FIFA World Cup 2010: Diego Maradona's Omissions of Cambiasso, Zanetti Backfires

In the lead up to the world cup, I wrote a piece lambasting the decision by Diego Maradona not to choose Inter stars Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso. In Argentina’s capitulation at the hands of the Germans, it was ever so clear that Albiceleste dearly missed both these Inter stars.

In Argentina’s five matches in South Africa, Maradona tried three different players at right back and all three failed miserably. Gutierrez failed to impress in the first two opening games, before Burdisso was given a chance in the last round of group matches. In the knockout phase, Maradona switched Otamendi to right full back moving Burdisso into the centre.

Clearly, for Maradona, right full back was a real problem area for him. Thus, his decision not to choose Javier Zanetti is completely incomprehensible. Zanetti, after all, did captain Inter to a treble winning season not even two months ago. He was a key figure for the Nerazzurri on their way to their historic treble, as he has been for Inter in all his fifteen seasons.

Zanetti’s Inter team mate, Esteban Cambiasso, was equally missed by Argentina. Cambiasso was a star performer for Inter last season and his presence in the midfield, along with his defensive and passing abilities, was sorely missed in the game against the Germans.

Javier Mascherano is pure and simply a midfield destroyer. He does not possess the passing ability required to launch attacks. Hence why Lionel Messi on numerous occasions had to drop deep, sometimes into his own half, to retrieve the ball and set the Argentines on the attack.

Had Cambiasso been present for Argentina in the midfield, then Messi would have been given the freedom to position himself further up the field where he is more likely to cause danger.

Against Germany, Maxi Rodriguez and Angel Di Maria were deployed alongside Mascherano in midfield . But, both are not central midfielders. Rodriguez is an attacking wing player as is Di Maria. Cambiasso would have been a much better option, had Maradona even elected to select him for the tournament.

In the end, Maradona’s absurd decision not to select both Cambiasso and Zanetti proved his undoing. This along with his clear inabilities as a coach to implement a plan B for if and when things do not go according to plan.