Maradona Issues Surprises for Spain Friendly

Over the past week, the Argentine press had reported that Inter Milan stalwarts Esteban Cambiasso, Walter Samuel, and Javier Zanetti could all return to the National Team, but when Maradona announced the list to face Spain, only Cambiasso’s name was present.

Zanetti, who was captain of the team before Maradona took over, was left out, and Maradona did not call a traditional right back to replace him. If El Diez chooses to play a back four on Nov. 14 against the European Champions, midfielder Jonas Gutiérrez, of Newcastle United, or Cristian Ansaldi normally a left back for Rubin Kazan in Russia, could play on the right of defense.

Maradona’s strangest decision was to call up Newcastle United center back Fabrico Coloccini, a man Newcastle fans blame for their relegation to the English second division at the end of last season, over Samuel, a lynchpin at Jose Mourinho’s Serie A leading Inter.

Cristian Ansaldi, formerly of Newell’s Old Boys in Rosario, was actually called up based on form, something Maradona has rarely taken into account since becoming manager. His disregard for current performances is exemplified through his selection of Sergio Aguero and Maxi Rodríguez from Atletico Madrid, both of whom have been awful on an even worse team.

The game will be played at Atletico’s home ground, The Vicente Calderon, so Maradona may be playing to the home fans by choosing the struggling stars.

Also back in the team is Real Madrid midfielder Fernando Gago, after Maradona had left him out of the important qualifiers against Peru and Uruguay last month.

With home based players not eligible for selection so as not to interrupt the conclusion of the Aperatura Tournament, Gago could be seen as merely a short team replacement for Mario Bolatti of Hurucan, who scored the goal that sealed Argentina’s qualification against Uruguay.

Benfica duo Angel Di Maria and Pablo Aimar, both of whom have been in fantastic form for the Portuguese outfit, remain in the squad, whilst Esteban Cambiasso’s return from a year in the international wilderness is a welcome sight for all fans of Argentina. Who can forget Cambiasso’s finishing touch on Argentina’s brilliant 25-pass goal against Serbia at Germany 2006?

Cambiasso had been an unquestioned starter under Alfio Basile, but since Maradona had had no place for Cucho . Cambiasso has been a central figure during Inter’s run of four straight Scudetti in Italy and is rated one of, if not the best midfielder in Serie A.

Unlike Gago, Cambiasso possesses a more creative passing range, as well as the ability to score goals, something Gago has never done for Argentina.

Up front, Maradona has named the usual suspects, with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Higuain likely to lead the line. Ezequiel Lavezzi, who plays for Maradona’s old club Napoli, was called up despite more productive goal scorers Diego Milito, Lisandro Lopez, and Mauro Zarate being available.

Lavezzi has earned Maradona’s praise for fitting in well as one of the squad, something Lopez has apparently been ignored for. Lavezzi may see his ticket punched to South Africa even if he continues his poor scoring form in Serie A, and his competitors continue to bang in the goals.

No one can deny Lavezzi’s impact at Napoli, but scoring has been an Achilles' heel for Argentina under Maradona, and classic center forwards Milito, of Inter, and Lucas Barrios, of Borussia Dortmund would have been happy to supply the ammunition.

Spain play a very open game, a tactic that will be a welcome sight for Maradona, whose team has had to face defensive counterattacking sides such as Brazil and Uruguay of late. Spain. Angel Di Maria should be a shoe in to play on the left of midfield to exploit the wandering and error prone Spain right back Sergio Ramos.

The willingness of Spain to attack could see Maradona play the tradition Argentine 4-3-1-2 formation with Pablo Aimar handed the playmaking duties.

Lionel Messi should be given reign to attack through the middle or from the right, where suspect left back Joan Capdevila will be for the taking. Gonzalo Higuain will be locked in a battle with Barcelona captain Carles Puyol, a player Pipita out leapt to score a beautiful header for Real Madrid last season.

Maradona must now work on putting together a solid lineup to keep shackles on Spain’s playmaker and Euro 2008 MVP: Xavi. Captain Javier Mascherano will most likely be handed the duty of marking the Barcelona star, while either Gago or Cambiasso could help the Liverpool star in defensive midfield.

The game will be an opportunity for the under fire Messi, who has received much criticism for failing to duplicate his Barcelona performances in an Argentina shirt.

The decision to leave out home based players will mean the man who Maradona called his “coach on the field” Juan Sebastian Veron, will not be present.

Veron was handed the reigns to Argentina’s attack by Marcelo Bielsa before Japan/South Korea 2002, but he failed miserably, and Argentina went home after the group stage. It may be wishful thinking on Maradona’s part to think Veron, who will be 35 by the time South Africa 2010 kicks off, will fair better this time around.

During Maradona's year in charge, Argentina has managed only a handful of strong, attacking performances that wielded significant chances, most notably in wins against France, Venezuela, and Russia.

Argentina also played a good first half against Ecuador only to lose, and created a wealth of chances despite struggling down the stretch in a 2-1 win against Peru. The common theme of all of these matches is that Veron was not present (he did make a cameo towards the end of the Venezuela match after Argentina was 4-0 up).

If Maradona’s men are able to put in another quality performance in the absence of Veron, El Diez’s reliance on the Estudiantes star should be called further into question.

Based on the complete list of:

Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero y  Mariano Andújar

Defenders: Fabricio Coloccini, Martín Demichelis, Gabriel Heinze, Nicolás Pareja y Cristian Ansaldi.

Midfielders: Jonás Gutiérrez, Maxi Rodríguez, Javier Mascherano, Fernando Gago, Esteban Cambiasso, Angel Di María y Pablo Aimar.

Forwards: Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuaín, Carlos Tevez, Sergio Agüero y Ezequiel Lavezzi.

Maradona’s best lineup may be: Romero; Ansaldi, Demichelis, Pareja, Heinze; Cambiasso, Mascherano, Di Maria; Aimar; Messi and Higuain, while some media outlets seem to think Diego will prefer a 4-4-2, with Romero; Coloccini, Demichelis, Heinze, Ansaldi; Jonas, Mascherano, Cambiasso, Di Maria; Messi and Higuain.

With Diego, the lineup could reveal even more shocking decisions.