Having called up over a 100 players during the qualification campaign, Maradona has certainly had an opportunity to evaluate the claims of a wide cachement of players. And yet, in some sense, the story has been as much about the senior players he has ignored than the ones he has called up. Juan Roman Riquelme, the playmaker at the heart of the previous Argentina team, had a very public falling out with the manager, and has promised to be on vacation during the World Cup, ignoring pleas from the Argentine football association president Julio Grondona to make himself available for selection again. The veterans Cambiasso and Zanetti, the most capped player for Argentina, have turned in consistent performances for the Italian champions Inter Milan, but Maradona has made it amply clear that they are not part of his plans for the summer. The same might be said of Pablo Aimar, the seasoned playmaker suited to fill the role of Riquelme, and who has combined well with fellow Argentine Javier Saviola at the Portuguese league leaders Benfica this season. Maxi Rodriguez transferred to Liverpool in the January transfer window, but with the Premier League team in disarray this year, his chance to shine has been limited, and is almost certainly out of contention for a place in the squad.
== Goalkeepers ==
The only area of the squad relatively free of controversy is the men between the sticks. Sergio Romero (AZ) is the preferred choice, with Marion Andujar (Catania) and Oscar Ustari (Getafe) behind him in the pecking order. None of them is exactly Casillas or Buffon, but Romero is widely considered a promising keeper, and he should have a chance to prove his worth on the biggest stage of them all.
== Defense ==
Somewhat surprisingly, given the apocryphal weakness at the back of the line of a traditional Argentine side, there are a number of options for the defensive portion of the squad. Walter Samuel has been one half of a solid Inter defense along with the Brazilian Lucio, and Gabriel Milito has been in almost unexpectedly good form for Spanish Champions Barcelona since making a comeback from a protracted injury layoff. Together, they would make a formidable central defensive partnership, with Milito's ball distribution skills having the potential to be the starting point of an attack. Maradona has tended to use three center-backs in some games, with Samuel, Martin Demichelis (Bayern) and Nicolas Otamendi (Estudiantes) forming a back three, and Gabriel Heinze, another center-half, lining up in the left-back position. Although this tactic brought success in the friendly against Germany, it sacrifices too much of attacking flair to concentrate on defensive duties, at the risk of subduing the natural attacking instincts of the side. In the main tournament, Argentina's interests might be better served by having a more conventional back-four, and with Samuel and Milito in prime form, he now has two accomplished defenders to man the central zone. Demichelis' performances, both for the national team as well as Bayern have been inconsistent at best, with customary lapses costing the team at critical times. Otamendi is a promising young defender, but his time will come in future tournaments, but both of them should find a place in the substitute bench behind Milito and Samuel. The right-back position should then be manned by Marcos Angeleri of Estudiantes, who would bring a much needed dynamism on the right flank, and perform a similar role to the one Dani Alves performs at Barcelona in linking up with Messi. The problematic position is the left-back, where Heinze has been the preferred choice so far. But while he had been a creditable performer in his prime, those days are long past and despite Maradona's almost blind faith in him, he is more often than not a liability to the team. Maradona's insistence on sticking with Heinze is all the more baffling considering that Argentina has a crop of promising young left-backs, with Insua (Liverpool), Monzon (Boca Juniors) and Ansaldi (Rubin Kazan) all having a valid claim to the place, and who all should have been tried out more in the qualifiers. On current form, it would be Cristian Ansaldi who should be the first preference for the spot, his marking of Leo Messi along the left flank in the Champions League game against Barcelona marking him out as a capable defender. He is also capable of going forward along the wing, and would be another outlet for a transition from defense to attack along the left flank. Insua could then deputise for him on the bench, where his experience in playing with Liverpool against top English and European teams should come in handy. Ezequiel Garay of Real Madrid should then fill the final defender's slot and his versatility in covering across the back line should give Maradona additional options at the back if the need arises.
== Midfield ==
Since the self-imposed exile of Riquelme, Argentina's midfield has suffered with the absence of a playmaker who can control the tempo of the game, bringing along with it an over-reliance on Messi to provide both invention as well as bringing others into play. However, as evinced by the hugely succesful strategy of Pep Guardiola at Barcelona, Messi is at his best when in a freer role, with someone else dictating the tempo of play from midfield. This role is currently occupied by Juan Sebastian Veron, the veteran who guided Estudiantes to the Argentine league title last year, in what is likely to be his last hurrah on the international stage. While the footballing intelligence of Veron is beyond question, his advanced age somewhat limits his mobility on the field, and while he should still be an essential squad member for situations when an experienced head is required, perhaps the team's interests would be better served by a more dynamic starting midfield lineup. The captain Javier Mascherano is an automatic choice for the defensive midfield position, and will bring a much needed steel in the backbone of the team. Partnering him in a central midfield position should be one of Ever Banega (Valencia) or Lucho Gonzalez (Marseille). Banega is a hugely promising prospect, and while his career seemed temporarily derailed after a move to Spain with Valencia, with charges of reckless behaviour off the field affecting his play and position within the team, he has regained his focus this season and is now an integral part of the Valencia side. His talent has always been unquestionable, and this season he has shown the application that is necessary to complement his natural instincts. His energy as well as pass-making ability should serve Argentina well in the central midfield position. Lucho Gonzalez occupies a slightly more advanced playmaking position in the Marseilles midfield, where he has been an integral part of Didier Deschamps' side who are now challenging Bordeaux for the Ligue 1 title. In front of the central midfield, there is a need for a playmaker in a ''trequartista'' role, and the young Javier Pastore of Palermo offers the best choice in this position. Pastore made a mark playing for Huracan in last season's Argentinian league, where his partnership with Mattias deFederico made for an enthralling race for the league along with Veron's Estudiantes. Although they were ultimately pipped to the post, Pastore's abilities were widely noted and he made a move to the Serie A team Palermo in the summer. He has fulfilled the trequartista role admirably at Palermo, playing at the tip of a diamond midfield and his performances have been a major reason for Palermo pushing for a Champions league place in the Italian league this year. His passmaking and shooting abilities would be a major help for Argentina in the World Cup, while his youth and dynamism should place him ahead of the ageing Veron in the starting lineup. The final midfield spot is an almost automatic selection for the Benfica winger Angel Di Maria, whose bursting runs down the left flank have been an invaluable asset in unlocking oppnent's defenses.
== Forward ==
The forward line is where Argentina's true strength lies, with an enviable strength in depth, and talented strikers who would have made most teams' squads forced to sit out. The FIFA world player of the year Lionel Messi has had a standout season at Barcelona, with the press running out of superlatives, and it is on him that much of Argentina's hopes would rest. While he has not been as prolific for the national team as for him club side, much of that has to do with the style of play of the national team. Even within the limited tactical setup, his contribution has not been inconsiderable, but Maradona should attempt to set up his team in the world cup to maximize Messi's potential. Carlos Tevez (Manchester City) has been one of top scorers of the English Premier League and Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid) one of the top scorers in Spain's La Liga, and both of them are also automatic inclusions in the squad. Sergio Aguero's form has stuttered somewhat this season at Atletico Madrid, but he remains important enough in the scheme of things to make the team. The final two slots should be occupied by Diego Milito of Inter Milan, whose physical presence at the top of the line could provide an alternative approach against obstinate oppnents, and by Lisandro Lopez of Olympique Lyon, whose performances should enable him to make the squad ahead of Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli) and Martin Palermo (Boca Juniors).
The final 23-man squad should then be :
GK : Romero, Andujar, Ustari
DF : Samuel, G. Milito, Demichelis, Garay,
Angeleri, Otamendi, Ansaldi, Insua
MF : Mascherano, Banega, Lucho, Pastore, Veron, Di Maria
FW : Messi, Tevez, Aguero, Higuain, D. Milito, Lisandro
=== Strategies and formation ===
1. 4-3-3
The 4-3-3 should be the formation of choice, allowing Argentina to explore their offensive capabilities, while still providing a solid back-line. Mascherano will perform the destructive midfield role, while Banega or Lucho alongside him should participate in both defensive and attacking duties. Pastore would then perform as the playmaker, with Di Maria on the left wing and Messi coming in from the right wing behind a striker in front of goal such as Higuain or Tevez. Assuming Tevez plays up front, that would also enable fluid interchange of positions between Messi and Tevez, making them difficult for the opposition to mark. The 4-3-3 can also perform as a 4-2-3-1 if necessary, with Banega dropping deeper into a more defensive position.
2. 4-4-2
Alternatively, the 4-4-2 may also be employed, with Mascherano assuming the defensive duties in central midfield, with Lucho performing a more attacking role. Di Maria and Tevez would then play on the wings, with Messi operating more centrally as a ''false 9'' behind a bigger striker such as Higuain or Diego Milito.
In conclusion, Argentina obviously have the talent to lift the World Cup in South Africa, but they will need to play as a cohesive well-organised team to do so. Maradona's role is selecting the proper squad and tactics may well determine whether the Albiceleste return from South Africa as victors, or after extending their two-decade long barren run in the World Cup by another four years.
