Argentine Debate: Riquelme Or Verón - Who Should Lead Argentina?

When Diego Armando Maradona was appointed the new coach of the Argentine national team he immediately affirmed that either Juan Román Riquelme (30) or Juan Sebastián Verón (33) will "coach" his side inside of the field. Maradona admitted that having one of the two players in his starting XI is essential, and that Argentina's game plan will be centred around one of them, heading into the 2010 World Cup.

With the restart of the World Cup qualifiers in March, Maradona has sufficient time to think which of the two players better suits his style, as well as the tactics he is willing to adopt. Both Riquelme and Verón are exceptional players, and although both are aging, they are both expected to feature in South Africa 2010. The truth is, no Argentine playmaker has been good enough to replace either of these players.

In recent years Argentina have tested several different playing styles. In the 2007 Copa América in Venezuela, both Riquelme and Verón led the midfield with great success. Although both players are more comfortable when playing at a slower tempo, this benefited Argentina in the tournament, as they were extremely stable in the midfield (except for in the final with Brazil), and it provided their attackers, particularly Lionel Messi, with more freedom when moving forward.

But in the World Cup qualifiers, Alfio Basile decided to cut Verón from the squad, and Riquelme became their only anchor man. This approach seemed to work at the beginning, but as the matches went by (particularly the more difficult ones), Riquelme couldn't make an impact, as Argentina struggled a great deal. Eventually, poor results led to Basile's resignation, and he was replaced by Maradona.

For now it is unknown whether Maradona with utilize both players at the same time. Both Riquelme and Verón were in extraordinary form last season, and it was no surprise that Verón was named South American Footballer of the Year for 2008, while Riquelme finished as the runner up. Despite their years, Maradona can't afford to leave them out (Argentina are evidently stronger with them both).

Right now they are two of the most consistent players in the Argentine First Division. Riquelme has finally returned to his best with Boca Juniors, and Verón has been brilliant with Estudiantes de La Plata. Both players have attracted ongoing interest from abroad, but aren't thinking of leaving their respective clubs. Despite lucrative offers, what has greatly influenced their decision to stay in Argentina, is that it allows both players to be closer to Maradona, making their availability more certain.

Looking ahead to the big picture, both players are expected to play key roles, as Argentina intend to claim their first World Cup since 1986 in South Africa. But are they the right players to lead Argentina to such success? Are there any other players worthy of replacing them?

We ask you, the reader, who should "coach" Argentina inside of the field: Riquelme or Verón? Are both players capable of playing together? Will this be of greater benefit or a disadvantage for Argentina? Who should captain the side? Or is it time for Argentina (Maradona) to give more opportunities to their emerging stars?

Gregory Sica, Goal.com