Revenge not the word

The Nigeria footballers jog ahead of training at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.Photo: STAR

Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella denied that they would be out for revenge when the two-time world champions take on African champions Nigeria in a friendly at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka today.
"Revenge is not a good word to use. This is not a war," said Sabella, disappointing the near hundred journalists who had gathered at the ballroom of the Ruposhi Bangla hotel yesterday.
The press were understandably trying to play the 'revenge' angle, considering that Argentina had suffered a genuinely humbling 4-1 loss to the same opponents in Abudja in June. And given that this was a friendly international at a neutral venue, any form of incitement would add to the excitement surrounding the game.
But although the trap was set, Sabella was not biting, and although he admitted that he would like to win today's match, he left no doubt in saying that his main focus would be to understand better a side that he had inherited only a month back.
"We will try to win," said Sabella in almost flawless, albeit heavily accented English.
"It is a different game altogether from the one we played in Nigeria. Different because this is being played on a neutral venue," he continued, before adding bullishly, "I don't know which team Nigeria will be fielding tomorrow, but we feel stronger than them anyway."
Sabella's words though, will have to be backed up by substance, especially after a stop-start victory against Venezuela in his first match in charge at Kolkata on Friday.
"I am not really worried especially because we are creating chances. If we did not create chances, we would be worried but we made good movements and created many chances [against Venezuela]. The strikers could not score, but I am not worried because with confidence the strikers will start scoring," he said.
Sabella readily admitted that he was new to the game and the former Estudiantes manager stressed that getting to know his team would still be his main goal.
"I'm a new coach. I'm just starting to know players, and the players too are starting to know me. This is not really a very promising position to be in," he said.
Argentina had used a hybrid 4-3-3 in their game against Venezuela with Marseille man Lucho Gonzalez and Javier Mascherano marshalling the midfield. Lionel Messi lined-up on the right side of a front three with Gonzalo Higuain at the tip and Angel di Maria on the left.
Sabella admitted that there might be changes considering his charges had played only on Friday, but according to rumours he might be trying out a new formation with a 3 man backline and two wing-backs.
Ricky Alvarez is expected to lose is place in the line-up to Nicolas Burdisso who will then step into defence, while Jose Sosa or Javier Pastore will take up the reigns in midfield in place of Lucho Gonzalez.
Argentina's training session was also relatively light, with the team concentrating mostly on set pieces and passing drills.
Nigeria, who only played against Madagascar on Sunday night, also mainly focused on recovery drills and their coach Samson Siasia admitted that it would be a challenge to beat Argentina.
"Messi is the best player in the world," he said adding that he was happy with the conditions of the ground.
"The turf is absolutely fine and the weather is exactly like it is in Abudja," he said.
But the battle lines have been drawn. Today at 7 pm, Chelsea's John Obi Mikel will lead out the Super Eagles against the Albiceleste led by Lionel Messi. The last time that happened was at the final of the World Youth Cup in 2005 in the Netherlands. On that occasion, Messi scored twice as Argentina emerged victorious. A repeat of that would stand very well with the locals who will be packed into the Bangabandhu National Stadium.