ARGENTINA ON THE TOP

ARGENTINA ON THE TOP Once the sole preserve of the mighty Brazil, the number one spot in the FIFA/Coca Cola World Ranking has just changed hands for the second time in as many months.

After storming to the summit on the back of their stunning triumph at Germany 2006, Italy have just relinquished first place to a rejuvenated Argentina. It is the first time in their illustrious history that the Albicelestes have hit the top, and their timing could hardly have been better with the first major objective of the Alfio Basile era, the Copa America Venezuela 2007, just a matter of months away.
The South Americans climbed the two places they needed to reach the peak courtesy of a superb away win in France last month and the devaluation of previous results record by Brazil, Italy and Argentina themselves.

Mix it up and start again
Since sliding out of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™ at the hands of the hosts in Berlin, a defeat that prompted Jose Pekerman's resignation, Argentina have undergone a transitional phase, setting themselves a host of new objectives in the process. Alfio Basile was appointed to the post he vacated in 1994 with an ambitious new approach in mind: to build a side around home-based players while bringing in the best of the Europe-based contingent.

"I want to be a coach, not just someone who picks the team," declared the man they call Coco just after taking over last year. "There's a massive difference between picking players, watching them for two days before a game and going out onto the pitch, and building a group, getting together during the week and working on the basic concepts that concern me. My aim is to create a group ethic."

Nevertheless, Basile has had to bide his time before implementing his philosophy. After kicking off his reign with friendly defeats against Brazil and Spain no less, he went into the February clash with France with a squad made up solely of Europe-based players.

The side that ran out at the Stade de France was based largely on the Germany 2006 squad and the stars did not disappoint, seeing off the FIFA World Cup runners-up with a Javier Saviola goal. "Up to now we've played against only the top international sides and if you think about the stature of a team like France, then it gives you even greater satisfaction," Basile later commented. Little did he know that the win in Paris would also have an instant impact on his side's world ranking.



Argentina coach Alfio Basile, pictured here instructing his players at the Stade de France, has made a point of forming his squad around a home-based core.
(REUTERS)
Charles Platiau
Figures that speak for themselves
Argentina have flirted with top spot many times before, levering themselves into second place on various occasions in 2001, 2002 and 2005. This time around though, the men in blue and white have gone one step further, capitalising on Italy's inactivity and Brazil's defeat to Portugal to sneak to the top of the standings.
Victory over the French also ended the Albicelestes' eight-month run without a win in normal time, a barren spell that stretches back to their six-goal demolition of Serbia and Montenegro last June.

Following that exhibition in Gelsenkirchen, Argentina drew with Holland, defeated Mexico in extra time and then lost to Germany on penalties before slipping to those consecutive defeats to Brazil and Spain. For Basile, victory over Les Bleus could not have come at a more opportune time.

With a record 107 appearances to his name, captain Roberto Ayala has a keener appreciation than most of the importance of the French success: "When you pull the shirt on you have to win, and the fact is we needed that win to strengthen the group and show that we're still a formidable outfit."



Juan Sebastian Veron (R) trains alongside River Plate's Fernando Belluschi after Basile ended the Estudiantes midfielder's four-year international exile.
(REUTERS)
Marcos Brindicci
New faces, old dreams
Having overcome the FIFA World Cup runners-up, Basile decided that the time was right to implement his revolution and called up 21 Argentina-based players with preparations for the forthcoming Copa America in mind.
And so for the first time in many years the Argentinian Football Association's training complex at Ezeiza welcomed a host of new faces, the men charged with the task of maintaining the national side's global ascendancy.

"Even if it's just a get-together for lunch, it's good to meet up three times a week and build up team spirit," explained Basile. "I want this to be the foundation for the Copa America."