Argentina by 2014

steelcityblues

While I know it is still a few years away, I was looking at the ages of the current Argentina players at major clubs, and by 2014 most should be in their peak era: Messi will be 27, Aguero. Di Maria, and Higuain will all be 26, Pastore will be 25. Meanwhile, the likes of Tevez, Mascherano, Zabaleta, will all be around the 30 mark, and most likely will be a part of the squad. An astonishing level of talent, arguably more so than most of their previous squads.

With a potential squad comprising of this, plus whatever younger talents make a big breakthrough in Europe by 2014, and the tournament taking place in their continent, could 2014 finally end the long wait for another WC?

Big Pussy Bonpensiero

What about their defence and midfield?? The manager will also have a key role to play, whether or not he can get the best out of Messi will be key.

ASOT

Id have more confidence in the Germany squad in 2014

Neuer - 27

Träsch - 26
Hummels - 25
Boateng - 25
Badstuber - 25
Höwedes - 26

Khedira - 26
Özil - 25
Müller - 24
Kroos - 24
Reus - 24
Bender (both of them) - 24
Götze - 21

Podolski - 28
Gómez - 28

Especially considering they played together in the 2010 WC and done quite well!

Big Pussy Bonpensiero

Can't really look past Spain tbh. Barcelona are working wonders with La Masia.

steelcityblues

THFC wrote: »

What about their defence and midfield?? The manager will also have a key role to play, whether or not he can get the best out of Messi will be key.

That's the one negative on paper, in that the midfield and forward group of players look much stronger.

He will have to accommodate for Messi to play like he does at Barca, it will improve their chances. The hat trick against the Swiss is a positive sign.

MD1990

Don't forget about Lavezzi too
also Lamela from Roma recently earned his first cap
he is only 20

CSF

MD1990 wrote: »

Don't forget about Lavezzi too
also Lamela from Roma recently earned his first cap
he is only 20

Again, they can only put so many attacking players on the pitch at once and still win. This is something they need to address.

steelcityblues

THFC wrote: »

Can't really look past Spain tbh. Barcelona are working wonders with La Masia.

Brazil are the last country to retain a World Cup, and that was 1962.

Do you really think Spain can match that in a more competitive era? I can't.

MD1990

there best midfielders are

Mascherano
Banega
Pastore
Di Maria
Lucho Gonzalez
Cambiasso

Paully D

Spain and Germany will dominate, IMO.

I actually think Germany will win this seasons European Championships and I'd back them to take the 2014 World Cup too.

Big Pussy Bonpensiero

steelcityblues wrote: »

Brazil are the last country to retain a World Cup, and that was 1962.

Do you really think Spain can match that in a more competitive era? I can't.

I don't see what difference it makes whether or not they won the previous tournament, especially considering it was 4 years previous. And just think of the players Spain will still have, and the other players like Tello, Cuenca and Fabs that will more established.

Casillas, Valdes and Reina will all be 31/32, not including De Gea.

Pique, Jose Enrique, Albiol and Ramos will be ~28. Jordi Alba is only 22. Add to them the youth prospects from Barca (Fontas, Bartra and Montoya).

Xavi will 34, Iniesta 29, Alonso 32, Cesc 24, Biscuits 25, Silva 28 and Thiago 22. Thats not mentioning Munian (who will be 21), Martinez (25) and Cazorla (29) who will all be in strong contention.

Soldado and Llorente will be 28/29. Villa will be 32 and Torres 29. Tello & Cuenca will both be 22.

The future is very bright for them still, and I'd heavily back them. They have pedigree in the big games, and that is a phenomally strong squad. Apart from the defence that's like a dream team!

steelcityblues

I agree that they will still have a strong team, but the pressure of winning another World Cup will be huge, perhaps too huge.

Warper

Argentina need structure. They have been a mess for ages now and always had special individual players. With a top-class manager they could easily win it but there is prob no chance of that so their only hope is pass it to Messi and hope he beats the 4 defenders that are man-marking him.

losthorizon

Paully D wrote: »

Spain and Germany will dominate, IMO.

I actually think Germany will win this seasons European Championships and I'd back them to take the 2014 World Cup too.

Historically its nearly impossible for a European team to win in S. America.

And in Brazil? :eek: Two years time is a long time in football. Would be surprised if a European team got to the final.

Samich

I don't like the talk of this peak thing. I think messi is at his peak, you're saying he will get better?

I think the Peak age is about 25 these days, look at the best players in the world, none are that old really, all young enough.

Ulysses Gaze

Argentina's achilles heel is in defence and in Goal. Also they continuously overlook top-quality managers in the country such as Ramon Diaz & Carlos Bianchi in favour of untested managers or complete wild-cards like Maradona.

The problem is at the AFA where Julio Grondona and his supporters are running the National Team into the ground based on political interests rather than footballing ones.

kitakyushu

steelcityblues wrote: »

While I know it is still a few years away, I was looking at the ages of the current Argentina players at major clubs, and by 2014 most should be in their peak era: Messi will be 27, Aguero. Di Maria, and Higuain will all be 26, Pastore will be 25. Meanwhile, the likes of Tevez, Mascherano, Zabaleta, will all be around the 30 mark, and most likely will be a part of the squad. An astonishing level of talent, arguably more so than most of their previous squads.

With a potential squad comprising of this, plus whatever younger talents make a big breakthrough in Europe by 2014, and the tournament taking place in their continent, could 2014 finally end the long wait for another WC?

Javier Zanetti will also be coming into his peak by 2014.

Seriously tho, I think Argentina collectively already had the most impressive firepower at WC2010 but in the end it counted for nothing. If they could get someone in there to sort them out then they definitely have a chance, but that remains to be seen what Sabella can do. Certainly at Copa 2011 they were a shambles anyway so there's work to be done.

G.K.

Germany for me

kitakyushu

Surely Brazil would have to be favourites? Even on a bad year they can send a great squad and factor in that they're at home behind a fanatical support and I think the trophy is theirs for the taking.

tolosenc

Brazil will win 2014 without a doubt. The fact that they'd walk into a semi-final anyway, and that they'll be at home...

Germany for the 2018 World Cup.

Ulysses Gaze

kitakyushu wrote: »

Surely Brazil would have to be favourites? Even on a bad year they can send a great squad and factor in that they're at home behind a fanatical support and I think the trophy is theirs for the taking.

They said the same thing back in 1950 mind...

Marty McFly

Paully D wrote: »

Spain and Germany will dominate, IMO.

I actually think Germany will win this seasons European Championships and I'd back them to take the 2014 World Cup too.

Im with yeh on Germany, they really impressed me anytime ive seen them and have some truely outstanding players and for me play more entertaining football than Spain.


I have a tenner on them to win the euros, cant remember what odds I got done it about 6 months ago.