Bielsa's selection quandary

Veron was disappointing against England

By Tim Vickery BBC Sport Online

Right from the start, from El Hadji Diouf's performance for Senegal against France, this World Cup has highlighted the value of the rapid and skilful lone striker who can take on a defence on his own.

Argentina's Gabriel Batistuta and Hernan Crespo are not this type of attacker.

They are power players who round off good collective play with fierce finishing.

So far in the World Cup Argentina have been unable to supply their strikers with the kind of service they were getting in qualification.

Bielsa's team struggled against England

And unless they put it right against Sweden they are facing an early exit.

In part the problem is individual.

Players are off form - such as Juan Sebastian Veron, who gave his worst performance for his country against England.

Others have had their season affected by injury, such as the Rome based trio of Diego Simeone, Crespo and Batistuta.

Another possible explanation is the style of play.

Coach Marcelo Bielsa loves having attackers in wide spaces trying to get behind the opposing defence.

Vulnerable

And many of their goals in qualification came from crosses.

But South American defences are often vulnerable to balls played across their own penalty area.

The likes of England are more used to dealing with the threat.

Wednesday's opponents Sweden, however, have looked surprisingly shaky against the high ball.

Both the goals they have conceded in this World Cup came from crosses - and in their farewell match in Stockholm, Paraguay beat them with two headed goals.

So effective wide play could be the key to victory for Argentina.

Now recovered from injury, Claudio Caniggia could come off the bench to supply some right wing trickery.

A place in the starting line up will surely be found for Valencia's Pablo Aimar, who produced a good second half against England.

Bielsa's dilemma surround who to leave out.

Ortega lacks the killer pass

On Friday Aimar came on for Veron - but it would be a brave decision to leave out the man who has been the side's best player over the past two years.

Another option is to leave out Ariel Ortega, who promises much but seldom seems to deliver the killer ball.

Veron's place in doubt

The boldest choice of the lot would be to leave out Simeone, push Veron deeper and give Javier Zanetti extra marking duties.

Veron began his career playing in front of the back four, and has played there this year in Simeone's absence.

He enjoys combining with Aimar, and having both of them in the side would surely put a strain on the Swedish marking.

Maybe then Argentina could hit the right collective wavelength and create chances for Crespo or Batistuta.