Little big man Ayala stands tall for Argentina

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

HERZOGENAURACH, June 12 (Reuters) For Argentina's veteran World Cup defender Roberto Ayala it is nearly always cat and mouse defending against bigger and taller forwards.

Ayala, nicknamed Raton (mouse), has stood out in his career for the brilliant anticipation and timing that helps him beat taller and bigger players to the ball.

The 1.77-metre centre back had the better of striker Didier Drogba, despite a three-centimetre height disadvantage, for most of Argentina's 2-1 win over Ivory Coast in their Group C opener in Hamburg at the weekend.

Drogba is not the only big forward and certainly not the tallest Ayala could come up against in the tournament.

Serbia's Savo Milosevic, whom Ayala could meet in Friday's Group C match in Gelsenkirchen, is another at 1.87-metres.

Ayala is at his third World Cup although he did not play at all in Asia four years ago after suffering an injury warming up for Argentina's opening match.

Despite missing the action in Japan, the 33-year-old has amassed 101 caps since his debut in November 1994 in a friendly against Chile.

If Argentina reach the semi-finals in Germany with him an ever-present in defence, Ayala can beat Diego Simeone's record of 106 caps in the final or third-place playoff.

Argentina could come up in the quarter-finals against England, who have the 2.04-metre tall Peter Crouch among their attackers.

''It's hard to mark that kind of forward, even more so now when you could be penalised for a foul and give away a free kick,'' Ayala said, analysing the particular task of dealing with beanpole strikers like Crouch and Czech Jan Koller.

SECOND PHASE ''Maybe you've got to let them head the ball and go for the second (phase) ball,'' he told reporters at Argentina's World Cup base.

''Go for the ball with him,'' Ayala continued with his advice.

''Try to prevent him from winning it and heading it comfortably, but above all go for that second action.

''Don't try to take him earlier (outside the box) because he can get in behind your back.

''I think the important thing is for him not to be comfortable, have him know that he is going to be marked and that he's not going to find it easy to turn.'' REUTERS PDS BD2141

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