Snak

El Tri´s best performance of 2013

With the addition of two former Argentines, Mexico defeated the Ivory Coast 4-1 in an international friendly, revealing an El Tri squad capable of potent offense, a key element that had been missing from Mexico´s play all year.

The emphatic win and the stylish play that delivered it may have saved the tenure of coach Jose Manuel "Chepo" de la Torre and at least for a brief while quieted some of the doubts that have been generated by the team’s poor play to this point.

De la Torre wasted no time adding the experience of Christian "Chaco" Gimenez to Mexico´s roster soon after the citizenship of Gimenez became official. The experienced midfielder started the match and seemed to fit right in, making attacking runs and putting in precise passes. He was indirectly responsible for the 9th-minute opening goal, as his position to receive Oribe Peralta´s pass in front of goal was so dangerous that it forced Ivory Coast defender Artur Boka into a risky block that resulted in an own-goal.

It´s unfair to say that Gimenez or Damien Alvarez, who also played well once he entered the match, saved Mexico. They contributed to a united team effort that was better on every front than Mexico has generally produced this year.

Peralta scored the second goal, a scorcher of a shot that announced to everyone in the stadium that he has truly returned from his injury troubles. He also put the finishing touch on Mexico’s third goal, a play built up by Giovani Dos Santos in the final minute of the half.

Perhaps expecting the distracted, unfocused El Tri squad that has often appeared on the field of late, the Ivory Coast players seemed alternately stunned and befuddled by the dynamic performance of Mexico.

During halftime of the match in New Jersey´s MetLife Stadium, the song blasted over the venue´s speakers seemed to encapsulate the change evident in Mexico´s play.

Work it harder, make it better
Do it faster, makes us stronger

Jesus Corona was solid in goal, though he could do nothing to prevent the Ivory Coast from scoring via a penalty kick in the second half. Gerardo Torrado was whistled for a handball in the box, and Didier Drogba put the spot-kick chance away well.

Corona´s dependability in goal, as well as the Mexican defense in general, have been bright spots during De la Torre’s time with Mexico. The midfield and the attack, however, have been dismal -- with few exceptions -- time and again.

This time, however, it wasn´t just one enterprising player, such as Dos Santos, having a good game. Peralta was probably the most impressive, but the team was a revelation as a whole, with cohesive movement of the ball, and consistently probing possibilities to create goals.

El Tri´s black uniforms seemed to be ninja outfits, based on how the players managed to beat an athletic Ivory Coast squad to nearly every ball, how well they anticipated runs and weighed passes to the right people at the right time.

Thus, it wasn’t surprising that the game’s final goal was claimed by Mexico. Minutes after Alvarez had gift-wrapped a pass to Angel Reyna, who managed to head it wide even though he was wide open, Reyna found redemption in the 90th minute. This time, a pass from Diego Reyes gave him an opportunity, and he did not waste it.

Perhaps De la Torre’s new humble attitude helped changed things around for Mexico. It might have been that the critics and media have provoked the players to rally around their embattled coach. Perhaps the new naturalized players brought needed energy to the squad. Maybe they just pushed everyone on the squad to prove their level. Or perhaps it was just the combination of all those factors and some unknown ones as well.

For whatever reason -- or reasons -- this is the best Mexico has looked all year, and those ingredients need to be bottled and kept for the next match when it really matters.

Post match bla bla fra Sabella efter sejren over Italien...

Sabella: "El equipo fue solidario"

BUENOS AIRES -- El seleccionador argentino Alejandro Sabella se mostró conforme con el trabajo realizado en la victoria como visitante de Italia por 2-1 y valoró que sin Lionel Messi en la cancha el equipo haya jugado bien colectivamente.

"Hicimos un muy buen partido. El equipo fue solidario, tuvo carácter y fuerza de voluntad. Jugamos en función de equipo y eso es muy positivo", evaluó el director técnico en conferencia de prensa, tras el cotejo internacional que se desarrolló en el estadio Olímpico de Roma.

Y añadió: "Tratamos de mantener una esquema parecido al que venimos usando. Mantuvimos la línea de cuatro, los tres volantes y ubicamos a (Erik) Lamela y (Rodrigo) Palacio un poco más atrás que (Gonzalo) Higuain. Un esquema con jugadores para recuperar el balón, pero con alma para llegar al gol. Por momentos, sobre todo en el primer tiempo, logramos que la cosa funcione bien".

Con respecto a cómo funcionó el equipo sin la presencia de Messi, su figura estelar, Sabella, confió: "Cualquier equipo que tiene a Messi en su plantel y juega sin él no va a poder nunca alcanzar el mismo nivel. Messi es un jugador irremplazable. Se puede disimular su ausencia, pero reemplazarlo no".

Y siguió con su análisis: "Por momentos nos faltó desdoble ofensivo, algo que tiene que ver con el esfuerzo físico. Después, cuando Italia se cansó, tuvimos más espacios y volvimos a atacar, pero hubo 20 minutos que nos dedicamos prácticamente a defender. Y eso no es bueno". Después se refirió a los rendimientos de Angel Di María y Rodrigo Palacio.

Con respecto al jugador de Real Madrid, destacó: "Hizo un trabajo para el equipo. Le pedimos que haga un trabajo diferente al que hace en el Real madrid y está haciendo un gran esfuerzo en función del equipo".

Luego se fue en elogios hacia el exdelantero de Boca Juniors: "Palacio es un jugador con una capacidad de equipo cien por cien. Es inteligentísimo para buscar espacios cuando el equipo tiene la pelota y también cuando no la tiene. Tiene una gran condición atlética y es un ejemplo a seguir".

Higuaín: "Una alegría muy grande"

BUENOS AIRES -- Sin el genio de Lionel Messi como socio de ataque, Gonzalo Higuaín se las arregló para abrir el marcador y asistir a Ever Banega en el segundo para convertirse en la figura del partido.

"Estoy contento, feliz, es una alegría muy grande cada vez que vengo acá (al seleccionado), y encima poder ganar y haber hecho un gol y encima por el motivo especial del Papa", sostuvo Higuaín tras el partido.

Resaltó el "seleccionado difícil" que enfrentó Argentina y el "buen espectáculo" que dio la Albiceleste.

"Tuvimos bajas importantes pero las pudimos suplir a gran nivel por los grandes jugadores que tenemos", destacó el flamante atacante del Napoli.

LA PALABRA DE LOS JUGADORES

Angel Di María, una de las figuras del seleccionado argentino, resaltó este miércoles el trabajo del equipo en el triunfo ante Italia por 2-1 en el Estadio Olímpico de Roma. "Creo que realizamos un buen trabajo. Veníamos cansados de la pretemporada e hicimos un esfuerzo muy grande, pero valió la pena. Ojala sigamos así", valoró Di María.

Y agregó: "Pese a no contar con Lio (Messi) el equipo rindió muy bien. Cuando está él tenemos un extra, pero creo que pese a la ausencia de él (por lesión) y de algún otro jugador pudimos conseguir otra importante victoria".

En tanto, el volante Lucas Biglia, evaluó: "El triunfo suma, aunque hay que corregir cosas para seguir creciendo. El calor nos terminó consumiendo y en el final ellos se vinieron y presionaron mucho. Pero por suerte ganamos y nos vamos muy contentos".

Por su parte, Javier Mascherano, quien ante la ausencia de Messi volvió a llevar el brazalete de capitán, comentó: "Hicimos un muy buen partido. Hubo cosas destacables, hemos salido bien desde atrás, tanto con los centrales como los laterales. Asumimos los riesgos y para crecer hay que tomar riesgos".

Maximiliano Rodríguez, el polifuncional futbolista de Newell´s Old Boys, subrayó: "Estoy muy contento por haberle ganado a un rival que va a ser candidato en el Mundial. Hay que seguir por este camino y apuntar a lo que viene: la Eliminatoria porque hay que clasificar al Mundial".

Tras este triunfo ante los italianos, el seleccionado de la AFA se enfocará justamente en su próximo compromiso por las Eliminatorias Sudamericanas para el Mundial de Brasil 2014, ya que el 10 de septiembre buscará asegurarse la clasificación cuando se mida ante los paraguayos en el Estadio de los Defensores del Chaco.

2 Runde af Copa Sudamericana

Racing Club 1 - 2 Lanús

Presidente Perón, Avellaneda, Argentina

http://www.youtube.com/w…C330w2hHfaY

BUENOS AIRES (DyN) -- Lanús aprovechó el cuarto de hora final de la primera etapa para superar por 2-1 a Racing, en el Cilindro de Avellaneda, en el partido de ida de la segunda ronda de la Copa Sudamericana.

Lucas Melano, a los 38 minutos de la parte inicial, y Silvio Romero, con una gran jugada sobre el final del segmento, sacaron ventajas para la visita. Valentín Viola descontó para la Academia cuando corrían 18 minutos de la parte decisiva.

La revancha será en cancha de Lanús en dos semanas y al conjunto de los hermanos Barros Schelotto le alcanzará con perder por un gol y no recibir más de un tanto para estar en la fase siguiente del certamen continental.

El arranque del partido fue vertiginoso. La pelota fue de área a área con juego asociado por parte de ambos equipos pero sin demasiada profundidad en los metros finales.

Racing comenzó a hacerse dueño de la pelota a partir de los 10 con buenos trabajos de Valentín Viola y Ricardo Centurión, quienes llevaron peligro al área granate.

Sobre los 20, Centurión desbordó por su sector, Agustín Marchesín desvió el envío bajo pero la pelota le quedó servida a Gabriel Hauche, quien remató de zurda y Carlos Araujo rechazó en la línea. El rebote le quedó a Rodrigo De Paul, pero su disparo rebotó en un defensor y se fue al corner.

Nuevamente Centurión desniveló por derecha sobre los 31. El talentoso futbolista académico cedió atrás para De Paul y nuevamente, bajo el arco, rechazó Araujo. Racing era más, pero su falta de contundencia le impidía ponerse en ventaja.

En cambio, cuando tuvo su oportunidad Lanús no la desaprovechó. A los 38 Paolo Goltz, sin marca, cabeceó un corner ejecutado desde la derecha, Saja logró sacar con lo justo abajo, tomó el balón Carlos Izquierdoz quien remató al travesaño y el último rebote le quedó a Melano que empujó la pelota para poner el 1-0.

Poco después, Lanús pudo ampliar la ventaja pero un tiro libre de Goltz que pegó en el travesaño. Sin embargo, sobre el final de la etapa la visita no iba a perdonar.

A los 45 Romero dejó desairada a toda la defensa local con una diagonal de izquierda hacia el centro para después "romperle" el arco a Saja con un remate violento, serllando el 2-0 parcial.

En el complemento racing se paró decididamente en campo contrario, fue más vertical y sigió insitiendo con los desbordes de Centurión por la derecha, que le trajeron continuos dolores de cabeza a la defensa granate.

El descuento se veía venir y llegó justo un minuto después de que Centurión dejara la cancha. El ingresado Roger martínez habilitó por derecha a De Paul, éste sacó un centro a la puerta del área menor para la aparición de Viola, quien con un potente cabezazó achicó distancias.

Racing insistió y enseguida tuvo una chance de igualar: primero con un cabezazo de Martínez, que se fue cerca del arco de Marchesín y poco después a través de Hauche que le picó la pelota a Marchesín pero elevó su envío.

A partir de entonces y hasta el final Racing siguió teniendo mayor dominio de pelota, pero Lanús se paró bien en defensa y aguantó el resultado que tiene aroma a clasificación.

Luiz Gustavo agrees terms with Wolfsburg - report

Bayern Munich´s Luiz Gustavo has agreed terms with Bundesliga rivals Wolfsburg according to reports in Germany.

The Brazilian defensive midfielder has been courted by Premier League side Arsenal but has reportedly turned down the Gunners in favour of staying in Germany.

Die Welt claims that the deal is done and that Gustavo will sign a long-term contract with the Bundesliga side after owners VW Group made him their priority this summer.

This news has emerged in the press before a reported announcement on Thursday on Gustavo´s future and it is speculated that the Brazilian will confirm his transfer to Wolfsburg.

Gustavo is leaving Bayern after he was made surplus to requirements by new boss Pep Guardiola.

"There´s not much to talk about," said Gustavo on his relationship with Guardiola, leading some to speculate that relations have cooled.

"We talk to each other from time to time, but nothing special. Less about personal matters than professional matters."

Neymar: Seleção were not good enough

Seleção star Neymar has admitted that they were not good enough to beat Switzerland as they crumbled to a 1-0 defeat in Basel.

A Dani Alves own goal put paid to Brazil´s hopes of a win and Neymar believes the performance wasn´t up to scratch.

The former Santos forward also criticised the rough treatment handed to him by the Swiss defenders, having himself escaped with a booking for a lunge on Stephan Lichtsteiner.

"We’re only just getting back to work now,” stated the 21-year-old. "Our players are in pre-season and it’s hard to get up to speed so quickly."

But the Barcelona star was optimistic about their chances in future matches and claimed that there is unity in the squad.

"It was great to reconnect with everyone. I am sure we will improve in the coming matches," Neymar added.

The Seleção will now continue to prepare for the upcoming 2014 World Cup with a series of friendlies over the new season.

Liverpool target Anzhi´s Willian - report

Liverpool have made an enquiry to Anzhi Makhachkala over the availability of Brazilian star Willian according to reports in England.

The Liverpool Echo claims that Brendan Rodgers has made the Anzhi winger his priority after a move for Diego Costa collapsed due to the Atletico Madrid star signed a new contract with his club.

Anzhi´s owner declared a fire sale last week after a period of ill health and reported financial issues.

The likes of Samuel Eto´o, Jucilei and Yuri Zhirkov were made available for transfer and Willian was also apparently included in the list.

This has alerted several Premier League sides such as Manchester City and Tottenham, but Liverpool have stolen a march and are reported to have begun talks with Anzhi.

Rodgers is aiming to add another attacker to his first-team squad in the coming weeks before the transfer window slams shut at the end of August.

RANDY HORTON: THE MANY HATS OF A NEW YORK COSMOS HERO

The North American Soccer League is often the butt of jokes for supporters in better established football nations than the United States. Aside from a flurry of star players in its later years the league is probably most remembered for some of the experimental rules deployed on and away from its pitches. Six points for a win is perhaps the most infamous of those, but the 35-yard offside line runs it close.

1972 was the year that line was introduced, mid-season, to help the goals flow more freely. It was NASL´s fifth season and the league was finally beginning to find some stability, thanks in no small part to a growing foothold in New York City. No teams folded between the 1971 and 1972 seasons and none were added, the only change being the Washington Darts´ move to Florida as Miami Gatos.

In the Southern Division it was 1971 whipping boys St Louis Stars who found their rhythm. Inspired by NASL´s most home-grown American line-up, the Stars took first place in the division ahead of Dallas Tornado before defeating Northern Division runners-up Rochester Lancers in the semi-finals of the playoffs.

Destiny deserted them at the final juncture, however, siding instead with the team who went on to become NASL icons and one of the most famous football clubs in the world. After playing their first season at Yankee Stadium, New York Cosmos moved to Long Island´s Hofstra University in time for the 1972 campaign. Inaugurated by the Ertegun Brothers and Steve Ross of Warner Communications, the Cosmos thrived under general manager Clive Toye and player-coach Gordon Bradley despite their modest facilities.

The New York side topped the Northern Division and were guided past Dallas in the playoffs by a goal from John Kerr. The championship game against the Stars was played at a half-full Hofstra Stadium and wasn´t without controversy. After just a few minutes the Cosmos took the lead through Randy Horton´s powerful header, which cannoned in off the crossbar from a Reuven Young corner. The helpless goalkeeper was Mike Winter, the league´s Rookie of the Year.

Casey Frankiewicz soon equalised for St Louis after his goal had initially been ruled offside by the referee, who overturned his decision based on his linesman´s advice, but parity had been restored to no avail.

With the final whistle approaching the Cosmos were awarded a controversial penalty, which led to a melee that saw the dismissal of New York´s Werner Roth. Former Czechoslovakia international Josef Jelinek took and scored the crucial penalty kick four minutes from time, and, after one final scare when Willie Roy found the net only to be flagged offside, it proved to be the winner.

In spite of their triumph only two Cosmos players made the 1972 All-Star list. Kerr was one and the other was an even more obvious inclusion. Horton had finished the 1971 season as the league´s second highest goalscorer, but in 1972 he twinned his league MVP award with the top goalscorer spot. In a league that would soon binge on famous footballers, the Bermuda international forward was one of NASL´s most recognisable figures.

Horton was an imposing man, a looming giant topped with one of the very finest beard and afro combinations in the history of professional sport. He played in his number 16 shirt like a man who knew what he was made of, cheerfully throwing his weight around and making life difficult for any defender who wasn´t ready for a physical battle. By his own admission, Horton´s style required him to use his strength and determination to out-muscle his opponents. It worked well.

Born in Bermuda in 1945, Horton has achieved so much more in life than being a successful bustling striker for the Cosmos. He earned his teaching qualification in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, and gained a reputation for excellence on both the football field and the cricket pitch, turning down first class opportunities to play both sports in order to escape England´s climate and return to the warmth of home in 1966; there, he became a teacher and represented the national football team.

He soon made his way to the USA and Rutgers University in New Jersey, where he combined his work on an Economics degree with a career in professional football. He won plaudits, titles and accolades during his career with the Cosmos (for whom he scored the first ever goal) and went on to have brief NASL spells with Washington Diplomats and Hartford Bicentennials before a thigh injury prematurely ended his career.

Horton tried his hand at coaching but went on to be a high achiever in life, not just in sport, and now boasts a list of achievements and qualifications that more than justify his decision to refuse a move to Queens Park Rangers in 1972 in order to enable him to continue his studies at Rutgers. He spent ten years as the principal of a secondary school in Bermuda and eventually followed through with his burgeoning involvement in politics, taking his place in Parliament after being elected to represent the Southampton region in November 1998.

Parliamentary literature describes Horton as a "fiercely dedicated, passionate, fiery and forceful individual", characteristics that he carried from football into politics. He has held various cabinet positions and became the Speaker of the House of Assembly (the lower chamber of Parliament in Bermuda) earlier this year.

The varied successes in Horton´s life are as remarkable today as they must have been when they occurred. The first man to score a goal for the Cosmos was also the first opposition representative to become the Speaker of the House of Assembly. A 1974 Young Outstanding Person in Bermuda was also one of the Ten Most Admired Adults in 1981. On top of all this, Horton´s also been a zookeeper and worked at Atlantic Records.

It´s no surprise that Horton is seen in Bermuda as a successful man who does well no matter what he´s doing, whether it´s sport, teaching, politics or beard-growing. He appears to have a keen sense of home, returning to Bermuda to work after studying in England and again after concluding his football career in the United States. He continues to serve Bermudian politics with the passion displayed in his various previous guises, but the striking hairdo is a thing of the past.

Nåh men lidt liga opdateringer - midtuge runde i Honduras og El Salvador.

Honduras

Real Sociedad indtager førstepladsen med sejr over Victoría på mål af Elkin Gonzalez og Wilson Guity.

Både Real España og Motagua fik oprejsning efter nederlag i første runde. på en doblete af både uruguayanske Cladio Cardozo og Bryan Rochez vandt La Realeza 4-1 over Parrillas One, mens Georgie Welcome scorede 2 i Motaguas 4-2 sejr over VIDA. Endelig spillede Marathon og Platense 0-0


El Salvador

TopholdeneAlianza og Atletico Marte spillede begge 0-0 mod henholdsvis Dragón og Isidro Metapan- 0-0 blev også resultatet mellem Juventud og UES.

Forsvarspilleren Mauricio Quintanilla sikrede Firpo 1-1 i hjemmekampen mod Deportivo FAS med sin scoring 5 minutter før tid.

http://www.youtube.com/w…BRlG0H3Ptf4

Og i San Miguel spillede Aguila hjemme 2-2 med Santa Tecla, da gæsterne udlignede ved Kevin Santamaría 1 minutter før tid.

Barca´s centre-back conundrum

Fermat´s Last Theorem was one of history´s most difficult mathematical problems -- one that, after first being conjectured by Frenchman Pierre de Fermat in 1637, baffled many of the world´s finest brains for centuries.

Numerous ingenious and not-so-ingenious attempts were made to find a solution to the deceptively simple-looking theorem before eventually, in 1995, a proof was finally published by Oxford University professor Andrew Wiles.

That left the greatest minds on earth with little to ponder upon, until the "Blaugrana Centre-Back Problem" emerged a few years ago.

The search for a solution to this teaser has continued during each subsequent transfer window. This summer, Barcelona´s former coach, Tito Vilanova, his successor, Gerardo Martino, the club´s sporting director, Andoni Zubizarreta, and the club´s president, Sandro Rosell, have been putting their heads together.

David Luiz (Chelsea), Daniel Agger (Liverpool), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Thomas Vermaelen and Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Walter Samuel (Inter Milan), Sebastian Vergini (Newell´s Old Boys), Inigo Martinez (Real Sociedad), Mamadou Sakho (PSG) and Eliaquim Mangala (Porto) were among the potential solutions carefully considered. Meanwhile, pundits and reporters in Catalonia and elsewhere have speculated endlessly about the potential challenges and implications of the quest.

Such a scenario is familiar to Barca watchers, given the club have been trying to fill a void at the back if not for three centuries, then at least since the 2006 Champions League final. This pursuit of an answer has been -- for the most part -- an unbroken sequence of disasters.

Gabriel Milito arrived from Real Zaragoza for €20 million in 2008. In 2009, Henrique from Brazil for €8 million and Martin Caceres from Villarreal for €16 million were tried. A dip into the Ukrainian market was attempted in 2010 with €25 million paid to Shakhtar Donetsk for Dimitri Chygrynskiy. All came and went while leaving little impression except for big minus signs in Barca´s annual accounts.

There have also been regular attempts to solve the problem internally, by growing a defender with "Barca DNA" in the La Masia laboratory. But the list of promising, then later discarded, young products is almost as long as that of the failed signings. Alberto Botia is now at Elche, his fourth club in five seasons. Andreu Fontas has signed for Celta Vigo after making little impression on loan at Mallorca last year. Marc Muniesa joined Stoke on a free transfer this summer.

Meanwhile, Carles Puyol´s ever worsening injury issues have led to the problem becoming more and more acute. And each summer a new paradigm emerges to challenge the consensus. Twelve months ago, Tito Vilanova made it clear he wanted to sign Javi Martinez to act as both a ball-playing centre-back and midfield pivote cover for Sergio Busquets. However, Barca´s board would not or could not pay the Basque´s €40 million release clause at Athletic Bilbao, so he ended up at Bayern Munich. Alex Song, the cut-price alternative, did not work out well.

April´s 7-0 humiliation by Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinals saw Martinez convince most pundits, and apparently also Vilanova, that this summer´s answer should be different. Barca had at last discovered that football -- like mathematics -- has fundamental laws that must be obeyed. All teams need big, strong defenders who can win the ball in the air, outmuscle burly centre-forwards, put a few reducers on smaller, nippy attackers, and have no problem booting the ball into row Z when required. Paris Saint-Germain´s Thiago Silva was identified, and Barca seemed to think they would finally get their man -- until it became clear the Brazilian and his wily agent had used their interest to leverage a pay-rise at the Parc des Princes.

That left Barca back at the drawing board, where the names reportedly chalked up made it difficult to determine what exact criteria were being used or attributes being considered. You could argue that Luiz, Kompany and Martinez are all good players, but they are completely different types of defender, and none are particularly similar in style to Puyol (unless you count Luiz´s haircut). The impression given was of a scattergun approach rather than a careful scientific analysis of the problem.

Now Martino appears to have his own ideas. The Argentine reportedly "put a brake" on Barca´s centre-back hunt. Since taking charge in July he has repeatedly argued that Barca´s defensive problems last season, against Bayern and other teams, did not stem from an inability to head away long balls. The problem was a lack of intensity and less "pressing" further up the field. This theory has been echoed by many Barca players, from Leo Messi down, in recent weeks.

The outcome of Tuesday´s "summit" meeting between Martino, Rosell and Zubizarreta seems to be that Barca will not buy a defender at all this summer. Given that the available options -- including Luiz and Agger -- lack the exact characteristics required to play centre-back for the club, it makes little sense to pay big money for any of them. Martino is apparently happy to go into the new season with Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano as first choices. Backup would be provided by Puyol, 35, Marc Bartra, 22, and Frank Bagnack, 18. It was interesting to then see photos of Puyol upping his recovery program published on Barca´s website the day after the "summit" took place.

There is a certain logic to this thinking. Barca won their two Champions League finals with Yaya Toure (2009) and Mascherano (2011) at centre-back. For most of both games -- and the majority of Pep Guardiola´s four seasons in charge -- they did not really "defend" at all, or not in the traditional sense of the word. They kept opponents out by holding the ball through possession, or by winning it back as soon as possible. A high "press" led by Messi & Co. up front did not allow opposition midfielders or defenders with relatively poor technique to settle on the ball.

This is where converted midfielder Mascherano shines, by using his anticipation, pace and tenacity to win back possession on or around the halfway line. The Argentine is also excellent at covering long diagonal balls behind Dani Alves or Jordi Alba when either or both full-back has bombed forward. Before all the injuries, Puyol was actually pretty similar, using his physicality, positional sense and aggression to keep the ball well away from Barca´s area. None of the potential targets being considered have the right mix of attributes to improve what Martino already has.

So that is the theory -- for now, at least. Maybe this week´s noises from Camp Nou were deliberate misinformation, aimed at getting Chelsea to drop their asking price for Luiz. Or perhaps a new theory will emerge (my own suggestion would be to identify a young, tall defender who can cover both full-back and centre-half, like Eric Abidal used to do). Math pundits know that with such complex theorems it is unwise to make definite predictions, as stunning breakthroughs can happen at any time, or decades and decades can pass without any progress being made.

So on balance it would be unwise to expect the "Blaugrana Centre-Back Problem" to be resolved anytime soon. It took the best minds on the planet 358 years to solve Fermat´s Last Theorem. Barca´s brains are unlikely to find a solution to their similarly tricky problem by the end of the current transfer window.