The Argentina coach, Alejandro Sabella, has sought a middle ground between the two opposing schools of Argentine coaching philosophy, the all-out attacking Menottistas and the more pragmatic, defence-minded Bilardistas. It is easy to assume that, because the Albiceleste count on the attacking talents of Lionel Messi, their play would roughly reflect that of the Rosario-born genius's Barcelona employers. That has indeed been tried at international level by previous coaches such as Sergio Batista, but to little effect.

据英国《卫报》报道，阿根廷的足球理念中，包含两个对立的派别，分别是崇尚全力进攻的“梅诺蒂派”（Menottistas），以及更加实用、重视防守的“比拉尔多派”（Bilardistas）。而阿根廷国家队主教练萨维利亚则成功地在两种理念中找到了平衡。凭感觉看，阿根廷队的打法将是巴萨的粗糙翻版，因为蓝白军团毕竟要依靠梅西的进攻才华。确实，在之前的国际赛事中，前主帅巴蒂斯塔就是实践此战术的教练之一，但收效甚微。

Sabella was wise enough to note on taking over after the 2011 Copa América that while Argentina's offensive talent was second to none on an international stage, the same could not be said for those working behind Messi. There is no Xavi, no Andrés Iniesta pulling the strings, a crucial component for the Catalans. What the coach did, therefore, was inject startling pace into the team's tactical structure.

萨维利亚十分明智地在2011年美洲杯后接手国家队。那届杯赛中，潘帕斯雄鹰的攻击线异常华丽，放眼世界足坛无人能及。但提到梅西身后的中场球员，怕是不能这样说了。阿根廷阵中没有哈维，没有伊涅斯塔；而后者的穿针引线，恰是巴萨战术不可或缺的一环。因此，阿根廷主帅能做的，只是尽可能让球队提速。

A typical Argentina team will adopt a 4-3-3 formation, with Messi taking up the 'false nine' position he assumes at the Camp Nou. Gonzalo Higuaín and Sergio Agüero flank La Pulga ('the flea' - as Messi is known back home), creating a potent force in the final third. But the biggest influence to the team's mentality is situated slightly behind this fearsome front three. Ángel Di María plays from midfield on the left, but when Argentina break on the counter the Real Madrid player acts almost as a fourth forward.

一支典型的阿根廷队会使用4-3-3战术：梅西出任“伪9号”，与在诺坎普位置相同；伊瓜因和阿圭罗分居两翼，与跳蚤（梅西的昵称）组成攻击力强悍的三叉戟。但真正主导球队的是三人身后默默无闻的中场球员：迪马利亚出任左中场，但球队反击时，皇马飞翼会成为第四个前锋。

The side are most dangerous not when building up slowly from the centre-circle forwards, but when the opposition is stretched and holes appear on the counter-attack. In that sense, if one feels compelled to make comparisons then Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid line-up is possibly a more faithful benchmark for this team. When they attack, they do so rapidly, in great numbers, and using the length and breadth of the pitch. Here Fernando Gago's diagonal balls, angled out to Higuaín on the right or Di María on the opposite flank, serve as the first step in opening up the field and stretching the opposition.

阿根廷中场推进速度过慢，但这还不是最令人担忧的。最危险的地方在于中场攻上去之后，身后留下的空档极易为对手的反击所利用。在这方面，如果非比较一下不可，那么安切洛蒂的皇马在阵容上与这支阿根廷最为相似。阿根廷攻击速度快，参与进攻人手多，能充分利用场地的宽度和深度。加戈的对角线长传能够准确找到右路的伊瓜因，或另一边的迪马利亚，这将成为阿根廷队由守转攻、碾压对手的第一步。

Messi, meanwhile, takes a deeper role than he does for Barcelona, often seen closer to the halfway line than the penalty spot. The No10 is the engine behind Argentina going forward, covering far more ground than he is often given credit for.

同时，梅西将会比在巴萨阵中回撤得更深，更靠近中线而非禁区。作为球队进攻核心，阿根廷10号在场上要覆盖更大的区域。

At the back, Javier Mascherano plays a vital role breaking up opposition forays before they have the chance to unsettle a still largely unproven central defensive pair of Ezequiel Garay and Federico Fernández. In the middle the Albiceleste can hold their own on the back foot; the real weakness of the side comes down the wings, where both Peru and Ecuador recently gave them serious trouble by focusing their efforts on the channels down both sides of the pitch.

后防线上，马斯切拉诺是绝对的领袖，负责在中后卫加雷和费尔南德斯扫荡，破坏对手的进攻，以防对方前锋有机会造成威胁，毕竟阿根廷中卫二人组首次搭档，尚未在大赛中证明自己的实力。蓝白军团无需担忧中场的控制力，反而要特别留意两翼的空档，那里才是阿根廷队的弱点所在。前不久，秘鲁和厄瓜多尔正是在两侧通道给阿根廷带来很大麻烦。

Who is the player who is going to surprise everyone at the World Cup?

谁将惊艳巴西？

Fernando Gago's career in Europe has so far been an exercise in frustration. The cultured central midfielder was brought over by Real Madrid from Boca Juniors at the age of 20, perhaps too young, especially in a position where there is a steep learning curve for any aspiring professional.

加戈的旅欧生涯目前看来令人沮丧，这位优雅的中场球员年仅20岁就从博卡青年登陆皇马。但加戈似乎太年轻了，尤其是作为一名中场球员，要学习的非常多，想出人头地太困难了。

Now 28, the player made a bright start to life at the Bernabéu but a mixture of injuries and the club's wildly unpredictable policies regarding coaches and signings were not exactly conducive to the Argentine settling in to a regular position. A spell at Valencia, and subsequent moves back home with Boca and previously Vélez Sarsfield, have also been stunted by a lack of fitness and too many games missed.

加戈今年已经28岁了，他在伯纳乌开启精彩的职业生涯，却因频繁的伤病以及俱乐部难以捉摸的政策，难以获得稳定的首发位置。随后加戈在瓦伦西亚短暂效力期间，租借回阿根廷，先后加盟博卡青年和萨斯菲尔德俱乐部，却又因伤病错过不少比赛。

But curiously, his club inertia has not translated on to the international stage, where Gago has become a key part of Sabella's game plan. The player takes up the role of a deep-lying playmaker within the Argentine midfield, receiving the ball often deep in his own half and aiming to launch a counter-attack. With Mascherano behind him and Di María a constant passing option out wide, Gago has the freedom to think on the ball and show his true talent, to often devastating effect.

但令人好奇的是，加戈在俱乐部习惯性伤病，并未影响其在国家队的状态，在萨维利亚的阿根廷中，加戈理所当然成为重要角色。阿根廷人在阵中回撤很深，扮演中场组织者，经常在本方半场拿球，完成攻防转换。有马斯切拉诺在身后保护，迪马利亚的持续传球策应，加戈只需将精力集中在皮球上，尽显他的进攻才华，送出致命一传。

His range of passing and vision meant that many of the Albiceleste goals during World Cup qualifying were instigated by him, making the first crucial pass to set the machine in motion.

在世界杯预选赛上，加戈凭借出色的长传和视野，常常能完成关键第一传，策动球队进攻，主导了潘帕斯雄鹰的很多进球。

Every Argentine player is desperate to win the World Cup. But Gago also possesses a more personal motive for success. A string of impressive performances in Brazil could rejuvenate his career, putting him back in the shop window for some of Europe's top clubs.

阿根廷阵中每一位球员都渴望举起大力神杯，但加戈对成功有着更强的动力，他期待自己在巴西世界杯能有精彩表现，重获生涯第二春，以便再次引起一些欧洲豪门的兴趣。

Who is the player who is going to disappoint the most?

谁将巴西失意？

As in 2010, the Argentine defence is going to be under fierce scrutiny. It should not pose a problem in a distinctly weak-looking group; but from the last 16 onwards, and especially in the quarter-final, where a clash against Portugal or (perish the thought) Germany once more could be on the cards, the backline will have to be at its finest.

回顾2010年世界杯的表现，阿根廷必须重新审视自己的后防线。即便小组赛对手实力较弱，尚无需担忧。一旦进入淘汰赛，尤其是八强战极有可能对战葡萄牙，或再次与德国队碰面（最坏打算），阿根廷后方必须保持自己最佳状态。

While many commentators focus on the young left-back Marcos Rojo as the weak link, Federico Fernández is also a potential liability in the middle of the first-choice back four. The Napoli player is strong in the air but not particularly mobile or perceptive, and often needs his partner, Garay, to come to his rescue. His deficiencies could be found out once the tournament reaches its crucial stages.

虽然很多评论家都在强调，年轻的左边后卫罗霍（Marcos Rojo）一侧实力较弱，但首选中卫之一的费尔南德斯，同样是防线上很大的隐患。那不勒斯中卫制空能力出色，但灵活性和防守意识较差，通常需要搭档加雷来补位。每到关键比赛，费尔南德斯的弱点便愈发明显。

What is the realistic aim for your team at the World Cup and why?

切实可行的目标？

Realistically, nothing less than an appearance in the final or, at the very least, semi-final should be expected from one of the most talented teams in the competition. Argentina have never been short of attacking talent. What Sabella has done since being in charge of the team is tether that enthusiasm for goals to a collective system, something his predecessors were not able to achieve. The Albiceleste of 2014 go forward and back as a team, something that could weigh heavily in their favour once the action begins.

说实话，拥有如此多天才的球队，就算不进决赛，最少也要打进四强，才不会让球迷失望。阿根廷阵中从来不缺少攻击手，萨维利亚接手球队以来，他的任务就是建立一套行之有效的体系，将进攻的热情转化为进球，这是他的前任教练们都没有做到的事。蓝白军团作为一个整体，无论继续前行还是打道回府，一旦开始，阿根廷众将都将承受不小的压力。

（译者 SurpassZhao 编辑 齐磊）