Posted by Steven Gomez

Since Batista’s appointment as head of the Argentina national team after South Africa, we have seen him try new players in almost every position not already reserved for Lio Messi.

One of the biggest clichés heard in any sport, is that “no player is bigger than the team.”  That is not the case for the Albiceleste number 10.

Batisita has made it clear from the beginning that he wants his team to emulate Barcelona and he wants Messi to play the same role he does for his club.  He has made his roster choices based on that principle.  In Barca fashion, Batista has deployed a 4-3-3 more often than not, with Messi playing a free-roaming center forward/attacking midfielder/central midfielder role.

The biggest puzzle Batista needs to solve in anticipation of the Copa America in July is the defense.  His predecessor, Maradona, didn’t even come close in addressing Argentina’s defensive woes during the World Cup.  He made some choices that are laughable when compared to los gauchos attacking might and midfield talent.  (i.e. Jonas Gutierrez at right back????)

Batista is making improvements to the back line; most notable is the inclusion of that reliable dinosaur, Javier Zanetti.  Although, getting close to 40, Zanetti may well be the best choice for right back.  He has a high work rate, and keeps the back line tight, despite not wearing his country’s armband anymore.  His closest competitor is Pablo Zabaleta, who may be having his best season to date at Manchester City, but still has much room to improve if he plans on ever filling Il Capitano’s shoes.

The two centerback roles are Argentina’s biggest problem.  One of the best options for this role is Inter’s Walter Samuel who has been injured for the entirety of Batista’s tenure.  Reports out of Milan say he is on the starting 11 for Inter’s second leg tie versus Schalke in the EUFA Champions League next week.  Perhaps he will get a call from Batista before this summer’s tournament.

Argentina’s other center back options are sketchy at best.  The popular choices are Milito, Pareja, Burdisso, Demichelis, and Garay.  Milito and Demichelis are both about as useless as they come.  Demichelis only knows how to defend if his partner is a world-class center back, and Milito has never been the same after returning from his long-term injury.  Garay is a great defender, but it seems his lack of playing time at the club level is keeping him from starting for his country too.  Burdisso is a mediocre defender who continues to be a first choice for Batista, simply because …..there aren’t many other choices.

The left back spot was owned by Gabi Heinze for many years.  Recently, however, his legs have begun to give him a dose of reality.  There is no question that Heinze is a hard worker with a history of terrorizing the opposition.  He is brilliant at heading the ball from set pieces, and has great tactical awareness.  Unfortunately, he is being found out too often these days and like most footballers his age, is getting frustrated in the pace department.  For the past two friendlies, Batista has called a young Marcos Rojo in his stead.  Rojo is quick and has much to offer going forward in addition to defending.  His recent performances for Argentina have shown much promise for this 21 year old.

Goal keeping is another problem.  AZ Aklmar’s Sergio Romero is the first choice.  Like the center back conundrum, he is only between the posts because there isn’t any other decent talent available.  He has the physical prowess to perform his duties, but too often looks nervous and indecisive.  His backup is the inept Mariano Andujar of Catania.  His blunder during the USA friendly cost Argentina the victory.

Argentina’s midfield has a mix of experience and young talent.  Although not as talented as Barca’s midfield, they have the potential to play that same type of possession game.  Batista is making lineup choices in an attempt to mimic that style.  There have been many questions raised about Mascherano’s ability to play in that system ever since his transfer from Liverpool to Barcelona.  In England he was that anchorman who destroyed the opposition’s attack.  He had an uncanny ability to read the play and put a crushing stop to it.  Settling in Barca was very difficult for him and el jefecito spent the majority of his time sitting on the bench and playing second fiddle to the less talented Busquets.  Because of injuries and suspensions, Mascherano has recently had much more playing time at his club and is finally showing signs of settling into the possession-based passing game.   Batista must surely be pleased.

The middle three are Cambiasso and Mascherano cleaning up after Ever Banega.   Banega is Batista’s attempt at cloning Xavi.   Although that may seem like an impossible task, Banega’s ping style game play is improving with every cap for Argentina.  His link up with Messi during the USA game was a treat to watch.  Surely he will retain his position for the Copa America.  The midfield bench includes the likes of D’Alessandro, Bolatti, Sosa and Pastore with the latter being haled as an emerging new talent.  Maradona used him sparingly and the same can be said about Batista.  He is a ‘move to a big club’ away from a starting role with Argentina. 

The situation with the front line is complicated.  Not for lack of talent, but quite the opposite, in fact.  Argentina may well be the nation with the most talented pool of forwards to choose from.  Lavezzi, Tevez, Aguero, Messi, Higuain, D. Milito, Lopez, Di Maria.  Surely anyone of those names would have a starting position on any national team.

In keeping with his 4-3-3, Batista has recently been favoring Di Maria in the right wing, Messi in the middle, and Lavezzi on the left wing.  Three of the world’s trickiest dribblers all on the same front line!  This lineup is an obvious attempt to use possession, ping passing, and skillful dribbling to put the ball in the net.   However, save for the match against Spain, all of Argentina’s matches have been low or no scoring affairs.  The team is missing their number 9.  With Higuain and D. Milito being injured for so long, that position has been vacant.  During the World Cup, Argentina were punishing the opposition by wide margins thanks to the tall and skillful target man known as “el Pipita” Higuain.  Will Batista call him up again now that he is finding regular playing time at Madrid?  Can Higuain play in a 4-3-3? Or will Batista have to revert back to a 4-2-3-1 to accommodate someone not named Messi?  Is the Argentine public prepared to allow Batisita to shift the attacking focus away from Messi without slating him?  Is Higuain the final piece to the attacking puzzle?

I expect little change in midfield and in goal.  Batista will have to decide whether he wants to keep his front line of players all under 5’8”, or bring in big Higuain.  The back line will surely continue to morph. 

Batista will have to continue to fine-tune his Albiceleste machine for the next few months.  When the tournament begins on home turf, his 11 must be able to cope with the pressure of a demanding public suffering from a major trophy drought of 18 years.
--Steven in Houston