http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/051124/1/5d5h.html ☆ Delgado dreaming of Germany ☆ 24 November 2005 by FIFAworldcup.com Jose Pekerman is currently facing a dilemma every coach wishes he had. The Argentina coach has a dizzying array of attacking options available to him but only a limited number of squad places. The 'problem' now facing the tactician is who to include in - and who to exclude from - his squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany? One of the attacking midfielders who hopes to travel with the Albiceleste to Europe next year is the Mexico-based Cesar Delgado. Although his place in the squad is not yet guaranteed, the Cruz Azul star is confident his ability will ultimately earn him a place in Pekerman's select group. "I feel very con- -fident after what I've done at Cruz Azul and hope to make the list. If I do, it will be a dream come true, especially considering the number of internation- -ally renowned (Argentina) players who are playing in Europe," said the man known as Chelito. Therein lies the nub of Delgado's problem. While he quietly goes about his business in Mexico, those he is competing with for a squad berth are plying their trade in places like Span, Italy and England, with all the media expo- -sure that entails. Nonetheless, the dexterous winger believes this does not necessarily constitute a disadvantage: "Mexican football is on the up and up, even if it doesn't generate the same interest as the European game. However, that's not the real issue. The problem is that right now there are a lot of real quality forwards in the squad, and so it's difficult." ◎Rivals and masters Delgado knows that there are several competing players whom he must stay ahead of in the pecking order if he is to get the nod from Pekerman. With his blistering pace, skilful dribbling and ability to unsettle defences, Delgado knows that he will not be competing directly with a bustling centre-forward like Hernan Crespo, but rather other attacking wide men like himself. "Luciano Galletti is probably my biggest rival for a place, because he also goes wide. Javier Saviola goes on the outside as well, although he has a diff- -erent style. However, there are a lot more than just those two. I have to compete with everyone, including (Lionel) Messi, who has enormous talent and is now playing up front. In the end, it all comes down to the coach. I know that it's going to be very difficult and that I'll have to work extremely hard, " the player said. In spite of the intense competition, Delgado does not consider these player s as his rivals. He says that some of the skills that have helped make him the player he is today he got from observing his fellow team-mates. "Saviola and Hernan Crespo are the strikers who I have learned most from, particularly from the way they move inside and outside the box and manage to create space for themselves." ◎A difficult change El Chelito was one of the players most affected by Argentina's sudden chan- -ge of coach in 2004. The departure of Marcelo Bielsa, under whom Delgado was a first-team fixture, has meant fewer opportunities for the player. The 24-year -old continues to get call-ups under Pekerman, but not with the same regularity. He says he is well aware of this and understands the reasons: "The coach plays a different style, has a different way of thinking and has adopted a new forma- -tion. That's what has happened, and I think that's why I haven't had the same opportunities. Marcelo had his own style, which I think I fitted into better, which is why I started every game with him." The Cruz Azul player confirms that he has not been in touch with Pekerman in recent weeks, though he says that this in itself is not unusual. "No we haven't spoken. Generally what happens is that someone from the AFA (Argentine federation) offices phones me when I've been called up. Between games I don't have any contact with the coach." Nonetheless, Delgado feels that his involvement with Argentina's gold medal-winning team at the Olympic Football Tournament at Athens 2004 and the sides that finished runners-up at the 2004 Copa America and 2005 FIFA Confede- -rations Cup should stand him in good stead. "Of course, my playing at a tour- -nament in Germany this year was advantageous, as was facing Brazil in the fi- -nal. I showed there that I have the quality to hold down a place in the team, and I know that I'll still be playing at that level come next June." ◎Shared dreams Delgado is very open about his hopes and dreams, and very clear about what he wants to achieve: "My dream is to be standing on a pitch in Germany for Ar- -gentina's opening game and to hear our national anthem played. That's my aspi- -ration. I really hope I make it there, as it would be something really special." The player adds that his dream scene would be perfect if he could share it with his great friend Luciano Figueroa. Both men started out at Argentine side Rosario Central before later playing together for Cruz Azul as well as for the Albiceleste. Delgado is full of praise for his international colleague and feels that they would complement each other very well in Germany. "Luciano has a different style of play to mine. He's a great marksman and a real goal- poacher. I'm not like that, although I could certainly take a leaf out of his book. Lucho is great, he really is." It is a dream that the two men have shared since their teenage years. "Of course we talk about it. We both know how diffi- -cult it will be and how hard we'll have to work. I just hope we both can make it to the World Cup as it's what we've always dreamed of." --

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