Argentina Camp Focus – Eyebrows raised over Batista’s team selections
Argentina coach Sergio Batista has decided to tactically and morally stick rather than twist after naming his side to face Colombia in Wednesday’s decisive Copa America Group A tie in Santa Fe.
The heat is on the hosts after an uninspiring opener with Bolivia on Friday. Substitute Sergio Aguero's late equaliser saved la Albiceleste from an embarrassing home reverse, but it could not spare his boss a roasting from the ever expectant fans and media. Batista's team selection for the match was criticised in hindsight, with the forward three of Ezequiel Lavezzi, Carlos Tevez and Lionel Messi failing to work as a unit.
However, Batista confirmed at Tuesday's pre-match press conference that the attacking trident will remain in place with the only change coming in defence with Manchester City's Pablo Zabaleta replacing Marcos Rojo, with Javier Zanetti switching to left-back. There is still no place for the offensive midfield guile of the much sought after Javier Pastore.
Ordinarily Batista's choice to keep together a blunt strikeforce would raise eyebrows - especially given Aguero's contribution from the bench - but more pertinent questions are being asked about how the '86 World Cup winner has come about picking his front three. Prior to the tournament, Batista was reticent to even pick Tevez in his 23 man squad, but buckled to home pressures to not only include Carlitos in the final cut but to elevate him into the starting line-up.
The Tevez-Messi 'dream team' ended up being a bit of a sleepless night for Batista, whose every move is being scrutinised as Argentina seek to end an 18-year Copa drought. In an attempt to mirror Barcelona's all conquering style, Messi has been pushed into a central striking position flanked by Tevez and Lavezzi. But with la Selección lacking the style and fluidity of their Catalan cousins, Batista grandiose visions for his team were made to look foolish as Argentina laboured against the unfancied Bolivians, failing to create many clear cut chances or play any Barca-esque football.
Ideally every team would play like Barca yet they are the exception rather than the rule, especially at the international level where players from various parts are introduced and expected to form an understanding without the day to day intimacy that club football allows. By declaring that he wishes the side to play like Barca - in an attempt to coax the best out of the world’s best - Batista has relinquished any of his personal identity from the team. The virtually strong-armed selection of Tevez suggests weakness with his stubbornness not to backtrack on his initial instincts giving an impression of indecision.
Damned if he does or he does not, the conundrum for Batista is that being in the bad books means any credit for relative successes goes elsewhere whilst he will invariably have to deal with the recriminations of failures. Just a handful of games into his tenure as national coach, Sergio Batista is not making friends nor influencing people and it will take much more than a much needed win over Colombia to alter that perception.
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