It's pretty reasonable to be afraid of any team that feels comfortable leaving Carlos
Tevez, fresh from his nineteen goal season, out of its World Cup Squad.
Tottenham's £30 million man, Eric Lamela, didn't make the cut either. But that's probably
due to the fact that I've played more competitive football than he has this season.
Still, when you consider that manager Alejandro Sabella has got the likes of Messi, Aguero,
Higuain, Lavezzi to pick from up front it, starts to make a bit more sense.
So does deploying a 4-3-3 attacking formation, which he used a lot during qualification.
But these days he's trying to get his players to use a bit more of a defensive mind set.
Which is a bit like Slipknot's manager saying: "Hey guys, any chance you can record a ballad?"
Speaking of ballads, check this beauty out...
Lovely. A song that's bound to be on the lips of every barra brava making their way over
to Brazil.
Right, let's send Marek Larwood to make some new friends.
Is there a lot of pressure and expectation on the squad? Because you're expected to get
to the final aren't you? Or win it?
Well at least, you know, reaching quarter finals. We were there for the last several
World Cups.
Yeah.
So, if we get to the semi final that will be a very good thing.
So, only semi final or, what do you really expect?
Well, I mean, I don't want to jinx it.
Ok, ok.
There's so much pressure on Messi. Do you think Argentina would win without Messi?
We did it before Messi and I'm sure, you know, we can do it without him now. Messi, you can
see that he's not playing at his best. I think he's keeping all his energies for the World
Cup.
Saving himself?
Yes.
And what about your manager, Sabella? How do you rate him?
A lot of people know nothing about him. He's a very good strategic creator, you know. So
everything, he can do it very well this time.
Do you play that 4-3-3?
Yeah, 4-3-1-2 probably.
Ok.
Because I would like Messi to be the main player and then you have Aguero and Higuain.
So, you have Messi just playing behind...
Yeah. My concern is not at front, it's at the back. As everyone else.
So, you're going to be winning 5-4, 4-3 do you think?
Exactly. I think our main defence is our attack.
Ok.
So, if we can succeed in scoring a lot, we should be fine.
Let's talk about your group. Probably the easiest group. I mean they're all holiday
destinations really aren't they? We'll talk about Bosnia first. Any predictions for the
score there?
I really think that will be quite tight in the first matches. It will be probably 2-1.
Then with Iran, 1-0 for Argentina.
Only one goal?
Yeah, yeah. And probably with Nigeria, we will be a little better with 3-1.
Nigeria's going to be a big scoring game isn't it, don't you think?
Yeah. The thing is, those teams are both attacking teams. That's why I predicted 3-1.
Ok. How many goals do you think you're going to score in the group stages in total?
The first three matches will be about seven, seven goals hopefully.
And how many of those will be with your hands?
That's only in the final.
Only in the final?
Or against England. We keep our ass... our aces [laughter] ours aces under our sleeves,
just for the England men. We love that.
Perfect. And who would you hate to meet after the group stages?
Belgium is doing great. That team is very powerful.
Which of the others do you think are going to shine?
Uruguay are doing great. They are always a very strong teamwork team. Colombia - I really
think they can do it as well but I would look after Uruguay first. Of course, you have the
rest - the top teams.
Yeah. Argentina have got a bit of a reputation for diving.
Oh yes.
Do you think they're going to get lots of red cards?
I am very concerned about the defence getting red cards. As you know Demichelis is coming.
He's got the most red cards in the whole premiership.
That could cost you.
Oh yes, because we don't have that many players to swap in defence.
What do you think about your reputation for diving?
That's football, you know? Everything is part of the sport and people have to take it or
leave it.
That is a good excuse. That is an excuse from a man whose team dives...
What do you mean, man?
What do you usually have to drink during the Argentina games?
Well let me help you out. Fernet - you never leave home without it. Do you want to try
it?
Yes please.
Give it a little kiss. We call it Fernando.
Fernando.
There you go, man.
Thank you. Cheers!
Salud.
That is nice, isn't it? Healthy.
And imagine if you have six in a row.
Yeah.
The next day, you will wake up shining.
Well thank you very much. It was a pleasure talking to you. And that's it, hug it up.
I'll see you over in Brazil for the final then.
Of course and if there are some spare tickets, let me know.
Yeah. Well, we'll see about that.
And take some sun cream.
Yeah, I need quite a lot.
Thank you very much, man.
Thank you.
Well he seemed like a nice enough guy. What do you think you learned from that, Marek?
Oh, um, that pastel shades are in this year.
One thing I didn't agree with is that Argentina are the bad boys of the tournament. I think
that's a really unfair reputation. What do you think? Let us know. Are they? In the comments
below - that's the best place for that. If you like what you saw, more where that came
from up here. And if you didn't like that or even if you did and you want to see something
else, more stuff on the channel down here. Marek, tell them how to subscribe.
Who you talking to?
The people out there. The guys out there watching us.
Oh, those guys. Well you just subscribe along this thing here.
It's easy.
And remember, don't stand too close to the curb.
Can you image if I actually died?
There's a car coming. That'd be terrible wouldn't it?