Argentina camp focus - Argies come to life but still more needed

Argentina coach Sergio Batista will go with the same starting line-up which cruised past Costa Rica for tonight’s Copa America quarter final against Uruguay in Santa Fe.

Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero, Angel di Maria and Fernando Gago will all retain their places at the expense of Ezequiel Lavezzi, Carlos Tevez, Ever Banega and Esteban Cambiasso, with Batista keeping the 4-2-3-1 formation which saw la Albiceleste finally spark into life.

After a pair of appalling draws against Bolivia and Colombia in the first two games, the hosts and pre-tournament favourites were markedly improved for their must win final group tie with the unfancied Costa Ricans.

The 3-0 scoreline did not flatter Argentina who created numerous chances and attacked with more poise and penetration than demonstrated in the earlier games. The alteration to the shape gave Batista’s men a blend and balance which was also lacking an ultimately the additional width provided by di Maria and Aguero created the space for Lionel Messi to finally thrive.

Ironically it was Batista’s will to structure his team around Messi which led to the square-pegs in round hole selection of the opening fixtures with Tevez, Lavezzi and Messi milling about up front without much affect. The tactical tinkering to maneuver Messi into the ‘el diez’ number 10 role gave the side a dimension which the Costa Ricans simply could not cope with, and which the more defensively resolute Uruguay will have to cope with on Saturday night.

The whole team performance was more familiar of a traditional Argentinean performance with the ball being pinged around between comfortable ball players with space and options. In truth, the below strength ‘ticos’ were no match for Argentina who found themselves gaining some swagger as they eventually progressed to the business end of the competition.

The Uruguayan’s will provide a sterner test of the revitalisation both offensively and defensively. Last year’s World Cup semi-finalists have hardly hit peak form themselves but remain a dangerous proposition with a no-frills defensive unit providing the backbone to a host of talented match winners.

Oscar Taberez’s team followed a similar path to that of their illustrious opponents with two opening draws and a third game victory securing their path into the quarters. Despite the enticing striking options of Luis Suarez, Diego Forlan and Edison Cavani, la Celeste only mustered three goals in the group stages, two of those coming from midfield mauler Alvaro Pereira.

Argentina go into the game as favourites for the tie and the tournament, confidence restored from the smooth performance against Costa Rica. The heat upon Batista and the team has been relaxed given the context of the last win but the stubborn Uruguayans will provide a more thorough inspection of the new set-up.

The Costa Rica result essentially righted the wrongs of the Bolivia and Colombia games and with Batista eventually getting to where he should have been in the first place, the coach has earned a reprieve to be judged on what happens from here.