Argentina wan a piece of Copa

2007.06.27

With a roster stocked with first-team talent, Argentina is dead serious about winning its first Copa América title in 14 years.


The Copa América isn't strictly the Brazil and Argentina Show, though the intrigue surrounding South America's biggest powerhouses certainly suggests otherwise.

Kaká, Ronaldinho and Zé Roberto have all pulled out of Brazil's squad. Argentina, meanwhile, is at full strength. Coach Alfio Basile is crowing about the fact, while his striker, Carlos Tévez, has been pondering whether the Brazilians have the same love for their national-team jersey as his teammates.

The explanation is simple enough. Argentina has gone 14 long years without winning a senior title. Its last trophy, in Basile's first spell in charge, was the Copa América way back in 1993.

Since then Brazil has racked up three Copa América wins -- its first ever away from home -- plus two big ones, the World Cup wins of '94 and 2002, putting it 5-2 ahead of Argentina in the all time tally.

It is easier, then, for some of the Brazilians to be a bit more blasé about this Copa América. For the Argentines it's a big thing; members of their squad have won world under-20 titles and the Olympic gold medal. But a senior title has eluded them. Some -- the likes of Roberto Ayala, Javier Zanetti, Juan Sebastián Verón and Hernán Crespo -- will not have many more chances.

From a rational point of view, Basile's priority in this Copa is to prepare a side for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers. But on an emotional basis, Argentina's desire to lift the trophy pulses very strongly indeed.

This is why Argentina has not only been free of stars pulling out, it has also picked up the last-minute acquisition of Juan Román Riquelme. The elegant playmaker went back on the decision he took last September to retire from international soccer, and was hurriedly incorporated into the squad.

The addition of Riquelme has forced a rethink in Basile's plans. He had intended to use Lionel Messi in a free role behind his strikers, Crespo and Tévez. But with Riquelme back, Messi will probably be pushed further forward, with Tévez dropping to the bench.

All the fuss about Riquelme is overshadowing the fact that Verón is set to play his first international match in almost four years.

Having Riquelme and Verón in the same midfield will delight the purists. A balance with pragmatism has to be found, however, and for this reason the tenacity of Javier Mascherano is likely to land him the holding midfield slot ahead of the more constructive Fernando Gago.

At the back, it's unfortunate that Ezequiel Garay hasn't been considered after an injury forced him out of Argentina's recent friendlies. The giant young Racing Santander center back could have provided the towering presence that has been missing at the heart of the Argentina defense in recent times.

There is no lack of height at the back for Brazil, however, with Naldo, the tallest player ever to represent the country, competing with man mountain Alex for the right to partner Juan at center back. But of course it's attacking flair that everyone expects from Brazil -- and even at full strength it has been in short supply of late

In hindsight it's clear that far too much was read into Brazil's 4-1 win over Argentina in the final of the 2005 Confederations Cup. Under strength and low on gas, Argentina nevertheless went out to attack, and backed up by its flying fullbacks, Brazil's magic quartet picked them off on the break.

A year later, in the serious stuff in Germany, no one would play into the hands of the Brazilian counterattack. Top heavy and without fluency, Carlos Alberto Parreira's side never convinced.

In came former national-teamer Dunga to pick up the pieces. "Team before stars" was his motto. He showed he was starting over by initially leaving Kaká and Ronaldinho on the bench. But as soon as Kaká was introduced, he played so well that he won not only his place back, but also the leadership of the attack and the confidence of the coach -- making his withdrawal from the Copa a bitter blow for Dunga.

But Brazil produces so much talent that one man absence is another's opportunity, as Adriano proved in the last Copa América. Now Werder Bremen playmaker Diego has a wonderful chance to establish himself in the side. And his old Santos buddy Robinho also has extra responsibility thrust upon him. At the very highest level, is the Real Madrid wunderkind promise or reality? With some of the big names missing, perhaps it's time to find out. If he steps up to the plate, Brazil will feel well capable of winning its fourth Copa in five tournaments.

Going into the competition Argentina and Brazil are, of course, the obvious favorites. But the Copa can be difficult to predict. The group phase eliminates just four of the 12 countries -- a single victory is usually enough to guarantee qualification for the knockout rounds. And from then on, it's straight to penalties if scores are level after 90 minutes. So the possibility of a surprise is always present.

Uruguay could be the ones to supply it this time. Well over a year into his second spell in charge, Oscar Washington Tabárez is molding a side with a clearly defined tactical approach: a 4-3-3 system that gets full value from the tricky wingers the country traditionally produces. Uruguay has been placed in the easiest of the three groups, and has the added fortune that two of its games are in Mérida, with the coolest climate of the nine host cities.

The draw has not been so favorable to Chile, however, but it should be worth watching. The Chileans can count on some interesting emerging talent, especially in attacking midfield, where Matías Fernández has the look of a young Kaká and Jorge Valdivia is an old-fashioned, twinkle-toed No. 10. In recent friendlies, Chile has found it difficult to balance the inclusion of such players with the need for defensive solidity.

But wily old coach Nelson Acosta has no had some time to work with his team, and the results should be fascinating. With Brazil and Mexico ahead of it, much could depend on Chile's opener against Ecuador.

Much is the same of the Group C curtain-raiser between Colombia and Paraguay, two sides that are entering new eras under fresh coaches. Both have struggled for goals. Paraguay's Gerardo Martino is trying to get his side to play higher up the field, while Colombia's Jorge Luis Pinto is putting his faith in a new generation of strikers.

South America's other sides come full of question marks. Can Venezuela, whose only win in the competition cam 40 years ago, cope with the expectations its home public is heaping upon it? After beating South Africa on the road, is Bolivia finally ready to move forward? How will Peru fare with coach Uribe's controversial turn to 3-5-2? And can Ecuador continue the momentum it worked up reaching the second round of last year's World Cup?

And as has become customary, the field is completed by two invited nations from CONCACAF. Mexico has traditionally done well in the Copa América, and will have to do so again to ease the pressure on coach Hugo Sánchez.

Then there's the U.S., back for the first time since reaching the '95 semifinals. The results might occasionally suggest otherwise, but to these eyes at least, the Americans have improved through all of the last five World Cups. They are a rising force, whose strength in depth will be put to the test in Venezuela -- starting at the deep end on Thursday night against Argentina