Frankfurt: After a rollercoaster ride under Diego Maradona followed by Sergio Batista's failed attempts to imitate Barcelona, Argentina are once again beginning to look a threat to the world's top sides.
This time last year, the blue-and-white striped shirt appeared to act as a millstone around Lionel Messi's neck, transforming him into a forlorn figure shorn of his Barcelona exuberance.
Since then, coach Alejandro Sabella has found a formation which, although still vulnerable at the back, is capable of giving Messi the ball in his favourite position around 25 metres from goal, allowing him cause mayhem among opposing defences.
Argentina have won their last five games, continuing the run with their 3-1 win away to Germany on Wednesday, and Messi has scored nine times in those matches, including two hat-tricks....
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06:20 PM, Aug 16, 2012
Shanghai: Chinese clubs have been splashing out on big-name foreign managers and players to try to raise the profile of domestic soccer. Shanghai Shenhua have a good chance of signing Chelsea striker Didier Drogba but need to work hard to complete the deal, coach Sergio Batista said on Thursday. Just three days after scoring the winning penalty in Chelsea's shootout victory over Bayern Munich in last month's Champions League final,...
06:24 PM, Jun 14, 2012
