Zanetti will be 40 come time 2014 so I think his time is up for International Football
As for Tevez the guys a cancer I think after his disgraceful performance at the Copa America and after what transpired this Season I wouldn't expect to see Tevez in an Argentine sweater again
I wouldn't expect to see Cambiasso back either as he hasn't seen turf since the Copa America last Summer
The USA has a weird roster because we have too many midfielders, and our "Best XI" would be, like, a 3-6-1 formation. Figuring out how to get Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Jose Torres, Mo Edu, Jermaine Jones and Michael Bradley onto the field is going to be a big challenge going forward.
Permitting for injuries, I would expect our depth chart to look something like this:
GOALKEEPER
Tim Howard (Everton), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Bill Hamid (DC United), Nick Rimando (Salt Lake)
DEFENSE
Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Eric Lichaj (Aston Villa), Tim Ream (Bolton), George John (FC Dallas), Oguchi Onyewu (Sporting), Jonathan Bornstein (UANL), Jonathan Spector (Birmingham)
MIDFIELD
Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Michael Bradley (Chievo Verona), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Jose Torres (Pachuca), Jermaine Jones (Schalke), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Joe Corona (Tijuana), Daniel Williams (Hoffenheim), Benny Feilhaber (New England Revs), Kyle Beckerman (Salt Lake)
FORWARD
Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), Herculez Gomez (Santos Laguna), Terrence Boyd (Borussia Dortmund), Freddy Adu (Philadelphia), Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy)
We have two defenders -- Omar Gonzalez (holds a Mexican passport) and Tim Chandler (American father, German mother, raised his whole life in Germany) -- who aren't yet cap-tied Americans but would certainly be on the roster if they choose to play for the US. There's also no evidence that Juergen Klinsmann has any interest in the big striker Kenny Cooper (NY Red Bulls), but he'll be 28 in Brazil and he's been absolutely tearing up MLS this year, so we'll see ...
Zanetti a model professional on and off the field with his charity work, a legend at Internazionale, heir to Fachetti and will merit a place in Argentinian footballing history albeit disgracefully left out in 2006 and 2010.
However a congested schedule and who knows when the legs may drop off rule him out. His sucessor who is almost in the exact same mould and from the same club Banfield is Nicolas Tagliafico.
Otamendi ? A disaster. Compared to Fabio Cannavaro but aside from a fleeting resemblance to him a terrible centreback. Compounded by being played at rightback by the tactical genius of Diego Maradona against Germany from which the first goal was conceded.
Still over anticipates and dives in prematurely and is not that fast either.
Lucho. Never has really done it for the seleccion like several others. His best years are behind him.
Tevez. On talent he'd still merit inclusion but all his off the pitch baggage and reluctance to contain his ego (compare him to Aguero) being firmly placed in the shade by Messi and Aguero, make him a real nuisance in the dressing room.
Sabella won't tolerate it or undermine Messi and his fellow players all of whom know each other and are good friends having played with each other in sucessful age group sides.
All the old guard inc. troublesome people like Heinze, Riquelme are history.
Lavezzi ? Give him a ball to play with by himself. Talented yes but not much of a team player and really only useful as an impact player.
I'd rather go with Gaitan who can play his role or tuck in just behind a nine and is more versatile.
The team still needs a bit of the old steel too epitomized by players like Sensini of a recent vintage. Masche is a lion on the pitch but perhaps not demonstrative enough.
The lack of any new and young talent scares me. Muhamed Besic is probably the only guy under 20 that will get any chances to even feature on the bench, let alone the starting XI.
The lack of any new and young talent scares me. Muhamed Besic is probably the only guy under 20 that will get any chances to even feature on the bench, let alone the starting XI.
If they play like they did against Ireland, I doubt it.
Slovakia is a very decent side and will only get better. Hamsik might be the best player in the group.
Greece have some really good players and have been doing very well in qualifying the last 3-4 tournaments (Euros/WC).. Latvia & Lithuania can be real pain in the ***** to play against.
The USA has a weird roster because we have too many midfielders, and our "Best XI" would be, like, a 3-6-1 formation. Figuring out how to get Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Jose Torres, Mo Edu, Jermaine Jones and Michael Bradley onto the field is going to be a big challenge going forward.
Permitting for injuries, I would expect our depth chart to look something like this:
GOALKEEPER
Tim Howard (Everton), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Bill Hamid (DC United), Nick Rimando (Salt Lake)
DEFENSE
Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Eric Lichaj (Aston Villa), Tim Ream (Bolton), George John (FC Dallas), Oguchi Onyewu (Sporting), Jonathan Bornstein (UANL), Jonathan Spector (Birmingham)
MIDFIELD
Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Michael Bradley (Chievo Verona), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Jose Torres (Pachuca), Jermaine Jones (Schalke), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Joe Corona (Tijuana), Daniel Williams (Hoffenheim), Benny Feilhaber (New England Revs), Kyle Beckerman (Salt Lake)
FORWARD
Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), Herculez Gomez (Santos Laguna), Terrence Boyd (Borussia Dortmund), Freddy Adu (Philadelphia), Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy)
We have two defenders -- Omar Gonzalez (holds a Mexican passport) and Tim Chandler (American father, German mother, raised his whole life in Germany) -- who aren't yet cap-tied Americans but would certainly be on the roster if they choose to play for the US. There's also no evidence that Juergen Klinsmann has any interest in the big striker Kenny Cooper (NY Red Bulls), but he'll be 28 in Brazil and he's been absolutely tearing up MLS this year, so we'll see ...
Who knows if USA makes it? To bad they don't play in UEFA after the trashing they've handed out to UEFA teams lately I kid I kid.
In all honesty, they better make it cause North American football is getting better. Mexico are playing like World Beaters while Canada showed they can def nick some points of the States. Honduras & Costa Rica are top sides in Central America and will prove difficult too. One of the Island teams usually end up being a pain in the ass too.
If they play like they did against Ireland, I doubt it.
Slovakia is a very decent side and will only get better. Hamsik might be the best player in the group.
Greece have some really good players and have been doing very well in qualifying the last 3-4 tournaments (Euros/WC).. Latvia & Lithuania can be real pain in the ***** to play against.
BiH are notorious for not showing up in friendlies. We were a pathetic attempt from Alispahic away from walking away with a draw. As far as Greece goes, it's a nice change from the usual European power house we end up facing. 95% of their squad is from the Greek Superleague. Not much to worry about really.
And they've been doing well in qualifying lately because they're still living off that miraculous run from a few years ago which put them in the first pot for all tournament draws. They lost their 2010 WC group to Switzerland and barely beat out a struggling Croatian team for the Euro. Compare that to BiH facing Belgium/France/Spain/Turkey in their last 2 with Portugal in the playoffs.
A monstrous choke job aside, BiH will be in the 2014 WC.
Although a lot can change with the wealth of gifted youngsters that hold german passports, I'm hoping for the following lineup:
Neuer
Lähm-Boateng-Hummels-Schmelzer/one of the other kids
Schweini-Khedira/Kroos
Müller-Özil-Schürrle
Reus
