South American heavyweight
, host, and pre-tournament favourite Argentina will in the early hours of tomorrow play a must-win match against Costa Rica, and must indeed have to win that match if they are to give their chances of continuing in the tournament a lifeline. Argentina has been hugely disappointing in this 43rd edition of Copa America and simply do not have anyone to blame for their misfortune. Although the overall country performance of the participating countries have been far from impressive – Brazil
also struggling to defend the title – Argentina will likely be the worst loser if they get knocked out at the group stage.
, host, and pre-tournament favourite Argentina will in the early hours of tomorrow play a must-win match against Costa Rica, and must indeed have to win that match if they are to give their chances of continuing in the tournament a lifeline. Argentina has been hugely disappointing in this 43rd edition of Copa America and simply do not have anyone to blame for their misfortune. Although the overall country performance of the participating countries have been far from impressive – Brazil also struggling to defend the title – Argentina will likely be the worst loser if they get knocked out at the group stage. Being the host nation and a country that is known for its love for football, the 1978 and 1986 world cup winners are expected to do everything even beyond their limits to impress. No wonder they were widely touted as the tournament favourites. However, their lack of teeth, coherence, and perhaps administrative quagmire would mean that loosing at the group stage in a home played tournament, will not only cost them money but could also see the country’s FIFA
ranking plummet.
ranking plummet.Secondly, having played in the 2007 Copa America final (hosted by Venezuala), one would expect the Albicelestes to be more ruthless in attack, especially if they plan a revenge against their bitter rivals Brazil. Unfortunately, it remains to be seen if they can be referred to as potential contenders, and whether they had done any home work at all against a plethora of tests they would need to pass in other to guarantee a place in the final.
The third unarguable reason why there is an enormous expectation from the Argentines is the enviable fact that they parade some of the world best players
. From the 2010 World footballer
(Messi
), Tevez, Aguero, Mascherano to Di Maria, they are all stars on the world stage. Looking at them from the club levels, almost 90% of the argentine team won at least a trophy in the just concluded season. So, there should be no tangible reason why they should not replicate their club performances when on the light blue and white kit
. Astonishingly, the boys are yet to prove their mettle. There is, thus, little wonder why Lionel Messi 
– who many sport writers have placed head and shoulder above Diego Maradona
and Pele in the list of all-time greatest footballers – has been criticised home and abroad. But the whiz-kid on Barcelona uniform has only been sandwiched in the unproductive formation deployed by Sergio Batista in which the overall lack of fluidity in the team coupled with the absence of a midfield orchestrator has now almost turned the diminutive argentine into a search and rescue operator whose function is perhaps being punctuated by opponents who now train specially on how to arrest the 2010 European champions league winner.
. From the 2010 World footballer (Messi), Tevez, Aguero, Mascherano to Di Maria, they are all stars on the world stage. Looking at them from the club levels, almost 90% of the argentine team won at least a trophy in the just concluded season. So, there should be no tangible reason why they should not replicate their club performances when on the light blue and white kit. Astonishingly, the boys are yet to prove their mettle. There is, thus, little wonder why Lionel Messi – who many sport writers have placed head and shoulder above Diego Maradona and Pele in the list of all-time greatest footballers – has been criticised home and abroad. But the whiz-kid on Barcelona uniform has only been sandwiched in the unproductive formation deployed by Sergio Batista in which the overall lack of fluidity in the team coupled with the absence of a midfield orchestrator has now almost turned the diminutive argentine into a search and rescue operator whose function is perhaps being punctuated by opponents who now train specially on how to arrest the 2010 European champions league winner.Tomorrow morning will be the decider and bet Argentina will line up more focused and determined to reflect their pedigree in international football
. It is also expected that they will play in a more united and coordinated fashion if they are to remain in the tournament; anything short of these will mark the end of what may well be most dismal performance put up by a host nation in recent football history.
. It is also expected that they will play in a more united and coordinated fashion if they are to remain in the tournament; anything short of these will mark the end of what may well be most dismal performance put up by a host nation in recent football history.
.