La Selección Argentina

Actually Rojo's chance was better than Falcao's.

So in Quito we have no Messi, Pipa, or Zabaleta. What I'm hoping to see:

Romero
Peruzzi - Garay - Fernandez - Campagnaro
Lamela - Banega - Masche - Di Maria
Aguero - Palacio

What is being rumored:

Romero
Peruzzi - Garay - Fernandez - Basanta - Rojo
Di Maria - Banega - Masche
Aguer - Palacio/Pocho

No Messi?

ive been working a lot so im quite out the loop, but please someone who knows correct me if I am mistaken or ill informed.

why the $h!t is Tevez not the obvious replacement for Messi? DiMaria would be good to playmake if he doesn´t have to wrry about attacking at the same time. The dude doesnt pass, and only Messi can playmake for himself. I got really tired of watching him. He´s like the guy from The Mighty Ducks 2 who can skate really fast but can´t stop. Higuain is useless without Messi. I wanted to throw up, his concept of dribbling is kicking the ball in front of him and trying to outrun the defense, only to fail miserably. Two complete chokes. I didn´t dislike Biglia. I´d rather have someone who I do not have expectations for not let me down, than have world class players bother the butthole out of me.

Colombia´s defence was in shambles. Any competent player on his game couldn´t scored. Using Tevez/diMaria to grab the ball lower on the field instead of booting it to Aguero hoping hed be able to hold on the ball would have been at least prettier if not more effective. Not to mention he knows how and WHEN to pass, not like Aguero or diMaria. I´m sick of this Argentina team sticking Palacio, diSanto, and Montillo in before Tevez.

My personal opinion is that Tevez and Messi have never played well together (when Messi played well Tevez didn't, when Tevez played well Messi didn't), and Carlitos has too much of an influence in Argentine media to accept a second fiddle role. Don't want to see him force himself into the team again when the group is working so well. Hence, I'd rather not see him in the NT.

Also doesn't Higuain already have more goals than Tevez for the NT? already Tevez' NT goalscoring is horrendous.

I prefer not to use statistics in the national team. There are too many variables and too little samples and statistics are a thing of science. They used to say the same about Messi. For me it´s not Messi that Tevez can´t play with and vice versa, but Higuain. Tevez has changed, and the Messi alternative is excruciating. He can handle the bench now.

We will see what happens with Ecuador. If we manage to win, it will be boring and probably lucky. I´m not saying Argentina should win by 3 goals, but they should at least be able to score as much.

Argentina Lineup

5-3-2

ROMERO; PERUZZI, GARAY, FERNANDEZ, BASANTA, ROJO; BANEGA, MASCHERANO, DI MARIA; PALACIO and AGUERO

Palacio...should be interesting

Coloccini not even 3rd choice defender

Clear foul by the keeper.

AGUEROOOOO

Palacio.

1-1 awful defending.

Yeah Fede Fernandez was nowhere to be seen on that.

Vamos Argentina!

Annoying sunshine, can't see the ball half of the time.

Palacio has done nothing besides earning a penalty. Lavezzi in please.

I bet he will bring on Messi when things get desperate.

We can't even clear the *bleep* ball

Awful passing and creativity, Di Maria especially some horror passes.

Long rage shots everywhere, Ecuadorians diving everywhere.

It's easier to score those long range efforts 3000 feet above the sea, so that gives players a false sense of confidence about them.

Messi in. Why? He won't run more than 300 meters.

Messi boy in the pitch.

Argentina's and Barcelona's Messi-dependence is the thing preventing Messi from fitness.

What the hell is wrong with the director, missing action about 30s with every single slowmo.

Di Maria is the argentine cronaldo.