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Argentina defender,
Martin Demichelis, believes the Albiceleste will have an edge over the
Super Eagles when both sides meet on Saturday owing to the fact that,
unlike the Nigerians, they don’t have any injury concerns.

The Super Eagles,
like so many other teams taking part in the World Cup, are in South
Africa without some of their best legs, most notably Victor Anichebe,
Onyekachi Apam, and John Obi Mikel, no thanks to injuries.

Anichebe and Apam
were not selected for the World Cup as a result of their inabilities to
shrug off their respective injuries; while Mikel, who made the final
squad list for the World Cup, had to pull out after failing to overcome
a knee injury he picked up while on duty with his English Premier
League side Chelsea.

In contrast,
Argentina don’t have any injury problems to contend with, and
Demichelis believes that will give them an upper hand ahead of their
opening encounter against the Super Eagles.

Good fortune

“We are having the
good fortune that other teams are not,” Demichelis told a news
conference at Argentina’s base in the University of Pretoria sports
complex. “We’ve had no injuries and that gives the coaching staff the
confidence to demand the maximum from us,” added the Bayern Munich
star. I’m confident that in the remaining days we’ll be able to get
there in very good shape,” he said, with reference to Saturday’s
encounter against the Super Eagles scheduled for Ellis Park in
Johannesburg.

Demichelis added: “Some teams have played too many friendlies. Luckily Diego opted to come here and train in tranquillity.”

Selection headache

In Lionel Messi,
Argentina boast the world’s top player. They also have other top
forwards like Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Diego
Milito; but only Messi is guaranteed a starter’s shirt with their coach
Diego Maradona left with the burden of selecting who will get to
partner the Barcelona superstar in the attack against the Super Eagles.

But irrespective of this, Demichelis still thinks the Albiceleste
have an edge over the Super Eagles who, in his opinion, still don’t
have a team. “Diego has a big headache picking his side while Nigeria
have doubts,” he said. “I think that they may have some issues to
resolve in some positions and won’t get there (to the match) as good as
us.”