A Growing Force: The Constructive Chaos of Maradona's Argentina

Argentina, under the stewardship of Diego Maradona, have faced one of the most unbelievable qualifying campaigns in recent memory. Being smashed 6-1 at altitude in La Paz by Bolivia. A resounding 3-1 drubbing at home by Brazil. Their entire qualifying run has been a jumbled mess of left out, right-back captains, grudgingly disappointing defensive midfielders and a forlorn legend in the making.

And we haven't even begun to analyze the man, the legend, and the reporter warfare-loving gaffer that is Diego Maradona. What tactical nous the man has, saying that all his defenders, including the fullbacks, are only there to defend. What inspirational powers he must have to so antagonize Riquelme that the Boca playmaker stated he would never play for Maradona's Argentina again. What political savvy to not only run over a reporter but yell at him for sticking his leg out where it could be hurt.

All of that plus the climactic, heavenly downpour, rain-soaked comeback against Peru that secured qualification. There was a Maradona belly slide. There was a prophetic Martin Palermo standing half naked as shafts of rain lanced down from the nightmarish sky. Wrack your brain to find something greater.

All this disguising the fact that this was the first time that Argentina had won in Peru. That fact alone reveals something deeper about Argentina, something that tends to move beyond tactical decisions that many would deem questionable at best. Argentina, in their most basic form, set out in a traditional 4-4-2. So traditional, so unabashedly meat-and-potatoes, that even England would solemnly shake their heads at such a lack of creativity.

In goal, it's Sergio Romero. At the back, it's usually Gabriel Heinze, Walter Samuel, Martin Demichelis or Nicolas Burdisso, and either Nicolas Otamendi or Jonas Gutierrez at right back. In the middle it's usually Angel Di Maria on the left wing, Mascherano and Veron in the center, and either Maxi Rodriguez or Jonas Gutierrez on the right wing. Up front, it's Gonzalo Higuain paired with Lionel Messi.

This formation is as traditional as 4-4-2's come. Left footed players on the left, right footed players on the right, a holding midfielder and a creative midfielder, and a smaller, faster forward paired with a taller, stronger striker. This also spells out some disconcerting problems.

One, a problem that may not seem a problem at all, has to do with Gonzalo Higuain. Obviously a talented player, Higuain is purely a goal-scorer. While many would say that's the point of a striker, Higuain's problem is that he is almost on a Jermain Defoe level of selfishness in front of goal. Although he has scored countless, important goals for Real Madrid, much of the 2007-2008 league success came with his timely strikes; he is fairly poor at helping out his other forwards. Although immensely skilled, his direct running routes means that Lionel Messi has far less of a chance to contribute.

Another problem is the wingers. While Di Maria has been an absolute revelation, Maxi Rodriguez is no longer as fast as he used to be, and Jonas Gutierrez hasn't exactly been turning it on for Newcastle in the Championship.

The problem with this is that tactically, it's a rigidly direct approach for a team with so much more than direct running. There has been a long running debate in the tactical community about the value of a traditional touchline hugging wingers as opposed to the wrong-footed winger/playmaker who tucks deeper into midfield. We'll come onto this issue a little later.

In the center, Mascherano has managed to forge himself a successful run as captain, and Veron's contribution to Estudiantes during their entire campaign, and particularly in the Copa Libertadores, cannot be underestimated. However, Mascherano, while an unbelievable runner and entirely unselfish, has never been entirely comfortable in a 4-4-2 formation. His average ability to pass forward, his lack of desire to join in attack, and his occasional balls-to-the-wall lack of tactical discipline means that a lot of the holding has to be done by his counterpart.

This is a double-edged sword for Veron. In one sense his age and passing ability makes him perfect for holding and spraying out passes. However, this limits him in attack, and makes Javier Pastore (a brilliant, effervescent young player who lacks experience) a good option. It would have been nice to see Lucho Gonzalez in the squad considering he just had the mother of all seasons with Marseille, but we can't have everything now can we?

In terms of tactics we finally arrive at the fullbacks. Many fans of tactical planning (nerds, snobs, Jonathan Wilson, whatever you wish to call them), would get all hot and bothered at the idea of talking about the tactical importance of full-backs in the modern game, and slowly shrivel and die as Maradona launched his proclamation of his "defensive" only fullback plan.

The fullback idea is one that holds much credence in modern success. While any top-level team will most likely posses quality throughout the side, the major trophy winners have often had a pair of quality fullbacks at their disposal. Inter Milan have Javier Zanetti and Macion. Barcelona have Eric Abidal (once considered a liability) and Daniel Alves. Arsenal's premier league campaign was brought down in key matches by the targeting of a sub-par Gael Clichy and/or Armand Traore. Fullbacks, with their width and forward ability have changed the entire attacking lineup of teams.

Looking at Gabriel Heinze, Nicolas Otamendi (who isn't really a fullback), Jonas Gutierrez (who's a midfielder), and Clemente Rodriguez, there doesn't seem to be a wealth of full back talent. So why, you cry out in your most admonishing and holier-than-thou voice, is Javier Zanetti not in the side? He's talented, experienced, and has a chiseled face and hairstyle worthy of a Romanesque statue. Diego must be mad you say, absolutely mad, as you and your wall posting cohorts agree furiously.

Apparently, in the final qualifying game for Argentina, Zanetti basically stated that Maradona's tactics were wrong and that he would decide the tactics. If that is the case, Maradona is absolutely right to leave the "Bionic Tractor" at home, in a forlorn barn perhaps.

As the world slowly saw with Italy at the 1974 World Cup, fighting and a failure of belief in the coach can be catastrophic. If Maradona was brought in to do one thing, it would be to instill belief and unity. That of course brings up the question, why was Maradona, a woefully inexperienced gaffer brought into the squad in the first place? Would one win in seven be enough of a poor qualifying campaign for the Argentine FA to hit the big red panic button they have on their desks and have Maradona drop through their ceiling and onto a spotlight floor before them?

Believe it or not, as rough shot and ramshackle as Argentina have appeared to be during "El Pibe D'Oro's" campaign, he came in charge of a squad with deep problems, including tactical and personal problems.

Why play a 4-4-2? Quite simply because Argentina's fullbacks desperately need close cover. Why play without a wrong-footed winger? Because playing one forces fullbacks, not entirely comfortable in attack, to go on longer, overlapping runs. Maradona's has absolutely made mistakes during his campaign, of that there can be no question. But he has forcibly adapted a limited squad to fit a collective need.

And that of course brings the course of conversation to a certain Juan Roman Riquelme—immensely talented, creative, and a traditional number 10. If Maradona was to move the Argentina squad forward, it had to be done by getting rid of Riquelme. Despite the fact that Riquelme still has all the talents he once possessed and that, in this writer's opinion, Messi plays better with Riquelme behind him, it's a tactical and team based compromise to have him in the squad.

The fact that he's a slow, traditional number 10, means that he's out of pace with the modern game. Although many would argue that Zidane was an example of how number 10's can survive in current footballing teams, Zidane was incomparable. He will most likely be put up in a realm containing only Pele and Maradona as historical analysis looks back on footballing history, and even he struggled immensely at the end of his career. 

It would have been problematic in the extreme had Maradona based his entire squad on Riquelme, which Riquelme has always personally desired, at the expense of defensive solidity and responsibility in midfield.

While he has been pilloried for such a move, in team terms, removing a fairly precious and self-centered playmaker from tactical proceedings is one that might have just made Argentina a better team on the whole.

Finally, what Maradona has done, more than anything, is actually harden and strengthen belief in a squad that had long since become fatalistic and depressed in their world cup endeavors. Slowly, but surely, the entire squad seems far more cohesive. Players that have been quick to fight with other teammates (yes you, Fernando Gago) have been silently moved out of the squad (note: being injured and barely picked for Real Madrid also doesn't bode well with World Cup call-ups). Young men grew up with dreams of being Maradona and are now being coached by the man himself. Would any member of the squad speak up in public and condemn a national hero?

Whatever the case may be for Argentina at the World Cup, they will certainly be interesting to watch. The fact that they are so cagey and aggressive as a whole means that it only takes individual moments of skill and beauty to carve out goals. If any team on the planet has such players, it's Argentina.

Who knows what the men in blue and white will bring. They could be knocked out in the group stages; they could go all the way to the final. But to disregard Argentina as a genuine World Cup threat would be ill advised. They have a sort of drive behind them that Argentine squads haven't had for a long time, and secretly, they've even been getting good results.

But then again, predictions are a fickle thing.

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