Chink in the armour

Doubts hang over Argentina’s number one jersey, however, going into the tournament in Germany next month. Argentines are still debating the exclusion of River Plate’s German Lux from Jose Pekerman’s squad, apparently to make way for untested Independiente teenager Oscar Ustari. “You can’t pass from being the second keeper, fighting for the first place with Pato Abbondanzieri, to being left off the list…That stinks…,” an indignant Maradona, always ready to discuss the national team, was quoted as saying.

Fillol, who played in three World Cups, may have had a part in the decision to axe Lux in his role as Argentina’s goalkeeping coach, according to media analysts. Lux helped Argentina win the Olympic gold medal in 2004 and reach the Confederations Cup final in Germany last year. His shaky form and that of his club, however, seem to have conspired against him.

First choice keeper Pato Abbondanzieri, however, has shown shaky international form, conceding three goals apiece against World Cup-bound England and Croatia in the last six months. “We never talked of a definitive keeper,” Pekerman was quoted as saying after Argentina’s 3-2 loss to Croatia in a friendly in Basel in March. Pekerman’s assistant coach Hugo Tocalli is also a former goalkeeper and both he and Fillol may have felt the good form of Atletico Madrid’s Leo Franco provided the better cover for Abbondanzieri in Germany.

Franco, a World Youth Cup winner in Malaysia under Pekerman in 1997, has been a regular squad member for some time but only won three caps since his August 2004 debut. Ustari, who emulated Franco’s youth success in the Lionel Messi-inspired team in the Netherlands last year, would be a popular choice as number one having had a brilliant season in Argentina but he has no senior international experience. He may owe his inclusion to the view that he would gain the same invaluable experience Fillol had in West Germany in 1974 when he was third choice and was picked for Argentina’s last, meaningless game against East Germany. Selecting the right back-up is critical at a World Cup where losing your best keeper can have dire consequences.

Alf Ramsay’s England suffered as much when Gordon Banks was taken ill before the 1970 quarter-final against West Germany in Mexico. Pumpido’s misfortune when he broke his leg against Russia in Argentina’s second group game in Italy in 1990, however, opened the way for Sergio Goycochea’s penalty heroics.

Argentina’s shock early exit in 2002, however, was not down to Cavallero, who conceded two goals from a penalty and a free kick in three matches, but a lack of punch in their opponents’ box.

Pekerman noted this and has picked more strikers than his predecssor Marcelo Bielsa so as not to be left short of attacking options.

But he will still need a good goalkeeper.Rex Gowar