Perhaps there isn’t another player in any league in the world who represents the Argentinean style better than Carlos Tevez.
In 2003, when he made his debut in Boca Juniors, I was surprised not only by his skills with and without the ball but also his incredible courage.
He fought every ball like the last one of the match and, ten years after, he stills does it.
That particular characteristic made him a key player in every team in which he was part.
But why has Argentina’s head coach, Alejandro Sabella, not even called him up to be part of the national squad? Is this a bad decision? My answer is no.
Sabella is a wise guy with too much experience in the football business. He knows that he is working with some of most important players in the world.
People like Aguero, Higuain, Mascherano and Di Maria are not only remarkable players but also understand that, in order to win the World Cup, they need to be the perfect company for Lio Messi, letting him have the most important role in the team.
That is why Sabella, among other things, made Lio the team captain.
Sadly but true, Carlitos doesn’t fit in this framework.
His personality and his ego make him a great player, capable to overcome many situations but, being only a support actor, is not one of them.
Let’s imagine just for a second that the Argentinean national team is an orchestra with many great musicians.
We have Beethoven, Bach, Strauss, Chopin and many more of them. But the most important of course is our little Mozart. Well, Tevez, in this case would be Antonio Salieri: a really great musician but always under the shadow of the greatest.
The problem is that Tevez can’t accept this situation, but not because he and Messi don’t get along each other, in fact they have a really good relationship off the field.
But it is on the field where they have to exploit their chemistry, and every time they played together they couldn’t do it.
I remember the last World Cup and I can assure you one thing: that tournament was a nightmare for Messi among other things because his role was not the one he expected.
Both, Tevez and Messi played the most part of the tournament together at that time, and our little Mozart was overwhelmed by his Salieri.
Argentina can’t afford to lose the opportunity of winning the tournament in 2014.
Perhaps this could be the last World Cup with Messi in the peak of his form, and Sabella knows it.
So, any decision taken by the Argentina’s head coach points in that way.
It seems not fair for Carlitos (who has been playing so well in Juventus), especially when Ezequiel Lavezzi has not been as great at PSG. But that’s the way it is.
For those who praise Carlitos like me, it is sad not seeing him in the field wearing our national colours but I understand Sabella’s position.
And the same Tevez seems to understand too, especially when last year he told to the press “it’s very difficult to leave Tevez in the bench”.
hero
Guest
I agree with Sabella's point "I cannot manage Messi and Tevez together" . The team work is much better than previous WC. But it could have been better that Tevez compromises within himself for his individualism and supportive to the team mates. That's the way his fans wants I think..
Richard
Guest
Tevez is the best player in Argentina. To hell with Messi. At the last world cup he had the entire team built around him and he still set the record for misses on goal at 0-19. Tevez demands any defenses attentions and just look how shitty Messi is in the CL against English teams. Sabella can go to hell for this insult. Tevez record of MVP and League Champion in Boca Jr. Corinthin Brazil, Olympics most goals scored ever, West Ham Savior, United Champion, City Champion and now Juventus. While Messi just dives his way along at that cirus of midget divers at Barca. A pox on Sabella.
Matthew Gonzalez
Guest
Argentina aren't gonna go anywhere in the world cup, because Messi doesn't have complementing companions like he does in Barca. And regards to tevez its true he cannot play with Messi, but when playing for argentina tevez is the soul, the heart, those who doubt his ability and heart are in the wrong. please keep your extremely ignorant comments about tevez to yourself because tevezis the best argentian player besides messi
Eddy Bramley
Roar Pro
Argentina are better off without Tevez. Seems like he causes trouble wherever he goes. Can't wait to see Messi let loose in Brazil. He has rarely been in his best form for Argentina at major tournaments so let's hope he sets it a light in Brazil.
Seb Vettel
Guest
Tevez and his bulldog like approach!
Steve
Guest
The other thing with Tevez, he is a somewhat similar player to Aguero and Lavezzi. All three a short, quick, with great shots and great link up play. They all have tenacity as well. However, Aguero plays the best with Messi, and Lavezzi also has a good relationship with Messi. For whatever reason Tevez and Messi do not link up as well. I think Tevez believes he is supposed to be the main man on the pitch, while the others clearly recognise Messi's superiority. Tevez has also not been scoring heavily for a few seasons now, it's possible his best has already been. Don't get me wrong, Tevez is still a fantastic player. But his time with Argentina has also passed. Unfortunately, that's just the way it is sometimes.
Bogga
Guest
It's easy to leave Tevez out when you've got Messi. Tevez has always been about Tevez, these types of players rarely carry teams to WC glory. Even guys like Pele and Puskas put the team ahead of themselves. It's what Fergie implied about Beckham and it's what people hesitate to say about Cristiano Ronaldo. He might be able to win a game every now and then off his own boot, but if they construct their team around him like he demands, they're going to come undone in knockout stages of tournaments with great teams with plans to counter him at every level. Didn't Fergie say he was tempted to sub Ronaldo early on in one CL game because the opposition counter to him was so effective?
Steve
Guest
Argentina tried that trump card during the 2011 Copa America. Tevez came on against a 10 man Uruguay andwas less than oordinary, taking wild shots from silly positions. To top it off he missed the penalty that knocked Argentina out of the cup. Argentina have a pretty good thing going on right now, especially up front. The big 4 work very well together, MUCH better than 2010 WC. There defence is stable, and in reality is not much worse than Spain's or Germany's. Gago and Banega are good centre mods, with Mascherano protecting the back 4. I like them for next year. They play less of a possession game and more counterattacking these days. That suits them, given the front line they possess, which is possibly the best since Brazil 2002.
Franko
Guest
Agree with you but as it says in the article, Carlos won't do that. He has refused to go on before, that is what started the huge spat with Mancini. And the same Tevez seems to understand too, especially when last year he told to the press “it’s very difficult to leave Tevez in the bench”.
Alan
Roar Guru
I think Tevez could be used from the bench, in a trump card type of role.
Franko
Guest
Would hate for Carlitos to miss the WC, especially in South America. Also, didn't he play in Brazil for a while? This could be an advantage for him.