Argentina versus Albania - International Friendly Preview
Argentina take on Albania at the Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti in Buenos Aires on 20th June, 2011 as a part of their preparation of the upcoming Copa America competition, thus let’s take a look at how both
the teams might line up in this international friendly encounter...
Argentina
After a disappointing FIFA 2010 World Cup in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/South-Africa-c757 last summer, Argentina will be looking to make amends in the summer of 2011 when they play in Copa America. Their friendly encounter against Albania thus gains more importance
as it is a dress rehearsal for their Copa http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/America-c38390 campaign.
The South American giants are expected to field their best line up in order to test the fitness levels of some of their more experienced campaigners. Out of their last five fixtures, Argentina have won one, drawn two and lost two.
The men in blue and white have lost their last two friendly fixtures against minnows such as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Batista-c7379 will look towards his players for a comprehensive win against Albania before
starting off with Copa America in the month of July.
Albania
Albania are true underdogs in this tie, their international pedigree pales in comparison to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Argentina-c2841 but that doesn’t mean one can write them off easily. The European minnows are playing in the EURO 2012 qualification stages right
now thus they will most likely use this match to experiment a bit with their usual formation.
Out of their last five fixtures, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Albania-c2834 have won one, lost three and drawn one. Their latest loss came against Bosnia Herzegovina in the qualification stages of the 2012 European Championships. Before that Albania recorded a narrow
one goal victory over http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Belarus-c2849 on their home turf.
Team News
Argentina are expected to start with their big guns as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Carlos-c8346 Tevez is also expected to start
for the former FIFA World Cup winners along with the likes of Pastore who is a transfer target for the likes of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 and Manchester United. The Copa America favourites will use a 4-3-3 formation with Pastore playing as a trequartista in front of the defensive
midfield duo of Cambiasso and Mascherano.
Expected Argentinean line up:
Romero; Zanetti, Milito, Burdisso, Rojo, Cambiasso, Mascherano, Pastore, Di Maria, Tevez, Messi
Albania will http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Erjon-Bogdani-c12779 to shine against Argentina in this friendly encounter. Bogdani has 12 goals in 60 appearances for the European minnows. Albania’s best hopes rest on their 4-5-1 formation
which can be used effectively stifle the likes of Messi and Tevez. Albania’s manager Josip Kuže will be aiming for an upset at Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti.
Expected Albanian line up: Beqaj, Vangjeli, Dallku, Curri, Agolli, Cana, Bulku, Duro, Lala, Salihi, Bogdani
Prediction
Argentina are undoubtedly the favourites to win this encounter but their form in the previous friendly encounters has not been as impressive as it should have been. All eyes will be on Lionel Messi to impress at the international
stage after having an incredibly successful season with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Spain-c3011.
The views expressed by the writer are his own and do not reflect the editorial policy of
ViewArticle/ViewArticle/www.bettor.com
Tags: