There are rumors today that Newcastle United winger Jonas Gutierrez, who played at right back in the first two group games, will start for Argentina in his more usual position at left wing today in the quarter-final tie against Gemrnay in a few hours time.
Jonas at the back – will he start attack?
Jonas is expected to be preferred to young 22 year-old Benfica forward Angel DiMaria out wide, in what will be a tough test for Argentina against the good-looking German side – who have arrived at this World Cup with a good mix of experience and youth.
Jonas is well known to be a particular favorite of Argentine manager Diego Maradona, and since Otaemndi has nailed down the right back spot, it seems that Maradona wants to find a position to start Jonas.
Maradona will indeed have a number of choices for his starting eleven for today’s game, but we would expect the starting eleven to be as follows in a 4-1-1 formation
Romero
Otamendi DeMichelis Burdisso Heinze
Tevez Mascherano (c) Maxi Jonas
Messi
Higuain
It could also be that Estudiantes’ 35 year-old Juan Sebastián Verón, will be preferred to Liverpool’s Maxi Rodriguez, but Maxi gives the team more attacking flair and flexibility, and we would expect hims to start.
One big question in today’s game is whether the Argentine defense, especially the Bayern Munich center-back DeMichelis, who has looked a little shaky at the heart of the Argentine defense, will be good enough to hold the German attacking force.
The German forwards of Klose, Podolski and Mueller, who destroyed England in the round of the last 16, have all looked great for Germany so far, and it will be a tough test for the Argentine central defense in particular, to hold Germany’s naturally attacking players.
This game will be a big test for Lionel Messi, the 23 year-old Barcelona striker, who has looked very good so far in this tournament, and could well give the Germany defense everything they can handle, although they looked steady during the England game, even though England looked impotent at best.
Germany caught England short on the break a few times during the round of the last 16, and DeMichelis and Burdisso are not the quickest two defenders, and they could be exposed by the quick moving German side.
But this game should be another classic in this World Cup, after yesterday’s two blockbuster quarter-final games, and Argentina and Germany will fight it out for the right to meet Spain or Paraguay in the semi-finals next Wednesday.
Comments welcome.
4 comments so far
Newutd
Jul 3, 2010 at 1:05 PM
Comment #1Sergio Romero
Nicolas Otamendi
Martin Demichelis
Nicolas Burdisso
Gabriel Heinze
Juan Veron
Javier Mascherano
Jonas Gutiérrez
Lionel Messi
Carlos Tevez
Gonzalo Higuain
Newutd
Jul 3, 2010 at 2:42 PM
Comment #2No Gutierrez from start…
Robby Bobson
Jul 3, 2010 at 4:01 PM
Comment #3The argies could do wioh Jonas on to watch Mueller becuase Di Maria is not doing it!!!!
Bucks mag
Jul 3, 2010 at 6:21 PM
Comment #4No surprise Argentina lost. No Jonas in the team! Every other Mag here in Prague agreed.