Zabba Captain Of Argentina ??!!

[Ted Hughes]

Sorry if I'm being stupid & everyone's been talking about this & I've missed it but reports ont net seem to suggest that Zabba is Captain of Argy. Did we all know this ?

If true, how well deserved.

[Fesan]

He has barely made the team before so would surprise me but as you said, deserved.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Ummmmm....where did you get this? He hasn't exactly been regular in recent years.

[Ted Hughes]

Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta has said he is delighted to lead out Argentina against Nigeria in Wednesday’s friendly at the Abuja National Stadium.

It will be Zabaleta’s first time to lead his country’s team and he said it will be special honour for him.

“It will be an amazing experience for me and I will it my everything,” promised the Manchester City star easily the biggest name in the young squad coach Sergio Batista has opted for on this trip to Nigeria.

Zabaleta admitted Argentina will be without top stars like Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez, but at the same time he insisted his team still have the quality to win this encounter.

“It’s a special game and we want to win it. We don’t have the top names you are expecting but we still got talent, new players who want to show they want to be at the Copa America,” he stressed.

The 26-year-old defender or defensive midfielder, first capped by his country in 2005, also said he expects a physical battle by Nigeria.

“African teams are physically very strong and with them playing at home with their big, tall players, we should not expect an easy game,” Zabaleta predicted.

“They have quality upfront and so we have to be solid at the back, try to keep the ball and be aggressive when we attack.”

[Goaters 103]

Glad he's skipper and all that but in reality its a B international at best.

[Ted Hughes]

Glad he's skipper and all that but in reality its a B international at best.

Considering he didn't even get picked previously, it won't feel like a B international to him. Delighted for him.

P.S. he can do a bit of scouting for us with the young Argy players while he's at it!

[Beefymcfc]

It's the scar's that did it.

[blues-clues]

Pablo Zabbaletta - The man who is considering changing the name on his shirt to pAB zAB so that medics know what sort of blood transfusion to have ready whenever he steps onto the pitch.

[Ted Hughes]

He's in the preliminary squad for the Copa too along with Tevez.

If Tevez plays there I've got mixed feelings. One the one hand (if he stays) he'll have played a load of extra games but on the other hand, he'll be reporting back match fit (not match fat) & raring to go, which, if we make the huge mistake (again) of not signing another striker, means that we don't have to worry so much about Balotelli's glass knee.

[Esky]

Still bemused by Maradona not picking him for the WC when Otamendi, Rodriguez and Garce (who'd played something like 3 international friendlies in 8 years before being picked) got in.

Sure he'll be a regular for Batista from here on out though. Good player, committed and versatile.

Pablo Zabbaletta - The man who is considering changing the name on his shirt to pAB zAB so that medics know what sort of blood transfusion to have ready whenever he steps onto the pitch.

That's funny and all, but AB people can be given blood from anyone.

[Fesan]

Still bemused by Maradona not picking him for the WC when Otamendi, Rodriguez and Garce (who'd played something like 3 international friendlies in 8 years before being picked) got in.

Sure he'll be a regular for Batista from here on out though. Good player, committed and versatile.

To be fair to Maradona Zab has taken big strides in his game since then. He is IMO twice the player he was Two years ago.