Carlos Tevez's Champions League Magic Will Strengthen Argentina Calls

In the light of an extremely successful World Cup campaign, it would be churlish to try and reproach Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella for the selections he made ahead of Brazil 2014. But even though his well-drilled, organised side came agonisingly close to the title, a nagging "what if?" question is hard to avoid. 

The trainer set out his stall from the first day on the job with the Albiceleste. Carlos Tevez, fresh from missing a vital Copa America penalty that cost predecessor Sergio Batista his job, would not be a part of his plans. Three long years have passed, since the bravest of calls, without the gutsy forward appearing for a single minute in the Seleccion jersey. 

Could Carlitos have made the difference for Argentina in a campaign where starting forwards Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero were clearly out of shape and struggling for form and fitness? Commentators can argue over the subject for as long as they like, but Sabella had decided Tevez would not be part of his plans and his brilliantly successful three years at the Albiceleste helm would seem to vindicate that. 

Tevez has always been able to count on his cheerleaders back in Argentina, the legions of Boca Juniors fanatics and the media which often reflects their opinions who have helped keep him in the headlines. Now, under new coach Gerardo Martino, the calls will surely become deafening for the prodigal son to return. 

If his brilliant showing in the Champions League against Malmo is anything to go by, there are worse things Martino could do than open the door again for Carlitos. 

Massimo Pinca/Associated Press

The Fuerte Apache native proved the difference in a tough group match, where Juve struggled to break down the resolute Swedes and threatened to continue their indifferent run in Champions League football. A fluid one-two with Kwadwo Asamoah finally broke the visitors open in the second half, and Tevez rounded off the move clinically to put the Old Lady ahead. 

Amazingly, the Argentine had gone 1,998 days without scoring in a European match, but once that milestone was removed from his neck he could finally breathe easily. 

A pinpoint free-kick, taking advantage of a presumably pre-rehearsed Juve manoeuvre on the outskirts of the Malmo wall, left goalkeeper Robin Olsen with no chance of saving the effort and doubled the home team's lead. Tevez danced in joy, and most likely in relief as well as he finally managed to reproduce the stellar form shown in Serie A over the last year in the Champions League. 

Will this latest outbreak of goals finally prove enough to bring Tevez back into the international fold? It is debatable. The Argentine team is saturated with attacking talent. Even without Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain in their first clash since the World Cup, a forward trio of Angel Di Maria, Sergio Aguero and Erik Lamela still put four past champions Germany in their own backyard. 

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

Add to those five young Mauro Icardi, fresh from a hat-trick at the weekend, and it is easy to see Martino's dilemma. Tevez would be an asset for any nation in the world, but in the Argentina setup he remains on the fringes between first-team and the bench. If he can prove to the new coach he is capable of supporting from the sidelines and rotating within the squad, it would smooth his path; but it is a big if. 

There are encouraging signs, however. Recent public sightings with both Messi and Higuain suggest that any bad blood, if it ever existed, between Carlitos and his compatriots has cooled. Martino himself has stated that the doors to the Seleccion are open to all players, Tevez included (TN in Spanish). 

The striker will have to prove he has both the quality and, perhaps most important of all, the attitude to contribute in a new era for Argentine football. A few more displays like his scintillating showing to break the Champions League drought will not do him any harm.