Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez has earned his place in Argentina line-up – Sergio Batista

Carlos Tévez, Argentina

Related Links

Teams

Players

Argentina coach Sergio Batista has caimed that Carlos Tevez will start in the Copa America opener against Bolivia on July 1 because he has earned his place in the XI, and added that pressure from the media has no impact on his decision.

Tevez seemed to have fallen out of favour with Batista earlier this year, and looked unlikely to be included in the squad for the showpiece event, but the tactician has reassessed his approach, and thinks the striker’s style of play suits Argentina better against the Bolivians.

“I don’t go by popular clamour. If I say Tevez is playing it is because that’s what’s best for the national team. He has earned his place on his own,” Batista was quoted as saying on a press conference.

“Carlos will play because he can link much more with Lionel Messi. The idea is not to have players of such speed as we would have if Angel Di Maria and Ezequiel Lavezzi played next to Messi. With Carlos we have a more direct style of play.”

Argentina have been paired with Bolivia, Colombia and Costa Rica in Group A of this month’s Copa America.