Batistuta might miss the Argentina-Brazil game July 26. But it doesn't get any easier for Brazil because Crespo is his replacement:
Argentina replaces Batistuta with Crespo
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (July 13, 2000 5:10 p.m. EDT http://www.sportserver.com) - Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa said on Thursday he was fortunate to be able to replace injured striker Gabriel Batistuta with a player of Hernan Crespo's calibre for next Wednesday's match against Ecuador.
The Argentine side, which has won all four World Cup qualifying matches to date, will not change its strategy despite the absence of Roma's Batistuta, Bielsa told reporters in Buenos Aires.
Bielsa said few national teams had the luxury of a quality backup such as Hernan Crespo, who was transferred earlier this week from Parma to Italian champions Lazio for a world record $54.16 million.
"It's very unusual for a team to have so many quality players, so much depth, it's not common at all," Bielsa said.
Crespo will shift to the striker position replacing "Batigol," who injured a knee tendon and is also doubtful for Argentina's match against Brazil the following week.
Argentina have sent a team doctor to Rome to check on the injury.
The coach faces a challenge in keeping his team from looking beyond Ecuador, who have six points from four games, to the their next match against Brazil -- Argentina's fiercest rivals.
"Ecuador boast players who overall are very creative. It is a very complex team that we must confront and we have that firmly in mind," said Bielsa.
Argentina: Roberto Bonano; Roberto Sensini, Roberto Ayala, Walter Samuel; Javier Zanetti, Diego Simeone, Cristian Gonzalez; Juan Sebastian Veron, Ariel Ortega; Claudio Lopez, Hernan Crespo.
Argentina replaces Batistuta with Crespo
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (July 13, 2000 5:10 p.m. EDT http://www.sportserver.com) - Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa said on Thursday he was fortunate to be able to replace injured striker Gabriel Batistuta with a player of Hernan Crespo's calibre for next Wednesday's match against Ecuador.
The Argentine side, which has won all four World Cup qualifying matches to date, will not change its strategy despite the absence of Roma's Batistuta, Bielsa told reporters in Buenos Aires.
Bielsa said few national teams had the luxury of a quality backup such as Hernan Crespo, who was transferred earlier this week from Parma to Italian champions Lazio for a world record $54.16 million.
"It's very unusual for a team to have so many quality players, so much depth, it's not common at all," Bielsa said.
Crespo will shift to the striker position replacing "Batigol," who injured a knee tendon and is also doubtful for Argentina's match against Brazil the following week.
Argentina have sent a team doctor to Rome to check on the injury.
The coach faces a challenge in keeping his team from looking beyond Ecuador, who have six points from four games, to the their next match against Brazil -- Argentina's fiercest rivals.
"Ecuador boast players who overall are very creative. It is a very complex team that we must confront and we have that firmly in mind," said Bielsa.
Argentina: Roberto Bonano; Roberto Sensini, Roberto Ayala, Walter Samuel; Javier Zanetti, Diego Simeone, Cristian Gonzalez; Juan Sebastian Veron, Ariel Ortega; Claudio Lopez, Hernan Crespo.