For another stunning season at Barcelona even by his own exalted standards Lionel Messi undoubtedly deserves the epithet of best player in the world. But La Pulga (the flea) has yet to transfer his scintillating club form to the international arena – witness his near anonymous showing in last year’s World Cup quarter-final humiliation by Germany. Argentina coach Sergio Batista says he has a “Plan B” just in case Messi fails to spark at the Copa America starting on July 1 – but even in Latin America, flair is not the only ingredient required for a successful recipe. Ironically, it took a Brazilian to say it in so many words – Joao Saldanha, predecessor of Mario Zagalo – handler of the great Pele-inspired 1970 ensemble – opining that “every team needs someone to carry the piano” – that is, to do the donkey work.
That may be so – but fans of Brazil in particular demand that a healthy proportion of the squad can play it in approaching maestro fashion and Argentina supporters are no fans of a pedestrian version of the game. Although Messi’s Barcelona have arguably taken modern football to a new level with their unerring high-speed passing game his own tribulations in Argentina’s sky blue and white mean pragmatism will underpin the tactics of the majority of Copa coaches.
If Messi is undoubtedly the man to dazzle on his day, Brazil can point to a number of starlets in their own team, steadily being rejuvenated by coach Mano Menezes, who will hope for great things in giving Santos starlet and Real Madrid and Chelsea target Neymar his head. The 19-year-old, already the subject of one rejected Chelsea bid, bagged both goals in the Selecao’s recent friendly win over Scotland in a showing which only served to enhance the burgeoning reputation of a teen who only made his international debut last August – promptly scoring in a 2-0 win over the USA.
Menezes has already stated that the rough and tumble of a stint in England could well be just what his rising star requires. “The style in England will give him stronger physical strength and he would develop to escape the strong marking. If he did that he would be a more complete player,” Menezes said after Neymar proved too good for the Scots. Attacking midfielder Paulo Henrique Ganso, a clubmate of Neymar at Santos, is another fresh face at 21 who is coming through the ranks with Menezes’ eye fixed firmly on a strong World Cup on home soil in three years time.
Messi, Neymar head Copa America talent show
