ARGENTINA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Argentina's new head coach Sergio Batista says he wants a World Cup and backs Messi against critics

Record ID: 252554

  • Title: ARGENTINA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Argentina's new head coach Sergio Batista says he wants a World Cup and backs Messi against critics
  • Date: 23rd December 2010
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (DECEMBER 21, 2010) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARGENTINA HEAD COACH, SERGIO BATISTA, SAYING: "We all know that we need someone to do the follow-up both in Italy and in Spain that would give us the opportunity to have daily updates, more than anything on the players that we try to follow for the future. We still haven't spoken about it concretely, we will look at it next year and then we will think of the person that has to be there."
  • Embargoed: 7th January 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina, Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA69CDQXYYYP1Q53JDHLICNTD9F
  • Story Text: Argentina head coach Sergio 'Checho' Batista said on Tuesday (December 21) that criticisms slung by some Argentines against Argentina forward and Barcelona star Lionel Messi are unjust, saying he always comes through for Argentina.
    Now with a contract that will see him through to 2014, Batista says he and his coaching staff are hoping to walk away with the Copa America in July with the ultimate goal of winning the World Cup in Brazil the same year his contract runs out.
    The Olympic gold-medal winning coach, who had already presided over three friendlies since August in an interim capacity officially stepped up to the plate in November, edging out archrival Brazil in another friendly and dashing any lingering hopes Diego Maradona might have had of reclaiming his job.
    Batista's calm demeanor is in stark contrast to his predecessor and he says he has a different take on the game, admiring the style played by the Spanish club Barcelona.
    "I have a way of seeing soccer and I sincerely like the soccer that Barcelona plays. And I am convinced that Argentina can accomplish this kind of soccer," Batista said.
    The coach, who turned 48 last month, vehemently defended Messi, the Barcelona star and FIFA's player of the year last year who is in the running for the award again this year.
    "What Lionel [Messi] has is that people pile a ton of stuff on him like he is the savior. Playing for Barcelona is one thing and playing for Argentina is another. Lionel has had some great games, at least whenever he has had to address me he always responds as a member of Argentina. Further than that you can't make a comparison. You can't compare how he plays on Barcelona and how he plays on Argentina. Barcelona practices everyday, the coach has him everyday, he feels part of a team comfortable playing this way, the way he likes to. And to come to Argentina and spend a day with your teammates and go out to the field isn't the same. At the national level, the games aren't the same. Barcelona plays against teams, well, that aren't as good. Argentina plays against strong teams," Batista said.
    Batista was confident Messi would finally win the hearts of Argentina fans as the team works towards the 2014 World Cup.
    Maradona was refused a new contract after his side were crushed 4-0 by Germany in the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals in South Africa sending the team packing.
    Argentina last won the World Cup in 1986 when Maradona was captain and Batista was a midfielder.
    They have failed to make it past the top eight since 1990 and Batista says there are always tough teams to watch out for at that level.
    "There are always powerhouses. There're always teams like Germany, Spain, strong teams. Surely the same thing that happened to Italy in the last World Cup isn't going to happen again and they are going to come back stronger. There are always surprises. You have to watch out for the African [teams] too because they are growing a lot, they're on par. Spain is for sure going be up at the top too or is going to be a candidate, but it's a ways away. It is three years away still, we have to see how everything plays out, but these are the candidates that are always there," Batista said.
    Batista said it is difficult to keep the team together with many of the top players spread across leagues in Europe.
    "We all know that we need someone to do the follow-up both in Italy and in Spain that would give us the opportunity to have daily updates, more than anything on the players that we try to follow for the future. We still haven't spoken about it concretely, we will look at it next year and then we will think of the person that has to be there," he said.
    His first major challenge will be the Copa America which Argentina will host in July and would give Messi a chance to silence his critics if the team can come together and win the trophy for the first time since 1993, though Batista insists it is all part of a plan leading to the World Cup.
    "All the commitments that Argentina has are serious, they're serious, the friendlies, they're all serious. The Copa America is an important tournament for us. It isn't the priority; the World Cup is always the priority. It is part of the process to get us to 2014 in good shape which is the plan. But yes, seeing as it is going to be played here in Argentina we'd all like to win it. We are defiantly going to take time and work to win the Copa America because it has been a while since we've won something important but that isn't to say it is the priority in this process. The priority and the most important thing is to win a World Cup which is what Argentina needs today," Batista said.
    Argentina is in Group A for the South American Championship along with Bolivia, Colombia and invitee Japan.
    Since coming onboard, Batista has a solid 3-1 record defeating Ireland (1-0), Spain (4-1) and Brazil (1-0) with a 1-0 loss to Japan.
    "I'm hoping to win what is coming up, the Copa America with Argentina, but more than anything work hard and move forward with the same mentality and conviction for 2014. The job is going to be the same as always," Batista concluded.
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