10 Argentines Set for a Massive Year in 2015
Even if there is no World Cup to get excited about, 2015 still has all the potential to be a memorable 12 months of world-class football. For the South American continent, and Argentina, it takes on special significance, with the Copa America set to be played in Chile this July.
Making the squad for that tournament is obviously high in the minds of the nation's top players and young hopefuls. It also marks a key event for the man on the bench, Gerardo Martino, anxious to cap his first year in charge with a major trophy.
Some coaches and players will be going all-out for success in Europe this year, while others will have domestic triumphs, Libertadores glory and lucrative transfers at the top of the agenda. Whatever the motive, the following 10 Argentine citizens will have more reason than ever to give their all on the pitch over the coming year.
10. Paulo Dybala
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Palermo wonderkid Paulo Dybala has made giant leaps so far in football. The Cordoba native went straight from missing out on promotion with Instituto in the Argentine second tier to a high-profile Serie A transfer at the tender age of 18 and with a grand total of 40 professional appearances under his belt.
The Sicilian club have respected his apprenticeship, using Dybala sparingly over the last two years and nurturing his talent carefully in a similar fashion to their treatment of Javier Pastore. But it appears that the youngster is ready to take Serie A by storm right now.
Seven goals in the Italian top flight so far, and strikes in five consecutive rounds, have raised the 21-year-old's profile through the roof in recent weeks. Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund are expected to go all out for Dybala's signature in January, according to Argentine newspaper Clarin (h/t Football Italia), and those two clubs' reputation for honing young stars can only be encouraging for the player's future.
9. Geronimo Rulli
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Former Estudiantes shot-stopper Geronimo Rulli had to wait patiently in order to make an impression in San Sebastian. Having completed a move from Argentina to the Basque Country in August, the keeper broke his metatarsal in his first official game, spending four months on the sidelines.
But an accomplished clean sheet against Barcelona in the first game of 2015, including two great stops from Luis Suarez, helped Real Sociedad along to victory. If Rulli can avoid injury and nail down a regular place in the La Real first team, both he and the team should see the benefits over the coming year.
8. Matias Kranevitter
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River Plate's march to the 2014 Final and Copa Sudamericana crowns was aided by another sterling group of youngsters emerging from the prolific Millo academy. But while starlets such as German Pezzella, Lucas Boye, Giovanni Simeone and Tomas Martinez promise great things, Matias Kranevitter is arguably the pick of the bunch.
The tenacious defensive midfielder enjoyed a wonderful year with River before a foot injury ruled him out towards the end of 2014. His absence was sorely missed, and one of the reasons why the club could not overcome Racing Club and make it a clean sweep of major titles.
Via La Gaceta (in Spanish), Napoli are just one of the clubs stated to be watching the Tucuman native, but if he stays in Argentina, Kranevitter will have the chance to fight for the Copa Libertadores with his boyhood idols. There is also the national team on the horizon: Injury prevented him from being called up by Gerardo Martino last year, but the Copa America is a very achievable target, should 2015 see the youngster in similar form.
7. Nicolas Otamendi
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Valencia defender Nicolas Otamendi could not have wished for a better start to 2015. The ex-Velez and Porto man put in a wonderful performance to nullify free-scoring Real Madrid, and it was his headed goal that finally ended Los Merengues' run of 22 straight victories.
With that win, the prospect of Champions League football and even an unlikely challenge for the title became a possibility for Los Che, who will chase hard at the top of La Liga from a current fourth position.
The chance to fight for silverware in Valencia will be a big motivator for Otamendi. But the defender also has the chance to push himself into Copa America contention if he can maintain his impressive form over what remains of the current season.
6. Marcelo Gallardo
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Rookie coach Marcelo Gallardo made an exhilarating start to his career in Argentina. Taking the reins of giant River Plate after just a short spell with Uruguay's Nacional previously, the former playing star took the Millonario to victory in the Copa Sudamericana and was perilously close to winning the Transicion championship to boot.
El Muneco created a dynamic, all-attacking team in just six months that had South American football purring. Now, it is time to consolidate and bring home an even bigger prize.
River will play their first Copa Libertadores campaign since 2009 this year and have not won the continent's biggest club prize since the era of Enzo Francescoli way back in 1996. If Gallardo can take that prize to the Monumental for only the third time in the team's history, he will surely go down, even at this early stage, as one of River's greatest trainers.
5. Angel Correa
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The year 2014 was a roller-coaster ride for Atletico Madrid starlet Angel Correa. The young, dynamic forward played a key part in San Lorenzo's first-ever Copa Libertadores triumph, and his sparkling performances in the Cuervo earned him a move to none other than Liga-holders Atletico.
But the ink was barely dry on Correa's contract when the 19-year-old was diagnosed with a heart problem, ruling him out of the Libertadores semi-final and decider and delaying his debut once completing the switch to Spain.
As revealed by AS, Atletico completed the transfer definitively on December 11, with Correa back to full health and in training. 2015 will see the teenager out on loan with Rayo Vallecano, an excellent stage for him to gain confidence and rediscover the form he showed before an enforced lay-off set back his development.
4. Luciano Vietto
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Luciano Vietto's introduction to European football must have surpassed both he and Villarreal's wildest dreams. The young ex-Racing Club star has smashed 13 goals in 24 appearances in all competitions, quickly jumping from a regular place on the bench to an undisputed first-team spot with the Yellow Submarine.
All indications suggest that 2015 will only get better for the 21-year-old, whether or not he stays in Villarreal. With the Mirror labelling him "the new Sergio Aguero" (h/t the Daily Telegraph), the Telegraph suggests that Liverpool, Inter and Real Madrid could be vying for his signature this January.
Should he stay, of course, the prospect of continuing his budding partnership with Nigerian Ikechukwu Uche and an assault on the Europa League is more than enough reason to keep a close eye on Vietto.
3. Mauro Icardi
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There is no doubting Mauro Icardi's ability in front of goal. But after an encouraging start to the Serie A season personally, the striker must push on even harder to return Inter to the upper reaches of the league, as the Nerazzurri once more tread water.
The 21-year-old hitman of course cannot do it all himself. His eight goals so far have at least helped Roberto Mancini's men stay in contention for the consolation of a Europa League prize, lying 11th and currently a humiliating 18 points shy of leaders Juventus. But a greater prize could be in sight.
A similarly impressive second half of the season has the potential to catapult Icardi back into the international fold, with the chance to add to a solitary Argentina appearance looming as the former Barcelona and Sampdoria youngster's objective.
2. Gerardo Martino
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Argentina coach Gerardo Martino will be keen to put his career back on track over the next 12 months. The Rosario native did wonderful things with Paraguay, whom he took to the 2010 World Cup and the Copa America final one year later, as well as with local club Newell's Old Boys.
Having lifted the 2013 Final title and reached the Copa Libertadores semis, however, Martino's record was blotted by a trophyless year with Barcelona. El Tata's record was far from poor at Camp Nou, but he failed to settle in the Liga giants and after just 12 months, handed in his resignation.
Now at the helm of the Albiceleste, the coach has taken on what is arguably just as great a challenge. Victory in the Copa America would be Argentina's first senior trophy since 1993's triumph in the same tournament, and would re-establish Martino's reputation as one of the continent's finest minds on the bench.
1. Lionel Messi
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While on the surface it may seem that the four-time Ballon d'Or winner has little to prove, 2015 brings up an old challenge for Lionel Messi. The Argentina captain will have his sixth opportunity to win major silverware with the Albiceleste.
Messi has played in three World Cups and two Copas America so far in his illustrious career, with performances in each tournament varying. But final defeat against Germany last year in Brazil left one thing constant: La Pulga is still yet to win a major senior international competition.
At 28, the 2015 Copa America is far from his last chance to lift silverware. But Messi will know that with Brazil in a rebuilding phase and Argentina still a settled, organised unit, this year could represent his best opportunity. Alongside fights on all fronts with Barcelona and the start of World Cup qualifying straight after the Copa, the best player in the world has a formidable 12 months ahead of him.
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