STARTING XI
REMAINING SQUAD MEMBERS
3 best players not in the squad:
Argentina's squad is very spread out between eras. They have won 3 World Cups in 3 different decades, and 15 Copa America's (the joint most with Uruguay), winning 9 between the 1920's and the 1940's. The 2020's is the only era they have won both competitions in the same decade, so there's no especially dominant period. Ubaldo Fillol was an easy pick as the starting goalkeeper. Diego Maradona said he was the best goalkeeper he'd ever seen. I chose Bidoglio ahead of Roberto Ayala because he can cover as a centre-back and right-back in the squad. The centre-back on the bench was close between Ruggeri and Perfumo, while Carlos Sosa also almost made it as a right-back. Rossi can be back-up to Redondos's holding midfield spot. I wanted to start Ricardo Bochini, but went for the more defensively minded Luis Monti, so that Maradona could have more freedom to attack. Sastre is the back-up in Monti's role. Bochini doesn't actually make the squad in the end - I chose Di Maria as a back-up attacking midfielder because of his ability to play as a left-winger - which I needed in the squad (Messi was already an option on the right). Ticking this box at this point allowed me to fit in the best attacking players later on, without thinking about wide options. Raimundo Orsi was probably the best possible left-wing option, but I wouldn't have had room for Aguero with so many attackers. With Moreno, Messi and Di Stefano, Argentina have the strongest starting attacking players of any nation. Sivori, Batistuta and Aguero can cover here. The final spot in the squad went to the best player not yet included in Adolfo Pederena. Because Moreno could also play upfront, I wasn't overloaded with second-striker options. Players By Decade: 2010's (3), 1970's (3), 1960's (3), 1950's (3), 1990's (2), 1980's (2), 1940's (2), 1930's (2), 1920's (2), 2000's (1) World-Class Argentinian Players (56)
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