Argentina will be on the attack

13 April 2012

Roberto Ayala says Argentina will adopt a policy of all-out attack during the World Cup - starting with their opening game against Nigeria on Sunday.

The Argentine defender said: "We'll aim to play in our opponents' half of the pitch. That's the policy our coach Marcelo Bielsa has always tried to give us and we are ready to do that because it has brought us results."

Argentina stormed through their South American qualifying campaign, taking 43 points from 18 games and finishing 12 points ahead of second-placed Ecuador.

Ayala said: "We are an aggressive, attacking side, but we have to pay attention when defending from set pieces."

Ayala's optimism was not dented by the 1-0 defeat by FC Tokyo in Argentina's final warm-up game."We were up against a difficult rival. They gave us problems, but that's why we have training games," he said. "The same thing could have happened against Nigeria, but now it's already happened in our build-up we will know what we have to do to sort things out.

"Our morale is incredible, Bielsa is a great motivator, he's done a good job with this team and it's been a great experience."

Argentina's one dilemma is who is going to lead the attack. Gabriel Batistuta or Hernan Crespo?

Bielsa is making room for only one of them and Manachester United midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron does not mind which of the two he plays behind.

"They're two great attackers and it's easy to play like that. You just put the ball in front of them and that's it. With Hernan and Bati we know it's always half a goal."

Argentina have a wide range of other scoring options. Left wingback Juan Pablo Sorin headed the winner against Germany in April and Pablo Aimar, who will be on the bench against Nigeria, scored against Cameroon in March.

Kily Gonzalez, who plays directly in front of Sorin on the left, can also be very dangerous.

Meanwhile, Celestine Babayaro is having intensive treatment on a thigh injury after finally arriving to join up with the Nigerian squad.

The defender was able to train with Nigeria today after flying in 24 hours ago. He was due to arrive in Hiratsuka last week but stayed in England for treatment at Stamford Bridge.

He is now with the squad in Ibaraki.

The pressure has been put on Babayaro and his team-mates by their president, who told them their supporters "will accept nothing less than a quarter-final place from them" at the World Cup.

Sports Minister Stephen Akiga said he had been been given the message to hand to the team by President Olusegun Obasanjo.

MORE ABOUT

Argentina

Patagonia

Argentina will be on the attack

Read More