Argentina coach Diego Maradona has got perfect debut to his international competitive assignment on Saturday against Venezuela, but he is expected to be less adventurous this time when his team visit Bolivia for a World Cup qualifier at high altitude on Wednesday.
Argentina Coach Diego Maradona will be less adventrous when his team travel to Bolivia for Wednesday World Cup qualifer clash
Maradona fielded a three-pronged attack of Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez on Saturday and was rewarded with a 4-0 demolition of Venezuela in his first home and competitive match in charge.
But he is unlikely to repeat his ambitious 3-4-3 formation at 3,600 metres above sea level where his players are going to have to pace themselves.
“We can’t play the same game as we did against Venezuela, we have to maintain a balance,” midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron said in a television interview on Monday.
Argentina are second in the 10-team qualifying group with 19 points from 11 games while Bolivia are ninth with nine and virtually eliminated.
Before being appointed coach last October, Maradona had actively supported Bolivia’s campaign against a ban on hosting matches in La Paz.
At one point, he played in a charity match in La Paz in which Bolivian President Evo Morales also took part.
“You have to play where you are born, not even God can prohibit this and certainly not (FIFA president Sepp) Blatter,” said Maradona at the time. FIFA later overturned the ban.
GHOST TEAM
In the past, Argentina have tried different approaches to playing in La Paz. To see the Line up Click Here…
