Tevez Is Back, but Argentina Still Have Long Way to Go

If nothing else, Carlos Tevez was in familiar territory to make his long-awaited return to international football. The gods of the game have a love for irony and decided that the Argentina star would break a three-year exile right in Upton Park. 

Carlitos first made a name for himself in Europe, right there in East London, following a decidedly complex transfer to West Ham back in 2006, which introduced English fans to the world of third-party ownership, Media Sports Investment and Kia Joorabchian. His entrance in the second half merited one of the biggest cheers of the night, as the striker played a cameo in the Albiceleste's 2-1 win over Croatia. 

Tevez represents the biggest gamble so far for coach Gerardo Martino, tasked with improving a side that under Alejandro Sabella battled to the final of the World Cup. That run was characterised by great reserves of strength and heart from the Albiceleste, but given their embarrassment of riches up front, a surprising lack of offensive penetration. 

Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

The trainer clearly believes, unlike his predecessor, that the Juventus star is a valid option alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero, who provided the goals in Upton Park, as well as Angel Di Maria and fellow substitute Gonzalo Higuain. But Wednesday's display also demonstrated the fine balance the national team have to tread in every game. 

An improvised defence failed to shine against a second-string Croatia, conceding an avoidable goal to put the Albiceleste under pressure in the opening minutes. Sabella managed to whip his back line into shape at the expense of attacking urgency in the World Cup, but Martino has rapidly found out that any attempts to play with ambition carry heavy risks at the other end. 

The inattention that let Anas Sharbini in aside, it was a mixed evening for a defence missing injured starters Ezequiel Garay and Marcos Rojo. Federico Fazio and Santiago Vergini have hardly set the Premier League on fire with their defensive skills this year and looked just as fragile in London as the pair has all season. 

Cristian Ansaldi gave far more cause for cheer. It was the Atletico Madrid left-back's slightly wayward shot that rebounded off Aguero's elbow for a fortuitous equaliser, a deserved assist for a man who showed a far greater athleticism and dynamism down the flank than that of which Rojo is capable. 

The Manchester United star may be the more accomplished pure defender, but Martino needs full-backs who cross the halfway line with authority and really contribute to attacking phases.

Ansaldi is much closer to that model than the man who represented the Albiceleste flawlessly in the World Cup and who perhaps should be considered for a move into the middle should the coach decide to stick with his fellow Rosario native. 

Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

Further up the field, a starting trident of Messi, Aguero and Di Maria stretched and hassled the Croatian defence, with the Barcelona man in particular looking more like the Pulga of old pushing forward with the ball at his feet. But too many attacks broke down with the final ball, and more still were squandered with Aguero guilty of missing some golden chances. 

The game had already peaked by the time Tevez made his return to the Seleccion, Messi having secured victory from the penalty spot after supplying the pass to Aguero that left him clean through on goal. That partnership is the one the forward must break up if he wishes to break into the starting XI, and it will not be a mean feat given Messi and Aguero's obvious understanding of each other's play. 

Tevez's return, then, left more questions than answers. The same can be said of the team performance as a whole.

Any victory is valuable, but the persistent fragility at the back and the challenge of fitting all Argentina's attacking talent into one coherent unit will continue to dog Martino as the Copa America and his first test looms in the background.