Argentina begins their World Cup dreams on Sunday in the famous Maracana against a promising Bosnia-Herzegovina side looking to upset the South American powerhouse. Lionel Messi and co will be on the attack and looking to start the tournament on the right foot, in a group they are projected to win.
Lionel Messi will look for his first World Cup goal since 2006 when he scored in a 6-0 rout of Serbia and Montenegro. Le Albiceleste look to take the trophy, which they haven't won since 1986 with legendary Diego Maradona. Argentine Coach Alejandro Sabella will need his defense and goalkeeper to keep Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko at bay, although the wealth of attacking prowess the Argentine's possess is perhaps the strongest in the tournament. Attacking players Angel di Maria, Sergio Aguero, and Gonzalo Higuain are all options for the Coach yet it is in defense where the Argentines are most troubled. A shaky back four, along with a less-than-solid goalkeeper will be tasked with trying to maintain a clean sheet against a very strong Bosnia-Herzogovina attack that scored 30 goals in qualification.
Bosnia-Herzogovina -- debutants at the World Cup -- will like their chances of qualifying out of the group even if they fail to take any points from Argentina as Iran and Nigeria, the other two teams in the group, are considerably weaker. With Dzeko at the helm, this team is capable of scoring goals, however, like their rivals Argentina, they will have to deal with suspect defending. The team will look to surprise Argentina on the break, and will most likely look to find Dzeko between the central defenders and in the air with crosses from the flanks.
Argentina is in need of a strong showing if they wish to make a run for the cup, but Bosnia-Herzegovina won't make it easy for them. Javier Mascherano, the indomitable Barcelona player, will need to maintain calmness in the middle of the pitch in order to keep the lethal Bosnians away from the goal. But no matter what happens in the Argentine defense, all eyes will be on Lionel Messi's performance to see if he is up to the challenge of taking Argentina all the way to the cup.
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
