Saturday October 3, 2009
Maradona puts Palermo on the spot in hour of need
BUENOS AIRES: Under-pressure Argentina coach Digo Maradona said on Thursday he was drafting in striker Martin Palermo of Boca Juniors to bolster his attacking options for must-win World Cup qualifiers against Peru and Uruguay.
Recent poor form, including back-to-back losses at home to Brazil and in Paraguay, has sent the two-time champions down to fifth in the regional standings — and there are only four automatic slots for the Finals in South Africa.
The Argentines, World Cup champions in 1978 and 1986, last failed to make the Finals in 1970. But the Albiceleste are currently headed only for the playoffs against the fourth-placed Central American zone team.
Uruguay trail Maradona’s men by a single point, and are pushing for a Finals berth of their own.
“Martin (Palermo) is in,” said Maradona.
“Then I’ll have to see with regard to the strikers. I have (Diego) Milito, (Sergio) Aguero, (Gonzalo) Higuain, (Lionel) Messi. I have loads,” he insisted.
But Maradona gave Palermo the nod after he scored a brace in a 2-0 friendly win in Cordoba over Ghana.
“I was really hoping I would get called up.
“Now I will try to repay him with goals,” said Palermo.
Maradona is battling to find the right formula with morale having sagged following four losses in five games — including a 6-1 hiding in Bolivia.
“I will keep on trying things with the players I select — those who give me a guarantee of being able to hold on to the ball,” he explained.
On Thursday veteran midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron observed that “we don’t have an identity right now. We have to work together as a team”.
Former Manchester United, Chelsea and Lazio man Veron, now of Estudiantes, will be suspended for the Peru game but may feature against Uruguay as the Argentines throw the dice one last time.
The call-up of Palermo certainly is a gamble, and Argentina may hope they will not have any future need of a penalty shoot-out as the forward missed three penalties in the same match against Colombia in the Copa America a decade ago.
That showing — as well as injury — combined to curtail his international career and he has won just nine caps. — AFP
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