***Lionel Messi sets his sight on winning the World Cup.***

[Yak]

Originally Posted by komboshta

...I agree! I was also on the same wavelength that Croatia ought to be there, i remember watching them in 98' remember Davor sucker and Boban?

"..Yes i recall France 98 was a World cup full of drama,top of all being the Mighty Brazil's crushing in the final to Les Blues(France)and handing them their first World Cup glory ever,Croatia were making a debut in the tourney and ended up finishing 3rd,Croatia also made appearances in 2002 and 2006 and gave impressive performances.

This are the kind of teams you don't want to be grouped up with,a victory's never easy or guaranteed,Croatia is currently ranked 8th best team in the world and 6th best in Europe,..unfortunately,after finishing 3rd in their group just below England and Ukraine in the tedious European World cup qualifying match ups,Croatia could not secure a spot in the 2010 World Cup tournament"

[Native Son.]

This is the team selected by DIego for Spain-Argentina friendly this Saturday; November 14, 2009.

Goalkeepers:
Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar – Holanda)Mariano Andújar (Catania – Italy)
Defensores : Defenders:
Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle United – Inglaterra) Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich – Germany)
Gabriel Heinze (Olimpique Marsella – Francia) Nicolás Pareja (Espanyol – Spain)
Cristian Ansaldi (Rubin Kazan – Rusia)
Volantes: Midfielders:
Jonás Gutiérrez (Newcastle United – Inglaterra) Maximiliano Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid – Spain)
Javier Mascherano (Liverpool – Inglaterra) Fernando Gago (Real Madrid – Spain)
Esteban Cambiasso (Internazionale – Italia) Angel Di Maria (Benfica – Portugal)
Pablo Aimar (Benfica – Portugal)
Delanteros : Forwards:
Lionel Messi (Barcelona – España) Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid – Spain)
Carlos Tevez (Manchester City – Inglaterra)Sergio Aguero (Real Madrid – Spain)
Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli – Italia)




Jonas Gutierrez and Sergio Aguero are apparantly injured.

In Jonas' place, Maradona has tapped Diego Perotti, A Sevilla Midfielder.

I don't know who will replace Aguero but I wish Maradona taps Lazio's Mauro Zarate "Zarate Kid". This fellow, at only 21, is phenomenal!

If not the Zarate kid, I think Benfica's Javier Saviola would be great.

[Native Son.]

I read somewhere that this is the line up that Maradona used for practice today-Wednesday.


————————Romero———————

Coloccini—--Demichelis--—Heinze--—Ansaldi

——--Maxi—--—Mascherano—--Cambiasso——

Messi—————--Higuaín--------Di Maria



Depending on the formation, this would also be a good line up.

——————Romero——————————

Ansaldi——-Demichillis——-Pareja——–Heinze—-

Maxi ————Mascherano————Aimar————–Di maria

Messi—————–—————–—————Higuain



Yes, I know that Maradona is crazy but he can do it.

[Native Son.]

The Spanish team:
Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Liverpool), Diego Lopez (Villarreal).
Defenders: Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Raul Albiol (Real Madrid), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Andoni Iraola (Athletic Bilbao), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid).
Midfielders: Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona).
Strikers: Pablo Hernandez (Valencia), Dani Guiza (Fenerbache), Juanma Mata (Valencia), David Silva (Valencia), David Villa (Valencia), Alvaro Negredo (Sevilla), Jesus Navas (Sevilla).



This will in my opinion be the battle of the midfield.

Spain has an awesome midfield. It'll be a game/match for the ages.

[Yak]

"..Thank you Native Son,you're heaven sent!..my take is we might see the same style of football,Possesion,wicked dribbling and outrageous unseen before one touch flicks,am praying it's not too technical,Friendly or not Argentina (Maradona included) have a point to prove especially after their not so convincing World cup qualification rally,but heck!hook or crook they got there,The team is overly talented,just needs some fine tuning

my mouth's already watery at the prospects of seeing Pablo 'Ceasar' Aimar in the White and Blue,i've always loved his midfield genius especially when he played for Valencia in Spain,unfortunately a ran up of injuries have bloated his career but the outrageous skills remain,..The exciting feeling am getting for possibly seeing Esteban Cambiasso and Javier Mascherano together on the starting line up is uncontrollable,the gods are truly good to me.."

[komboshta]

Originally Posted by Native Son.

The Spanish team:
Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Liverpool), Diego Lopez (Villarreal).
Defenders: Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Raul Albiol (Real Madrid), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Andoni Iraola (Athletic Bilbao), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid).
Midfielders: Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona).Strikers: Pablo Hernandez (Valencia), Dani Guiza (Fenerbache), Juanma Mata (Valencia), David Silva (Valencia), David Villa (Valencia), Alvaro Negredo (Sevilla), Jesus Navas (Sevilla).




This will in my opinion be the battle of the midfield.

Spain has an awesome midfield. It'll be a game/match for the ages.

...Son, I love your analytical skills...

We are on different ends however, i love spain with a passion, and thats why i have highlighted the players to watch in red, regardless of where they play(clubwise).

Messi is just on the wrong team(Argentina) at the moment..., the boy just needs to be in spain!
I have got a passion for France, but it can't match spain's way of doing stuff with the ball on pitch.

Meanwhile closer home, Nigeria managed to beat us 3-2. I was so mad, because i wanted us to give Nigeria a run for their money.
If by chance they play like the way they did at World cup level, they won't go far.

Their lesser 'boys'(under 20 are playing smooth football)

[komboshta]

Originally Posted by Yak

,..unfortunately,after finishing 3rd in their group just below England and Ukraine in the tedious European World cup qualifying match ups,Croatia could not secure a spot in the 2010 World Cup tournament"

..That was way too Unfortunate for croatia...

[Native Son.]

Originally Posted by komboshta

...Son, I love your analytical skills...

We are on different ends however, i love spain with a passion, and thats why i have highlighted the players to watch in red, regardless of where they play(clubwise).

Messi is just on the wrong team(Argentina) at the moment..., the boy just needs to be in spain!
I have got a passion for France, but it can't match spain's way of doing stuff with the ball on pitch.

Meanwhile closer home, Nigeria managed to beat us 3-2. I was so mad, because i wanted us to give Nigeria a run for their money.
If by chance they play like the way they did at World cup level, they won't go far.

Their lesser 'boys'(under 20 are playing smooth football)

Kombo vipi?

Yes, you are right. Messi is in the wrong team.

That said, the problem is the coach, that fellow who goes by the name Diego.

I watched the game and Spain demolished ARgy. They taught us how to play football.

I also did watch Brazil vs. England. Brazil is doing very well.

I'd love to see a Brazil-Spain final. That would be a game for the ages.

ARgentin a will not get out of the group stage. They'll perhaps lose one game and draw two and fail to advance. Then, Diego will go. He's killing a generation of very talented young lads and that is just wrong.

If all goes as it should, your team Spain will winit. They can hammer Brazil. When ARgy ddrops out in SA 2010, I'll switch to Spain. All the best.

[Native Son.]

Harambee stars was robbed off victory. Nigeria's second goal was clealry offside but FIFA had other intentions or perhaps the referee himself. Yes, I concur with you; Nigeria, with its style of play, won't go far. Kenya seems to be playing well.

By the way, there was a guy with a poster that read; "Raila is Nigerian" at Nyayo National Stadium during the match. I don't knwo what it means.

As for Coach HEy, he needs to go. HE has deserted the team anyway. We need Kimanzi back.

[Yak]

Originally Posted by Native Son.

ARgentin a will not get out of the group stage. They'll perhaps lose one game and draw two and fail to advance. Then, Diego will go. He's killing a generation of very talented young lads and that is just wrong.

"..Oh ye of little faith..i once watched Colombia with the likes of Carlos Valderama and Faustino Asprilla,two of their greatest Proteges yet demolish Argentina(with Diego Maradona on the bench) 5-0 in a world cup qualification in yes! Buenos Aires..it was a solemn day when the apprentice schooled the master,Colombia in 1993,were the first team to ever beat Argentina at home in a world cup qualification,The 3-1 defeat by Brazil recently was the second one ever,i was a young lad then,it left me Crest fallen,the current Argentine misfiring can't even compare to what i felt that day,but it never killed my passion for the White and Blue Stripes..

With the recent 2-1 Argentine loss to the Spanish in the weekend everybody's looking down on the Albeceleste,the Argentine team has entered the last 4 FIFA World cups as FIRM favourites and they have performed disastrously,for ONCE!,this time they make an entry as the laughing stock,this is too perfect,am loving it.."