Argentina showing glimpses of class

 

Roar Guru

By Alan Nicolea, 5 Mar 2010 Alan Nicolea is a Roar Guru

Tagged:

 Argentina football, Football World Cup, maradonna, World Football

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Argentina's Ezequiel Lavezzi, left, scores the winning goal as Australia's Matthew Spiranovic (5) defends. AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko

Argentina’s 1-0 victory against Germany in yesterday’s friendly international in Munich showed signs of a team that has taken its first steps in producing the standard of football necessary to win its third World Cup.

The majority of those steps were taken in the first half, despite a slow start from Diego Maradona’s men.

In an opening which saw Germany control possession, Argentina slowly began pressuring the hosts and were able to wrestle away the footballing dominance Low’s men were starting to assert.

The combination between key figures Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain saw Argentina produce their first chance at goal 12 minutes into the first half, with a Di Maria shot going wide.

Indeed, Argentina looked at their best going down the left side of the pitch, with Di Maria and Gabriel Heinze often getting the better of German players Jerome Boatneg and Schweinsteiger.

Di Maria in particular showcased why some of European football’s biggest clubs are willing to secure the services of the Benfica winger.

The 22 year old was in the thick of Argentina’s most prominent moves toward goal, and was unlucky not to score after hitting the bar.

Di Maria’s influence however came to the fore late in the first half, when he lobbed a perfect through ball that allowed Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain to score a clinical goal.

The calm finish from Higuain is a reflection of the confidence the French born forward has in front of goal at the moment.

With just a few matches under his belt, Higuain has already made the striker position his own in an Argentina team that boosts a vast array of world class options upfront.

The signs also looked encouraging in defence for Maradona’s men, despite injuries to Heinze and Martin Demechilis.

Internazionale defender Walter Samuel experienced a solid return to the national team, whilst Argentine based player Nicolas Otamendi produced his best showing for La Seleccion.

Heinze and Demechilis were also productive in their time on the field, constantly foiling the aerial threat presented by Bayern Munich forward Miroslav Klose.

Germany’s decision to go down the flanks and cross the ball into the area also payed little dividend thanks to the safe showing from goalkeeper Sergio Romero.

Despite Argentina’s apparent dominance in attack, La Seleccion failed to take the initiative in the second half and could only hold on for a slender 1-0 victory.

Indeed, it was a game of two halves for Argentina, and whilst Maradona should be satisfied with the result, a more complete performance is required if the albiceleste are to end a 24 year World Cup drought.

The road to recovery, however, has begun and Argentina are slowly looking more like the team that deserves to have its name mentioned alongside the likes of Spain and Brazil as key candidates for the title in South Africa.

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