Football news – Match Preview: Argentina versus Spain
Argentina are all set to take on Spain in an international friendly match in Buenos Aires. Spain who won the FIFA 2010 World Cup, will be looking to maintain their unbeaten start to their reign as World Champions after the La Furia Roja defeated Netherlands at the Soccer City Stadium back in July in South Africa.
Argentina, on the other hand, will be looking to overcome their world cup disappointments by proving to their supporters that they can still match the best. Under their ex-manager, Diego Maradona, Argentina performed at an average level at the FIFA 2010 World Cup. After blitzing through the group stages with three straight wins, and then subjugating Mexico to a humiliating loss in the round of sixteen, Argentina played Germany in the quarterfinals of the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
However, the quarterfinal that held so much in store for Argentina proved to be quite an embarrassment for the men from South America, as the European giants Germany tore the Argentinean defence apart by scoring four goals without conceding even a single goal in reply. Following such a shambolic display, Diego Maradona and the Argentinean football association parted ways with each other within a few weeks of this demoralizing defeat.
Spain will be looking forward to their star players, who led them to their first ever World Cup title in Africa earlier on in the summer. Vicente Del Bosque has selected the same squad that performed so remarkably well at the World Cup for the Iberian giants. On the other hand, there are some interesting matchups in the making as far as this international friendly is concerned.
Lionel Messi, who plays his club football for Barcelona along with the Argentinean team captain Javier Mascherano, will take on his club mates Xavi Hernandez, David Villa and Andres Iniesta in a match that is sure to bring out the club and country divide for both the sides. Argentina will be dependent on their superstar Messi, who is widely regarded as the best football player at this moment in time. Messi kicked off his first game of the La Liga season for Barcelona with an amazing right-footed goal from inside the penalty area.
Conversely, Spain will be looking towards their marksman David Villa. Villa also netted his first goal for Barcelona in their opening encounter of the Spanish League against Racing Santander. The ex-Valencia man scored with a header, something that is quite unique for a forward of his size. The match is scheduled to be played at River Plate’s home stadium and is expected to be a public audition for Argentina’s temporary coach Sergio Batista.
Batista was given the Argentinean job temporarily to fill in the void left by Diego Maradona’s sacking but the astute tactician will be looking to take up the managerial job on a permanent basis and perhaps lead the team into the 2014 World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in Brazil. Spanish midfielder Iniesta has already hinted that Spain are intimidated by Messi’s talent as the World Cup winner said Messi is a unique talent, who he would love to have at Spain’s side.
Surprisingly, Lionel Messi failed to even score a single goal for Argentina during their FIFA World Cup campaign, something that greatly tarnished his reputation as a footballer. He has been blamed by certain sections of the Argentinean national team fans for not reproducing his club form for his national team. Batista has called upon the Argentinean duo of Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso from Inter Milan; both veterans are expected to play in the match.
In the last twelve meetings between Argentina and Spain, each team has won five matches, whereas two of the encounters have resulted in draws. The last match between these two sides was held in Madrid in 2009. Spain won that match by two goals to one.
Tags: