Argentina Football Formation

Lineup (4-2-3-1)

GK Sergio Romero · CB Ezequiel Garay · CB Nicolas Otamendi · RB Pablo Zabaleta · LB Emiliano Insúa · DM Javier Mascherano · DM Ever Banega · AM Javier Pastore · LM Ángel Di Maria · RM Lionel Messi · ST Gonzalo Higuain

the Argentinian football association, AFA, will belatedly announce the identity of the Albiceleste’s next long-term coach. Whether the name read out on November 2 is, as expected, that of current caretaker coach Sergio Batista, or one of the other nominees, it will mark the start of a new phase of international football in this country. Batista, in his three games in charge as caretaker coach, has been focussed on proving to AFA that he deserves the position on a full time basis.

The squad Batista was handed for the Ireland friendly in August and the teams he selected for the subsequent games against Spain and Japan were largely made up of Diego Maradona-era players with a couple of veterans like Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso thrown in. Whoever the next long term coach is, his ultimate goal will be to win the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, and in order to pull off such a feat, the planning needs to start right away.

The new coach must be given license by AFA to build and develop a team that he thinks will have a chance of raising the World Cup trophy and not be judged on short-term results only. The Copa America, to be held on home territory in 2011, should serve as a step towards a greater objective. Argentina has already won that tournament 14 times. Local fans and media will be hungry for success, yet the event is an ideal opportunity to give a young team experience in a high-pressure knockout competition -- with eyes remaining firmly on 2014.

The long and attritional South American qualifying process for the World Cup starts soon afterwards, and this will further sort out the contenders from the pretenders in terms of squad selection. Form is often fleeting, injuries can grind careers to a halt and new players will emerge before 2014 (two years ago Javier Pastore was playing for the Huracán reserves, now he’s valued at €50-60m in some people’s minds), yet the backbone of the team should be formed now.

With this in mind, and in honour of the late, great Paul the Psychic Octopus, we'll try to predict what Argentina’s starting team might look like at the 2014 World Cup. We hope the new national coach will do something similar, with the development of a solid and cohesive team in mind.

The players ages as they will be in 2014 are listed in brackets.

Goalkeeper

This is the hardest position of all to predict. World Cup goalkeeper Sergio Romero (27) should be nearing his peak, yet there are still large question marks over his quality. He has only recently fought his way back into the AZ Alkmaar starting team, yet a lack of any outstanding emerging goalkeeping talent for Argentina at the moment might see him retain his place in 2014. Agustin Marchesin (26), currently at Lanus, as a back up.

Defence

This is the most vital area when we speak about continuity and building a spine for the team. It has often proved the downfall for Argentina in big games, which is why it is so important to settle quickly on an effective unit. The defence which won the 2008 Olympic tournament for Argentina under Batista, with a handful of other youngsters, will most likely form the basis of the 2014 team. Ezequiel Garay (28) and Nicolas Otamendi (26) to anchor it, although Garay needs to win a first-team spot at Real Madrid or move to another club, and Otamendi has to forget his failure in the unfamiliar right back position against Germany in South Africa. Federico Fazio (27), big and dominating, as the third-choice Centre Back. Finding the right pair of full backs may once again be problematic. Although he wasn’t given much of a chance to settle in England, Emiliano Insúa (25) remains a prospect for left back, while Manchester City’s Pablo Zabaleta (29) could take up the right. Luciano Monzón (27), currently at Boca Juniors looks like one of the few alternatives at this stage. The coach will be hoping some new talent emerges in these positions soon, but he shouldn’t hold his breath.

Midfield

Javier Mascherano (30) is currently struggling to find a place in the Barcelona first team, but barring any severe knock-on effects to his future club career, he should still be the first choice defensive midfielder for Argentina in 2014. Esteban Cambiasso (34) has never relied on speed or physicality, so he might still be in contention for a starting berth, but if Ever Banega (26) continues his upward trajectory, he could forming a highly effective partnership with Mascherano by that stage, with Fernando Gago (28) as a third option. Young talent Franco Zuculini (24) has the raw ability to one day force his way in to the first team as well -- perhaps sooner rather than later.

Javier Pastore (25) has been spoken of a lot recently, and it’s his potential that gets people so excited. His combination with Lionel Messi (27), who should be at the peak of his powers in Brazil, promises to be dazzling football fans for years to come. Ángel Di Maria (26) is another youngster who is already strutting around the Santiago Bernabeu like he owns it, and he completes the attacking midfield combination on the left. Some up-and-comers in the Argentinian league, like Erik Lamela (22) of River Plate and Sebastian Blanco (26) of Lanus should have matured enough to be pushing for a place in the squad.

Attack

Gonzalo Higuain (26) has his faults as a striker, but he has shown that he can score goals at the highest level for Real Madrid and Argentina, and that may be enough for him lead the line at another World Cup. Goal scorers are only ever as good as their last few games, however, and the likes of Sergio Aguero (26), Ezequiel Lavezzi (26) and a not-retired Carlos Tevez (30) could well bump ‘Pipita’, depending on form. The next generation of strikers have not shown enough to suggest they will threaten those already mentioned for an Argentina berth within the next three years.