Replacing Ayala

While I doubt you could find many people that would contest that Argentina is spoiled for choice in attack, there seems to be plenty of talk about what to do in defense. With the retirement of Roberto Ayala, the No. 2 shirt is up for grabs. The problem is that there isn't much excitement over who might be ready to step up and put that shirt on.

Argentina host Chile on Saturday as both sides kick off their campaigns to qualify for South Africa 2010. There is no consensus among the Argentine press concerning the huge hole (both figuratively and literally) that Ayala leaves in the back line. You just don't replace someone with 105 caps overnight.

Thus, we're stuck with trying to plug players in, players that, in my opinion, leave a lot to be desired. National team boss Alfio Basile has included the following candidates for the games against Chile and Venezuela (on Tuesday):

Gabriel Milito (27 years old, Barcelona), Gabriel Heinze (29, Real Madrid), Martin Demichelis (26, Bayern Munich), Nicolas Burdisso (26, Inter), Fabricio Coloccini (25, Deportivo La Coruna) y Daniel Diaz (28, Getafe)

Surely, Milito reprises his center back role after a competent performance at the Copa America. as for his partner, national team vet Oscar Ruggeri would like to see Demichelis in Ayala's spot: "Of the guys on the list right now, Demichelis has to play because of his experience and because he plays in a top flight league. I like him because he's good with the ball at his feet and he knows how to head the ball. Winning in the air is going to be important in these matches."

One of Ruggeri's old teammates, Fernando Caceres, agrees: Demichelis has good qualities. He's a good header of the ball and is in great shape. He's shown that he can deal with the pressure, every week in Germany he has to face big, strong forwards. Bayern Munich is doing very well right now, he deserves some of the credit for their great start to the season."

While 1986 World Cup-winning boss Carlos Bilardo would go with either Burdisso or Demichelis, he doesn't like the situation that Argentina currently find themselves in: "Burdisso and Demichelis are good, but they're both a little lacking when they play as the last man. Centerbacks have to have experience playing as the last man because of the way that Argentina play, constantly attacking. Thus, the defenders have to constantly be on alert. To play at the international level you need to be in peak physical shape, have a little size to you, and know how to play the ball out of the back."

If we go by the numbers, after Milito(12 matches) and Ayala(10), the player with the most appearances in Burdisso(5). If both he and Demichelis are fit, Burdisso would be my bet to start alongside Milito. And maybe, in the end, Chile in Buenos Aires and Venezuela in Maracaibo is the ideal testing ground for a new centerback. For those of us who love the way Argentina play, let's hope so.

Un problema central (in Spanish) [La Nacion]

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Not Everything Is Rosy In Venezuela

By all accounts, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez enjoyed the first day of the Copa America yesterday. He had Diego Maradona on one side of him, and on the other, Bolivian president Evo Morales. While the night ended in a draw for both of their countries, Chavez woke up to two headaches this morning.

Chavez's decree that there wouldn't be any demonstrations in and around the tournament venues was tested today when journalists and political foes marched peacefully through the streets of Caracas. It'll be interesting to see how much patience Chavez really has before cracking down.

Also on the Venezuelan's radar will be the news that two U.S. oil companies are refusing to hand over control of their major investments in Venezuela, stakes valued in the billions. The country has some of the most coveted oil reserves in the Western Hemisphere, and ConocoPhillips and Exxon Mobil are expecting something in the order of $3.5B (Conoco) and $800M (Exxon) before they leave Venezuela.

Chavez and Evo preside over inauguration of Copa America [Granma International]
Venezuelans March for Free Speech on RCTV Anniversary [Bloomberg]
2 Oil Firms Are Defiant in Venezuela [New York Times]

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Falkland Islands Redux

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the end of the Falklands War between Britain and Argentina. And just like that conflict somewhat overshadowed Spain '82, the news of something brewing in Venezuela might do the same to this summer's Copa America.

Headlines in Russia state that Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez is set to finalize a deal to buy high tech subs from Vladimir Putin's government. Why does Chavez need all of this hardware? He says he needs it to defend against America's evil empire. Military affairs writer, Austin Bay, suggests something else entirely:

[A]n expansionary ideology and explosive ego propel Chavez. He styles himself as the new Simon Bolivar, who will reunite the South American continent while cowing the United States and other imperialists. He also bills himself as the 21st century's Fidel Castro.

He may be looking to enforce land claims against Colombia, Guyana, and the most menacing of all global hyperpowers—the Netherlands. Islands such as Aruba and Curacao, located off Venezuela's northern coast, are Dutch Constituent Countrys. But would Chavez really try to reclaim these territories? Bay thinks it out this way:

Chavez isn't stupid — he knows Argentina lost its Falklands gamble. But he also knows that Britain's Falkland victory was more of a "near thing" than many think. Argentine combat aircraft could just reach the Falklands, while Venezuelan fighters could easily strike the Antilles.

Supposedly, the Netherlands has started stockpiling its islands with naval forces, F-16 fighter jets, helicopters, and an infantry battalion. Just another sidebar to the upcoming Copa America tournament.

Venezuela's Chavez to finalise Russian submarines deal [Breitbart]
A look back at Falklands War, with Venezuela in mind [Houston Chronical]

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Venezuela Is Blowing Up

With the Copa America set to start in less than a month, the host country finds itself on the cusp of some pretty serious clashes between president Hugo Chavez and various opposition groups. Protesters in and around the capital of Caracas have been spurred on by the closing down of TV stations that Chavez has deemed as "having tried to undermine his government."

Not only has the president made moves concerning banks and refineries, his move to silence the freedom of the press as taken him to new heights, accusing CNN of trying to unsettle the government of Venezuela.

This is shaping up to be the best Copa America ever.

Chavez Opposition Wants Protesters Freed [Washington Post]
Chavez targets Venezuela's banks [BBC]
Venezuela takes over refineries [BBC]
Chavez takes on CNN after closing TV station [Times of London]

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Dealines Pushed Back For Copa America

It seems that some of the Copa America stadiums in Venezuela might not be ready in time, with the tournament set to begin in late June. I can't imagine the country not being ready, tin-pot dictator Hugo Chavez has too much riding on a positive PR spin to have this all fall apart right before the first ball is kicked. Besides that, it is surely too late for CONMEBOL to move the tournament elsewhere.

Copa stadiums may not be ready in time [Reuters]

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Bone Up On Your Karl Marx, The Copa America Is Around The Corner

Are we really supposed to believe that Hugo Chavez is going to roll out the red carpet (no pun intended) for every country at this summer's Copa America? I might be wrong, but I think that the American team is going to be subjected to some rough treatment.

Indoctrination sessions on the way in Venezuela [Passport]

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