Football: Argentina search for Messi understudy

BUENOS AIRES: Gonzalo Higuain is training for a similar role to Lionel Messi’s in the Argentina team in preparation for matches when the Barcelona forward is not playing. Messi is first choice as the central striker in Batista’s tactics for next month’s Copa America even though the coach has classic centre forwards in his squad, like Real Madrid’s Higuain and Diego Milito of Inter Milan. “The idea is to see who can take Messi’s place,” he said. “We have a number nine like Higuain, we’re training him to be not just an area nine. He won’t be the same because they are players with different characteristics but I want all to know we play this way if Messi’s missing.” Argentina began preparing last week to host the tournament kicking off on July 1 when they meet Bolivia in the opening match.



Published in The Express Tribune, June 16th, 2011.