Tags:
Journalism of Courage
South Americas gauchos are renowned for toughing things out in harsh conditions but few would have seen much wisdom in changing their horses in mid-stream,as Argentina did last November.
The two-time world champions appointed Diego Maradona national hero as a player,but a coaching novice as the man to lead them towards next summers World Cup finals in South Africa.
Should Argentina lose,they may not even make the playoffs if Ecuador,two points behind them,win in Chile.
That a team boasting the talent of Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez,to name but two,should be having to walk the razors edge as they tiptoe towards South Africa says much for the current state of morale in the squad. Argentina just edged minnows Peru at home last Saturday after Martin Palermo,a veteran who once missed three penalties in one international,managed to find the net in stoppage time.
Now Messi and company have to show that six defeats in 17 games were mere accidents rather than symbolic of a team which does not seem to have a strategy.
Brazil,Paraguay,and Chile have already booked their passage but the Uruguayans,world champions in 1930 and 1950,are just a single point behind Maradonas men and a home success will give them the fourth and final automatic berth. Midfield veteran Juan Sebastian Veron returns from suspension but Palermo will start on the bench as Gonzalo Higuain and Messi spearhead matters.
Palermo insists Argentina will roll their sleeves up and fight. Its going to be another final and we have to go over there and play for our lives, he said. But a ghost from Argentinas past,1978 champion and top goalscorer Mario Kempes,suggests much of the blame has to be laid at Maradonas door. There appears to be a problem of communication. On the field its clear the players dont understand what he is asking of them, Kempes said in an interview with German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
They will qualify: Dunga
Brazil coach Dunga predicts Argentina will qualify without needing a playoff. Uruguay are going to have to go for it,and that could give Argentina lots of space to play in, Dunga said. They will be over the nervousness and will play much better. Anyone who works in football knows Argentina not only had to beat Peru,but also a case of the nerves, he added.
Going into Wednesdays round of matches,Argentina have 25 points,Uruguay 24 and Ecuador 23. The fourth-placed team advances automatically.
Injured Ronaldo ruled out of Portugal match
LISBON: Portugal will be without the injured Cristiano Ronaldo when they aim to secure a berth in the playoffs for next years World Cup with a win on Wednesday over Malta. After a lacklustre campaign,the Portuguese are in second place with 16 points,one more than third-place Sweden,who could move ahead of Portugal if they beats fifth-place Albania and Malta pull off a surprise in Portugal. Denmark secured the automatic qualifying spot from Group 1 with a game to spare when they beat Sweden 1-0 Saturday. Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz said Tuesday he wasnt expecting Malta,which usually pack their defense,to be a walkover. For 90 minutes we have to make full use of all our talent because we know theres a door open for us, Queiroz said.
Steven Gerrard has been ruled out of Englands qualifier against Belarus because of a groin injury. With Wayne Rooney also out because of a calf injury,England coach Fabio Capello can use Wednesdays final qualifying match at Wembley to come up with a line-up and formation to be used should his star players break down in South Africa. Agencies
