South American Debate: Move Over Messi And Meet Argentina’s Key To Success

Argentina’s struggle to qualify for the 2010 World Cup took everyone by surprise. After all they have an embarrassment of riches in nearly every department of the pitch as well having the soon to be crowned FIFA World Player of the Year at their disposal.

But it is not Lionel Messi who will be key to Argentina’s mission in South Africa. Nor will it be either one of Madrid-based pair of Gonzalo Higuain or Sergio Agüero. You can also discount 'El Jefecito' Javier Mascherano as all of these players will be marching to the drum of one man.

Juan Sebastián Veron is playing his football like a man possessed at the moment. Have a look at his thunderbolt in the top of the table clash between Estudiantes de La Plata and Banfield last week for quick confirmation.

The performances for his hometown club since returning to Argentina from Europe have been nothing short of sensational. He is currently chasing a second league title with Estudiantes and will be out to retain the Copa Libertadores next season.

The Premier League winner grew up hearing stories of his father’s playing days at Estudiantes. Veron Snr. picked up three Argentine titles, three Copa Libertadores triumphs and an Intercontinental Cup win over Matt Busby’s Manchester United.

With the club pulsing through Veron Jnr.’s veins he was sending money home to rebuild Estudiantes’ training facilities while clubs in Europe were shelling out close to £80 million in transfer fees on the Argentine.

The 2008 South American Footballer of the Year makes no secret of his desire to become the Estudiantes’ president when he finally hangs his boots up. Before any of that, though, 'La Brujita' still has unfinished business with both club and country.

Veron played every minute of Argentina’s World Cup campaign at France 1998, converting a penalty against England in the second round. Argentina were dumped out in the quarter-final, however, with a defeat to Holland.

After being handed the captaincy for the 2002 World Cup Veron was made the scapegoat after the Albicelestes crashed out in the first round. A provocative gesture to his own bench during the defeat to England was taken badly back home and his ratings plummeted.

When he was eventually left out of the squad for Argentina’s visit to Germany in 2006, the two time Scudetto winner’s international career seemed to have come to a premature end.

The midfielder was called in from the cold however by failing Argentina coach Alfio Basile and got the nod to start against Ecuador in a 2010 World Cup qualifier. It was hardly a dream return as Veron was withdrawn late on for Rodrigo Palacio, who grabbed a late equaliser.

Veron was then dropped again until Diego Maradona took over from Basile. His recall may well have been down to a certain Juan Roman Riquelme snubbing the national team but still the former Lazio man relished his chance.

The boo-boys were in good voice as Veron came on in El Diego’s first competitive game in charge. Despite Argentina running out convincing 4-0 winners over Venezuela it was clear that the crowd still remembered ‘Seba’ for the disappointment of the 2002 World Cup.

It took a few more games for Veron to get the crowd back on side and it happened surprisingly enough during Brazil’s 3-1 defeat of Argentina in Rosario. The knowledgeable crowd recognised the playmaker's good work down the left as he looked to exploit Brazil’s only obvious weakness.

With qualification secured, Maradona must come up with and stick to a plan for success in South Africa. That plan turns out to be pairing Higuain and Messi up front and Mascherano and another holding midfielder in the middle of the park.

The go-to man linking midfield and attack will be Veron and he alone wiil be charged with dictating the play for Argentina. If he turns up in South Africa showing the kind of form he is producing for Estudiantes then it looks like Maradona may not be as tactically naive as his current record suggests.

The best part of the plan is that the world will be no wiser to it after the upcoming friendlies against Spain and Nigeria. Veron simply cannot be spared by Estudiantes as the 2009 Argentina Apertura heads towards its business end.

Is Veron the missing link for Argentina? Does El Diego have to go to back to the drawing board again? How do Argentina get the best out of Messi? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think...

Tim Sturtridge, Goal.com