Argentina will start tomorrow’s Copa America final against Brazil with Carlos Tevez alongside Lionel Messi in the same starting 11 that overcame Mexico in the Wednesday’s semi.
Basile said Tevez would start in prefence to Hernan Crespo, his first choice striker who is fit again after a muscle injury sustained against Colombia in his country’s second match of the tournament. Basile said Crespo was fit but hadn’t trained, while Tevez had come in and played well and deserved to keep his spot.
“Crespo has worked hard with our medical team an is ready to play,” Basile told reporters. “But he hasn’t trained for 12 days while Tevez has come in and done well. Crespo will be on the bench and who knows, he could come on for 15 minutes in the second half.”
Basile gave his starting 11 as: Abbondanzieri; Zanetti, Ayala, Gabriel Milito, Heinze; Mascherano, Cambiasso, Verón, Riquelme; Messi and Tevez.
Brazil are yet to name their side with the big doubt being who will replace captain Gilbert Silva, who is suspended after receiving two yellow cards. Elano is the favourite to fill his role in midfield but manager Dunga could also shuffle things about and include either Diego or Anderson, both of whom have featured in his Copa line ups.
2 Comments
July 15, 2007 at 1:22 am
[...] Later today (Sunday), Argentina will take on Brazil in the final of the Copa America – the most important national football (that’s soccer, to all you Yanquis) team tournament in the Americas (team news here). [...]
July 15, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Argentine coach made the right decision,,, Crespo is one of my favourite strikers but sometimes things should be sorted out realisticly… Tevez and Messi will storm the Brazil defence…. be careful,, alex and juan,,, you two will have the busiest day in the tournament.