Maradona has tough decisions to make ahead of World Cup

As I was reading through various websites I read an incredible statistic that during his reign as Argentina manager Diego Maradona has used over 100 players.

That’s an amazing fact especially as he doesn’t seem to know who will be in his squad for the World Cup in just a few months.

Talent

Argentina has always been a country which has produced talented footballers. Maradona was of course a star of their national side.

As a boss he has some enviable options available to him. The Argentinian team has been mostly made up of players based in Europe in recent times but Maradona changed that trend in the qualification campaign.

Players from teams based in Argentina got a chance.  It turned out to be an inspired decision as home based midfielder Mario Bolatti scored the crucial goal to take them into this summer’s World Cup finals. Bolatti also earned a moved to Serie A side Fiorentina.

22 year-old centre-back Nicolas Otamendi and veteran Juan Sebastian Veron both still ply their trade in their home country. Otamendi is a rising star in Argentinian football and is expected to move to a European league in the near future.

Juan Sebastian Veron has undergone a renaissance back in Argentina with Estudiantes. The former-Manchester United and Internazionale midfielder inspired his club to their first Apertura in 23 years in 2006.

Just like his father before him he also helped the club capture the Copa Libertadores in 2009. His move back to Argentina helped him regain the form which made him one of the top midfield playmakers in Europe. He was recalled to the Argentina squad after a short absence and at 35 he is regarded as one of Maradona’s key midfielders.

Prolific

Looking at the leading scorers in the top three leagues in Europe La Liga, Premier League and Serie A there is a common theme. There is an Argentinian attacker near the top of each leagues goal scoring charts. Yet these prolific strikers have failed to perform at international level.

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi is by far the best player in the world but at times he’s looked like he’s carrying the whole of his country on his back. He hasn’t got the likes of Xavi and Andres Iniesta to supply him with the ball in the Argentina national squad, so he has to try to create everything by himself.

Gonzalo Higuain is also at the top of the La Liga scoring chart. His goal scoring form for Real Madrid has been truly magnificent this season. He has even overshadowed his more high profile teammate Cristiano Ronaldo at times this season. It’s hardly fair to say he hasn’t performed for Argentina as he has only made four appearances and has scored twice.

Diego Milito has been a lethal finisher in Europe for the last five or six years, yet he has scored just four goals in 20 appearances for his national side. He already has 19 goals this season for Internazionale in Serie A and has helped his club to the last four of the Champions League.

Carlos Tevez is yet another striker firing on all cylinders this season. He has scored more goals for Manchester City this season than he did in two years at Manchester United. Tevez is not just talented but also works hard. His scoring record at international level is eight goals in 51 appearances, not exactly prolific.

Then there is Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero. The youngster has not had the best of seasons with Atletico but is still a major threat up front. He may have to settle for a place on the bench with the other strikers in better form. His strike rate of seven goals in 20 appearances for Argentina is a decent record.

Best

International football is very different from club football but Diego Maradona needs to work out which players he wants to be in his team and find a working formation. If that means leaving players out then that must be done.

He also needs to find a way of getting the best out of his very talented attacking players. If he can get his strikers to perform like they do at their club sides then Argentina could be in with a fantastic chance of winning the trophy.

Unstable

However I believe its Maradona’s instability that will prevent Argentina making a big impression on the World Cup. Everybody knows that the little man is eccentric but his habit of self-destructing won’t help his players and could cost the team dearly come July.