10 Things for Argentina Fans to Look Forward to in 2015
The last 12 months were nearly historic for the Argentina national team. Fired by four goals from captain Lionel Messi, La Albiceleste marched all the way to the World Cup final where an extra-time goal from Mario Gotze finally ended their dreams of a third trophy. Despite that eventual defeat, it was a gritty, tenacious campaign from Alejandro Sabella's men.
There is no time for the Seleccion to rest on their laurels. 2015 will be packed with international action, with the Copa America standing out as the highlight on the calendar, but there is a lot more to look forward to for followers of the nation's football.
As well as international games, the domestic league has undergone a drastic restructuring, and some of Argentina's most illustrious clubs will be hunting glory both at home and in the Copa Libertadores. The next year could be even more exciting than the last for Messi and his Albiceleste troops.
A Rioplatense Derby
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The upcoming Copa America will be a gripping tournament for many reasons. Right from the first moments, fans in Chile are in for a treat when the group stage serves up one of international football's oldest and most passionately fought international derbies.
Argentina and Uruguay will dispute the 183rd edition of the Clasico del Rio de la Plata on June 16, the second match of the pair's Copa America campaign and a game which could even send one of the South American giants home. That outcome is unlikely, but La Albiceleste will still be desperate to put one over on their old rivals and avenge defeat in the quarter-final of 2011.
An Expanded Top Division
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Followers of football in Argentina, and indeed many countries in South America, have become accustomed to seeing two teams crowned champions every year. But this year, Racing Club will hold the title lifted in December for a full 12 months, as the Primera Division changes to a long-season format.
But that is not all. Following the wishes of late Argentinian Football Association president Julio Grondona, per Reuters (via SuperSport), the league will expand in 2015 to accommodate no less than 30 teams. Each side will play each other once over the course of the season, with an extra round derived from extra derby clashes to round the number of matches to 30.
How will this seemingly bizarre measure affect local play? That is the question on everybody's lips prior to the new tournament, and it is well worth tuning in to see how the bloated league fares in its debut campaign.
4 of the 'Big 5' in the Libertadores
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While fans of Argentinian football will have a tough time this year following the monster Primera Division, the continental Copa Libertadores is thankfully more straightforward. Indeed, 2015 welcomes back to the fold some of the nation's historically strongest teams after years of absence.
Four of the traditional "Big Five," River Plate, Boca Juniors, San Lorenzo and Racing Club, will take part in the competition. River, current Copa Sudamericana champions, return for the first time since 2009, while Racing have not competed in the Libertadores for 12 years.
With San Lorenzo the holders and both Racing and River buoyed after success in 2014, the Libertadores should be a thrilling competition to watch for local supporters.
Mascherano Overtaking Ayala
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With 110 caps, Javier Mascherano is without a doubt the elder statesman of the current Argentina squad. But the centre-midfielder is still only 30 and in peak physical shape, which suggests that he could have a fair few years still running the Albiceleste engine room.
Barring injury or some other unforeseen event, the Barcelona player is almost certain this year to become his nation's second-highest capped star. Ahead of him lies Roberto Ayala on 115, but with a Copa America and World Cup qualifying campaign in 2015, that mark should be passed with ease.
The next milestone for El Jefecito, admittedly, is a little further away. To surpass Javier Zanetti at the top of the list, Mascherano will have to make a total of 146 appearances in international colours.
Iturbe in International Colours, Albiceleste or Albirroja
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With a stocky stature and brilliant close control that logically invite comparisons with Messi, Roma forward Juan Iturbe has long been marked out as a future international. His form in Serie A has only heightened those expectations, but the doubt still remains over whom he will choose to represent.
Born in Buenos Aires to Paraguayan parents, Iturbe can play for either nation, and as a teenager, he represented both the Albirroja youth divisions and Asuncion giants Cerro Porteno. The Guarani Messi is yet to play for the Argentina senior side, and new Paraguay coach Ramon Diaz could swing the scales in the nation's favour.
ANSA reports (in Spanish) that Diaz would love to bring the man he directed briefly with River into the fold, but Iturbe will first give Gerardo Martino the opportunity to call him up before opting for the Guarani.
Young Talent Breaking Through
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While Iturbe is one of the hottest talents currently knocking on the door for Argentina, he is far from being the only young hopeful. Former coach Sabella shied away from blooding too many inexperienced faces during his time in charge, but Martino has appeared happier to take risks on new faces.
Tottenham Hotspur's Erik Lamela is already in the squad, and only injury kept River Plate midfielder Matias Kranevitter out of contention towards the end of 2014. Another player to watch is Geronimo Rulli, the young Real Sociedad keeper who kept Barcelona at bay to secure a famous win for the Basques at the weekend.
Further up the pitch, La Albiceleste have an embarrassment of riches. Luciano Vietto, Paulo Dybala, Mauro Icardi and new Sampdoria signing Joaquin Correa are all 21 or under, and all are sparkling talents who could push their way into contention during 2015.
The Start of the Race for Russia 2018
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While the Copa America is the most immediate concern for Messi and his charges, a new challenge lies just over the horizon. The World Cup feels like it ended barely yesterday, but already, South American nations must start preparing for a new arduous campaign.
Argentina kick off their bid to reach Russia in 2018 in October. A home clash against Chile and a trip to Venezuela loom in the first month, while November promises another doubleheader against Bolivia and Colombia.
If anything, qualification this time around will be even tougher. 2014 hosts Brazil re-enter the CONMEBOL competition for the next World Cup, cutting the continent's share of places by one. With Chile, Colombia and Uruguay all looking strong and nations such as Ecuador and Peru improving, it will by no means be easy for La Albiceleste.
A New Top Goalscorer
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Captain Messi will once more carry the hopes of a nation on his shoulders as he leads Argentina into 2015. But as well as the possibility of team glory, there is a notable individual record that could be in reach, should La Pulga find his best international form this year.
Messi currently sits on 45 goals with La Albiceleste, making him the second-highest scorer of all time. Ahead is none other than legendary centre-forward Gabriel Batistuta, a hero for the South American nation.
If the Barcelona star can net 12 over the year, however, he will surpass Batigol and reach an outstanding personal landmark. It is a big ask, but it's not impossible; his best year for the Seleccion, 2012, saw him score an impressive 12 in nine games.
Copa America Glory?
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For a team of La Albiceleste's calibre, 22 years without a major international trophy is obviously far too long. Alfio Basile was the last man to bring a senior title home to Buenos Aires, when a Batistuta double helped Argentina overcome Mexico 2-1 in the final of the Copa America back in 1993.
Since then, La Albiceleste have experienced nothing but heartbreak and near misses in their pursuit of silverware. Two Olympic Games golds have eased the suffering, but it is the World Cup and the Copa that fans most want to see.
Coach Martino, then, has a huge responsibility. This year's Copa America in Chile will begin less than a year into the former Barcelona and Newell's trainer's tenure with the national team, giving him precious little time to mould a winning unit. On the other hand, the talent Tata has at his disposal means that Argentina will surely be among the front-runners.
Or a New Coach?
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It may seem harsh to consider Martino's future in danger after less than 12 months on the job, but the facts speak for themselves, and they reveal a job in which failure in major competitions is rarely tolerated.
The last three international tournaments, the 2010 and the 2014 World Cups and the 2011 Copa America, have all ended in a similar fashion. Argentina did not lift the trophy, and shortly after the final match, they were looking for a new coach.
Sergio Batista had a similar amount of time under his belt as Martino four years ago, but a quarter-final defeat against Uruguay led the trainer to be swiftly sacked from the top job.
This, of course, does not necessarily mean Martino will be tossed aside in the event of just a semi-final or runners-up finish. But it is clear that the Argentinian public are hungry for success, and El Tata needs a good showing in Chile to keep in control of La Albiceleste for an extended period.
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