Calling all the Argentina fans to express their opinions and share their thoughts on how Argentina fares in Copa America 2007. Argentina are to play the U.S. in 2 hours time and I predict it to be an easy stroll on the park! However, the U.S. team's recent gold cup victory along with the fact that the U.S. hasn't played Argentina in recent years is going to make the game dodgy for the Argies but a setback is highly unlikely ( god forbid ).
My prediction is an easy 2-0 victory for Argentina.
My starting XI :
Abondanzzieri, Ayala, Milito, Zanetti, Heinze, Mascherano, Cambiasso, Riquelme, Messi, Crespo, Tevez.

Wondering where you're going to watch it?
I've got the solution too.
http://www.univision.com/contentroot/uol/30deportes/content/jhtml/copa_america/NOMETA_partidosEnVivo.jhtml ( thank me later )

P.S. Crystalcracker, if you want to be recognized for your knowledge on football then try to come up with something of your own in stead of copying the probable line ups off the internet and try to pose as if you're Argentina's Assistant manager! I should've figured that the way you included Veron in "your" lineup, something was fishy....and it was only yesterday that I saw the probable line up in the internet! No offenses! Exercise your own ideas,don't copy others and brag to be the father of that idea! Cheers!

Argentina!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I jus don't seem to understand why Aimar is not getting the time he deserves. How come over-the- hill Veron gets the nod over Aimar in the starting lineup?. Basile seriously needs to think this over. Once Aimar got in, it brought the best out of everyone. Roman and Aimar need to start together while masche and gago/cambiasso do the holding job. It's time Basile and whoever his succesor is realize that u can't let a player of Aimar quality rot on the bench. It's a shame . Basileeee please change ur starting lineup for the next game. Replace Veron w/ aimar. Veron is past his prime and i don't know why he was even called up in the first place and please no more Lucho.

Balbhadra, again I agree to most of what you have said. I was just disappointed with the first half score line and overall Argentine’s effort. But Like I said earlier, the second half performance was solid and they played like who they really were. Just look at the line up - it almost looked like a world all-star team. Anyway, let’s see how they perform against awful looking Columbia.

Very true Seba. However Argentina doesn't need two defensive mids! Mascherano-the monster is solid enough to tame any attack in the world on his own! Mascherano should play in the middle with Riquelme and Messi should play on the right and Aimar on the left! Tevez should START everygame with Crespo! The back 4 is solid while Abondanzzieri is still shaky and I don't have enough confidence on him. He looks like he's running out of ideas at times ( all 3 goals that he conceded against Algeria were HIS fault ) . Veron should be sacked! Gago/Cambiasso on for Aimar if Argentina leads comfortably should be the way of looking at it!

I'm predicting Argentina vs Mexico/Paraguay/Brazil final this time! Lets see how it goes!

With the type of players Argentina has on defence viz Zanetti and Heinze, specifically the former who tends to push forward whenever he feels like and on attack with roman, aimar and messi inthe mix, for an inferior team ,Masche would undoubtedly suffice. However against quality teams it's going to be overwhelming for solitary Masche. He would definitely need a helping hand from the likes of Gago/Cambiasso, if required are capable of switching to decent attack mode although much known for their defensive duties in the midfield, because Roman, aimar and messi are definitely not going to supplement Masche with his holding responsibilities. So, I still am adamant that Argentina needs two holding players however as earlier stated i am willing to relax the idea if they are facing an inferior team.

I had to pull this thread up from drowning further before it's lost. Keep the posts coming so that the thread stays afloat at least until the end of Copa America.

Argentina face Colombia later today.


will be posting after the game finishes

Aimar might be starting in today's game in place of Cambiasso unless Basile decides to stick with his formation from the first match! Colombia should be an easy game and that's the reason why he might not want to change the starting formation but still, Tevez up front w/ Crespo , Messi in Right area and Aimar on the left should be the ideal formation. As far as Argentina needing two defensive midfielders is concerned, I don't believe in it! Mascherano one hell of a monster! He tamed Kaka-arguably the best player in the world at the moment like a "mahout" taming an elephant in Champions league final. On a funny note, he did the same to Kaka and Ronaldinho during Argentina vs Brazil WC qualifiers in Argentina ( Argies beat Brazil 3-1 ). He completely took the too off the game! At the moment, Argentina isn't fielding two defensive mids, it's fielding 3 which is totally insane! Veron, Cambiasso and Mascherano. That's negative football if you ask me! Manchester United- My favorite club fields only one defensive mids. Giggs doesn't drop back to defend and neither does Ronaldo on the right! Carrick is the only one who does all the defending and that's a typical type of football if you ask me!

Anyways, I'm predicting a comfortable 4-0 ( or more..maybe 10 - 0 ) whitewash later tonight!
One love, One team!
ARGENTINA!!!!!!!!!!

Go Argentina Go!!!

I think Basile will stick with the same starting lineup with Veron and Cambiasso.
Columbia has already lost a match and they are supposed to play an attacking football right from the start. Substituting Aimar and Tevez in the middle will change the whole formation, and Columbia should play with a different strategy after that.
I think it will be a very physical game tonight.

Once compared to South-American counterpart Brazil by football maestro Pele, Columbia have seen nothing but a massive downfall in the last decade or so besides their surprising Copa America victory in 2001. Usually known for their dribbling and passing skills, Columbia have been unable to produce an icon figure to follow the likes of Valderrama, Asprilla, Rincon or Higuita in recent years. Watching Paraguay firing one missile after another into the Columbians net in their last meeting was agonizing. Unless coach Pinto comes up with a better strategy to lock down their defense tonight, the 5-0 score line against Paraguay might look more respectful than tonight’s outcome.

Well what Argentina lack is width on the flanks?
Why not play Tevez on the left. Or put Messi on the left and Saviola ( is he there) on the right.
And Basile is not playing Veron as a defensive midfielder. It just shows the lack of faith in Riquelme. Riquleme has the tendency of being invinsible in the big matches so they are playing with two playmakers. If Veron could defend , He would have become a legend in United. He can't defend. But his passing is phenomenal, a match to Riquelme;s,
I would have played Tevez in for Veron with the following formation

Crespo
Tevez Messi
Riquelme
Cambissio Mascherano
Heinze Milito Ayala zanetti
Pato

Veron cant defend?? What are you saying??
Veron has been used in this Argentina as a deep lying playmaker like Pirlo. And today, Riquelme has been very tightly marked, and Veron is playing very good.
But still Riquelme rocks with whatever chances he gets.

Do you guys think Argentina will score 2 oe 3 goals more after half time ?

Well the outcome says it all. Riquelme is back to his best! Crespo went out early .. injured...but the depth in Argentina's squad means that it isn't a BIG issue!

The second half performance was not as impressive as the first half performance. The players looked relaxed, fatigued and almost did not make any attempt to score for a good 30 min or so in the second half. With his first goal, Riqueleme demonstrated that he could use his head as effectively as his feet just as Crespo could score from a penalty spot. Undoubtedly, Riqueleme, Messi, Zanetti, Mascherano and Veron had a fine evening. Diego Milito, Tevez’s playing time and Crespo’s early limping off the field were disappointments.

Basile has announced the following line up for Argentina's tonight's game against Paraguay!!
Glas Tevez and Palacio got a chance to impress!!
Abbondanzieri

Burdisso Ibarra Díaz Zanetti

Gago Cambiasso
Gonzales Aimar

Palacio Tevez.

News is out that Carlitos is no more a Hammer. He has signed a permanent deal with ManUtd. It was only a matter of time that this young lad moved to a big profile club given his credentials and potential.

I;m keeping my fingers crossed until the deal is done!!

Yeah Even I read Tevez were coming to us. But where will he play?
It looks llike l a hoax call still would love him there.
But wouldn't our strike force be too short, 5 10 and 5 7 .
Yeah certainly a player I like and would love him there.

As for today i think even this second team looks good. Palacio and Tevez , upfront
Lucho and Gago behind them sounds good. Whoever loses plays Mexico and I would not want to play Mexico.

Yet another comfortable victory! Argentina are through. Tevez had a great game, the subs chipped in well as well. Tevez was unlucky not to have scored when he hit the cross bar!
As far as the heigh is concerned, height matters less as long as a player is qualitative! Messi, Saviola, Aimar, Tevez, Mascherano are all "shorter" than others but it doesn't make any difference! I don't want Crouchies in place of Tevez at Old Trafford! Bring it on1

Here they roar....