It will the same players taking the field on September 2, but there will be a drastic change of scenario when Argentina face Venezuela in an international friendly at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. A country known for its football followers, but not for its football players, will be treated to a game that will witness a dazzling array of stars ply their trade in front of an expected 120,000-capacity crowd in the football crazy city of Kolkata. The encounter will also be new Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella's first game in charge of the national side, this after former head Sergio Batista was sacked following a poor Copa America campaign.

The Argentinian side will travel to Bangladesh to face Nigeria for the second-leg of their visit across the Indian subcontinent on September 6.

The Venue :

The game will be played at the 120,000-seater Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, which earlier had played host to Oliver Kahn's final match for Bayern Munich in May 2008. The ground, newly revamped and refurbished, is the second-largest stadium in the world in terms of capacity, and a large attendance is expected for the encounter between Argentina and Venezuela in the city where Diego Maradona is worshipped by many like a demigod. In fact, it won't be a surprise if the number of people waiting outside the stadium just to catch a glimpse of the little legend vastly out number the fanatics inside!

The Teams:

Argentina

New Argentina manager Alejandro Sabella has named a strong squad for his debut game as Argentina manager, choosing a largely-European based squad for the fixtures against Venezuela and Nigeria. The Albicelestes have the likes of Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain and new Manchester City signing Sergio Aguero partnering Lionel Messi in attack, with the Barcelona man's club teammate Javier Mascherano leading a midfield consisting of Javier Pastore, Angel di Maria and Ever Banega. Martin Demichelis, Pablo Zabaleta and Nicolas Burdisso are all big names at the back, with Sergio Romero expected to start in goal for the three-time World Cup winners. A big absentee however, is wantaway Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez, who has been deemed as excess to requirements.

Argentina face Nigeria in Dhaka, Bangladesh soon after their game in Kolkata, with both games expected to serve as a lead-up to their crucial World Cup qualifier against Chile in October.

Goalkeepers : Sergio Romero (Sampdoria, Italy), Mariano Andujar (Catania, Italy), Esteban Andrada (Lanus)

Defenders : Martin Demichelis (Malaga, Spain), Federico Fernandez (Napoli, Italy), Nicolas Burdisso (Roma, Italy), Ezequiel Garay (Benfica, Portugal), Nicolas Otamendi (Porto, Portugal), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City, England), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle United, England), Cristian Ansaldi (Rubin Kazan, Russia), Nicolas Pareja and Marcos Rojo (both Spartak Moscow, Russia)

Midfielders : Javier Mascherano (Barcelona, Spain), Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid, Spain), Ever Banega (Valencia, Spain), Ricardo Alvarez (Inter Milan, Italy), Fabian Rinaudo (Sporting Lisbon, Portugal), Javier Pastore (Paris Saint-Germain, France), Lucho Gonzalez (Marseille, France), Jose Sosa (Metalist, Ukraine)

Strikers : Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Spain), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid, Spain), Eduardo Salvio (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City, England), Lisandro Lopez (Lyon, France)

Venezuela

With all the hype surrounding the Argentinian side's arrival to India, one has almost ignored the Venezuelan side that did brilliantly to end fourth in the Copa America held earlier this year. Head coach Cesar Farias has chosen a strong contingent for the one-off encounter, with 31-year old attacking midfielder Juan Arango leading the side. Other big names include striker Salomon Rondon, who plays for Andalusian side Malaga, Hamburg midfielder Tomas Rincon and Getafe striker Nicolas Fedor.

Goalkeepers : Renny Vega, Rafael Romo, Daniel Hernandez

Defenders : Oswaldo Vizcarrondo, Roberto Rosales, Gabriel Cichero, Rolf Feltscher, Fernando Amorebieta, Rohel Briceno, Andres Tunez

Midfielders : Franco Signorelli, Josmar Zambrano, Tomas Rincon, Yohandry Orozco, Cesar Gonzalez, Raul Gonzalez, Juan Arango, Frank Feltscher, Julio Alvarez, Luis Manuel Seijas

Strikers : Nicolas Fedor, Salomon Rondon, Mario Rondon, Josef Martinez

The Ball :

All eyes, as is the norm, will be on Lionel Messi, but instead of seeing the World Player of the Year prance around the pitch with a Jabulani or the Nike Seitiro, there will be an Indian-made NIVIA ball by his side. Organisers have been insistent that the 'Simbolo', which is on the FIFA list of approved match balls, will add an Indian touch to the game, and will go a long way in promoting the game in the country.

Predictions:

Regardless of the tie being a friendly, crowds are expected to be large, and the reception likely to be vociferous, with the Argentinian side, and Messi in specific, sure to get a rousing welcome. However, as far as the game is concerned, both teams will be wary of possible injuries to their stars and would want to safeguard their players on the artificial turf of Salt Lake Stadium, which has earlier been put under scrutiny by Indian clubs.

Argentina will start as favourites for the encounter, and will be looking to give their new manager a successful start to his stint at the helm of the national side.

File Photograph Copyright: Ryu Voelkel

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