying to emulate Barcelona needlessly. The choice of personnel probably made an even bigger difference. At times we overused the long pass which can be a problem.

alex had mentioned Messi's ability with the final pass and that really came to the fore today. It was much nicer seeing him applaud the crowd rather than be booed by them. Note how Aguero after scoring the second goal pointed to Messi as if telling the crowd don't vilify him as he is the one who we all depend on.

Aguero is not just a very good player but also our lucky charm. He could be the star of this tournament and perhaps he should now start all games.

I had said using Angel Di Maria is very important. His style of play really facilitates movement and link up which we saw today. Overall Messi, Aguero and Di Maria linked up much better than Messi, Tevez and Lavezzi were doing.

Higuain missed too many chances. Not sure if he should be retained in the lineup but if he is then he will have to do better.

The referee somehow denied us a stone walled penalty for a blatant push on Higuain. So it should have been 4-0 instead of 3-0.

The one puzzling point here is how does Gago who sees hardly any game time at club level manage to play better here than Banega who does so well at club level. Can anyone explain this?

The defense is still not convincing though. Some of their passes at the back seem quite unsure and risky. Romero though has been really good right through.

All said and done we should not rejoice too much. Costa Rica was very tactically inept and left us gaps all over the pitch to exploit. Other opponents will not be so generous. What's important though is that our confidence is back and hopefully we can improve more and more from here.

We play the runner up of group C on Saturday night. It could even be Chile who have perhaps been one of the best teams in the tournament so far.

As I said before: Dive Maria, Messi and Aguero needs to play together.

messixaviesta wrote:

BarrileteCosmico wrote:This game surpassed my wildest hopes. Thank god. I feel so relieved lol.

alfred, yes the overwhelming feeling is of relief for all Argentines and Argentina fans world wide.

alex had suggested a counter attacking system. However we still played our possession game itself. This time the tactical setup was a little different - more direct rather than trying to emulate Barcelona needlessly. The choice of personnel probably made an even bigger difference. At times we overused the long pass which can be a problem.

alex had mentioned Messi's ability with the final pass and that really came to the fore today. It was much nicer seeing him applaud the crowd rather than be booed by them. Note how Aguero after scoring the second goal pointed to Messi as if telling the crowd don't vilify him as he is the one who we all depend on.

Aguero is not just a very good player but also our lucky charm. He could be the star of this tournament and perhaps he should now start all games.

I had said using Angel Di Maria is very important. His style of play really facilitates movement and link up which we saw today. Overall Messi, Aguero and Di Maria linked up much better than Messi, Tevez and Lavezzi were doing.

Higuain missed too many chances. Not sure if he should be retained in the lineup but if he is then he will have to do better.

The referee somehow denied us a stone walled penalty for a blatant push on Higuain. So it should have been 4-0 instead of 3-0.

The one puzzling point here is how does Gago who sees hardly any game time at club level manage to play better here than Banega who does so well at club level. Can anyone explain this?

The defense is still not convincing though. Some of their passes at the back seem quite unsure and risky. Romero though has been really good right through.

All said and done we should not rejoice too much. Costa Rica was very tactically inept and left us gaps all over the pitch to exploit. Other opponents will not be so generous. What's important though is that our confidence is back and hopefully we can improve more and more from here.

We play the runner up of group C on Saturday night. It could even be Chile who have perhaps been one of the best teams in the tournament so far.

He has a ridiculous final pass.
I think only Xavi and maybe Fabregas have a better final pass.Like all genius passers its the weight of the pass that separates him from the rest.
Overall good game from Argetina.But the job isnt half done yet.They need to build on the momentum and win the whole thing.

I agree with cholavile. I don't understand how the Argentina coach was so dumb to leave Aguero and Di Maria in the bench. Plain stupid.

I rated Batista when he took charge of Argentina and he lauded Barça way and his team made fun of Spain. He seemed to have a clue. But his lineups in the 2 first matches in the Copa America where ridiculous. Anyway, he changed his mind. Better late than never. Maybe he is not that bad.

Romero has been really impressive so far, never drops concentration and has been brilliant overall

alexjanosik wrote:
He has a ridiculous final pass.
I think only Xavi and maybe Fabregas have a better final pass.Like all genius passers its the weight of the pass that separates him from the rest.
Overall good game from Argetina.But the job isnt half done yet.They need to build on the momentum and win the whole thing.

Fair comments. I can agree with them.

So in order of preference between Chile, Uruguay, Peru and Mexico it would be?

1. Mexico
2. Peru
3. Uruguay
4. Chile

LIKE A BOSS

Great article, albeit it's in spanish

http://442.perfil.com/blog/2011/07/10/messi-el-extranjero/

I'm really liking aguero, he should defo start every game. great technique, excellent dribbling and most importantly, wonderful rapport with our leo. as someone already said, great gesture after his second goal where he attempted to divert the applause to messi.

What was heartening was how many good chances we created, even taking the opposition into account. with a more clinical higuain it could easily have been a record scoreline. batista's still a fool for taking so long to get a clue, but better late than never.

Before the Di Maria goal there were 32 straight passes. Bargentina.

AWWW YEAAAH

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Before the Di Maria goal there were 32 straight passes. Bargentina.

AWWW YEAAAH

Messi created 7 goalscoring chances. Messiesta.

Damn I feel bad for Peru.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:So in order of preference between Chile, Uruguay, Peru and Mexico it would be?

1. Mexico
2. Peru
3. Uruguay
4. Chile

Yes alfred I too wanted to avoid Chile most but it's Uruguay now and that's really something - the greatest international derby in the world. This could be the first major acid test of Messi's Argentina career. In WC 2006 he was not a starter. At Copa America 2007 he was a starter but it was a Riquelme team that lost the final. In WC 2010 he was of course key against Germany but some of us would understand what kind of coach, lineup, formation and tactics he was asked to play with. This time it's harder to make any excuses. It's time for Messi to shine out big time for Argentina and on Saturday we take the first step of many steps to come towards that.

barcaloner90 wrote:I'm really liking aguero, he should defo start every game. great technique, excellent dribbling and most importantly, wonderful rapport with our leo. as someone already said, great gesture after his second goal where he attempted to divert the applause to messi.

What was heartening was how many good chances we created, even taking the opposition into account. with a more clinical higuain it could easily have been a record scoreline. batista's still a fool for taking so long to get a clue, but better late than never.

Well said. I was the one who mentioned Aguero's gesture. One more point I would add to all that you have said is that Aguero is one of the best shot takers we have and that too in form. This is of vital importance.

Here is the quarter final lineup.

1. Colombia vs. Peru

2. Argentina vs. Uruguay

3. Brazil vs. Paraguay

4. Chile vs. Venezuela


Of course our biggest interest is the second match.

If all goes as expcted the semi finalists will be the traditional powerhouses Argentina and Brazil and the competition's most in-form teams Chile and Colombia.

It is funny how Argentina and Brazil have the toughest matches!

messixaviesta wrote:Here is the quarter final lineup.

1. Colombia vs. Peru

2. Argentina vs. Uruguay

3. Brazil vs. Paraguay

4. Chile vs. Venezuela


Of course our biggest interest is the second match.

My picks are: Colombia, Argentina, Brazil and Chile. I wish that Paraguay will advance, but I don't think they will upset Brazil. i pick Argentina to win it from the start and I'm sticking to my prediction.