ARGENTINA: SOCCER/FOOTBALL - Argentine Coach Alejandro Sabella says Chile is a world power ahead of first round World Cup elimination match with Chile

Record ID: 187105

  • Title: ARGENTINA: SOCCER/FOOTBALL - Argentine Coach Alejandro Sabella says Chile is a world power ahead of first round World Cup elimination match with Chile
  • Date: 7th October 2011
  • Summary: EZEIZA, ARGENTINA (OCTOBER 06, 2011) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ALEJANDRO SABELLA, COACH OF ARGENTINE NATIONAL TEAM, SAYING: "Messi never plays poorly' is the expression. He plays at a level 7 out of 10 or higher. What happens sometimes, when he plays at a level 7, is that it looks like he played poorly. Since we're used to him playing at a level 10, when he plays at a level 7, we think he did badly but that's not it at all. The thing is that sometimes, he is brilliant." VARIOUS OF ALEJANDRO SABELLA LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE EZEIZA, ARGENTINA (OCTOBER 05, 2011) (REUTERS) SABELLA TALKING TO PLAYERS DURING PRACTICE MESSI AND DI MARIA LEAVING PRACTICE
  • Embargoed: 22nd October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina, Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAGEDH6KFODQECQRKP20EGO6SJ
  • Story Text: New Argentina Coach Alejandro Sabella said on Thursday (October 06) that challengers Chile were at their best historical level, just a day before the his club meets Chile in the first elimination round of the long road to 2014 World Cup.
    Argentina entertain the Chileans at the Monumental in Buenos Aires (2310 GMT) in one of four matches on the opening day of the South American group.
    "Today, I'm thinking about the match with Chile, of trying to start the elimination games well which is important, and of all the responsibility that we have on our shoulders because we know the place we're in. We know what we represent. We know what football means to Argentines and that we hold the desire and the illusion of many people and we want to fulfill their desires and ours and those of everyone who loves the team," he said.
    Upstart Chile, playing under Argentine Claudio Borghi, will also be playing without injured star Alexis Sanchez and defender and defender Gary Medel, who is suspended.
    But Sabella said he thinks the Chileans have become a world power.
    "It (Chile) is a team that has been growing for the past couple of years and I think that it's turned into a world power and it's very respected right now," he said, The pressure will be on a talent-laden Argentina squad that suffered a quick exit as hosts and favorites of Copa America.
    "It's a Venezuelan team that has grown much, a Chilean team that at its best time historically, an Uruguayan team that's been champion of the Copa America and is fourth in the world--- in other words, that is again a world and South American power as it was a long time ago," he said.
    Sabella is well aware he needs to build a team that will help captain Messi deliver.
    Former skipper Javier Mascherano will be missing through suspension on Friday while in-form striker Sergio Aguero is doubtful with a groin injury.
    Mascherano's absence prompted Sabella to go with a more defensive 4-4-2 line-up-- with star Lionel Messi up front alongside Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain-- but he expressed his confidence in Messi.
    "Messi never plays poorly' is the expression. He plays at a level seven out of ten or higher. What happens sometimes, when he plays at a level seven, is that it looks like he played poorly. Since we're used to him playing at a level 10, when he plays at a level 7, we think he did badly but that's not it at all. The thing is that sometimes, he is brilliant," he said.
    Argentina's lack of recent success can be traced back to a qualifier for the previous World Cup when Chile, then coached by Argentine Marcelo Bielsa, won 1-0 in Santiago.
    Chile's first victory over their neighbours in a competitive match led to the resignation of coach Alfio Basile, the man who delivered Argentina's last major trophy when he won back to back Copa America titles in 1991 and 1993 during a previous stint in charge.
    Argentina's defeat sparked a rollercoaster of results under Diego Maradona whose side almost failed to reach the 2010 World Cup.
    The section involves nine countries since hosts Brazil are exempt from qualifying.
    South American champions Uruguay, semi-finalists at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, host Bolivia (1900), Venezuela travel to Ecuador at high altitude in Quito (2105) and losing Copa America finalists Paraguay visit Peru in Lima (0115 Saturday).
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