World Cup Initial Squads (2 of 2)

When you watch Maradona playing, you feel that he got one of the highest IQ levels for football.
When you watch Maradona coaching, you feel he got one of the lowest in the game.

Few days ago, Maradona released the 30 names for Argentina initial team for the world cup. List contained so many surprises.

Both Esteban Cambiasso and Zanetti probably are having one of their best ever seasons on the personal levels, playing key roles in Inter Milan qualifying to the Champion League final, and are steps away from winning the fifth Italian league in a row for Inter. Both are very tactical players with in which Maradona might want to add to his squad.

Maradona said: "There is nothing strange and nothing to explain about Zanetti's exclusion. It was already decided a long time ago. And as for Cambiasso, it's the same story.”

Another name is Lisandro Lopez, a 24 million Euros sriker, playing with Lyon in France and he was just name player of the year in French Ligue 1.  His style is more of a European stirker than an Argentinian.

Also, Gago from Real Madrid will watch the World Cup from TV screen.

So, who is in the team?

• 10 out of 30 players are based in Argentina
• Of course Messi and Veron are in the team. I think the latter will add a lot of value to the squad.
• Juan Mercier: he is 30 years midfielder, 2 international caps, never played outside  Argentina.
• 
  Ariel Garce: 30 years defender, no international caps yet. Never been outside South America.
• Juan Manuel Insaurralde: 30 years, never been played outside Argentina. Only 1 Cap under Maradona.
• Boca Juniors striker Martin Palermo 37 years old, very famous by his hatrick missed penalties in Copa America vs. Columbia last decade. He might be having very good season, but putting a 37 years old next to a 35 years old Veron (who deserves to be there) with 30 years old players, might be a big big risk.

The selection might seems to have so much emotions rather than clear objective and focus.
This is very bad news for Messi, whose career is going into a very similar path to Maradona. Not only that his was sidelined at 2006, just like Maradona 1978 WC, but now Messi will be playing under Maradona at age 22, just like Maradona played under Menotti at the exact same age in 1982.

in 1982 under Menotti coaching, Argentina is often described to have many stars, but no real coach.
Menotti said that if he didn't win the world cup, he will leave coaching and play as a shoe cleaner. Argentina lost 3 out of 5 games in 82, and Menotti never honored his words.

Maradona at 22 played a tough Mondial, he was just one of the stars, no clear tactics. He was easily marked, and ended that Mondial with a deserved red card.

At first look, Maradona behaviour might seems like Carlos Bilardo 1986 where he trimmed out so many big stars. He gave the captain title to Maradona, which upset Daniel Passarella, a veteran who was won 1978 WC as a Captain and was captain in 1982 too. He ignored the very skillful striker Ramon Diaz. He trimmed bunch of other players who carried the world cup.

But, he had very clear focus and purpose. He made a big bet on Maradona. Bilardo rented a house in Napoli, where Maradona was playing. He designed a special training program for him, which has nothing to do with the ball. It was all about physical balance, focus and flexibility.

Then, he called 22 more tactical players to the world cup. When you watch 1986 videos, you feel Maradona was the only real skillful one, and the others were very good tactical players.

Bilardo won his bet with Maradona.

When Maradona was named as national team coach on October 2008, Bilardo was tapped for the post of Argentina General Manager. At that moment, I thought the Bilardo will be the real coach, and Maradona will take only of the inspirational side, and take only an image as a coach. I was wrong.

Not too much later, Bilardo agreed to quit his Secretary post.

Today, Maradona is not doing anything close to Bilardo, apart from trimming big names. He is doing things similar to Menotti, but in a worse way. Well, let's wait and see!