Combined XI: Argentina vs Portugal

Any match involving two giants will always invite discussions about whose squad is better and who is is more inclined to win. A convincing comparison, between two teams, can only be done with a combined line up. The team with more players, wins. The team with lesser players is always a victim to the selector's bias.Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the same time is a mouth-watering prospect. So here's a combined XI of the Portugal and Argentina teams.Players have been selected on the basis of the form they’ve shown for their respective clubs, and keeping their availability for this fixture in mind.

#1 Goalkeeper - Sergio Romero

Sergio Romero was in spectacular form during the World Cup as he helped his team to the final, which they eventually lost to Germany. Unhindered by the loss, he has continued his fine form for club Sampdoria, helping them up to 4th in the table after 11 games.

Sampdoria have conceded the third least amount of goals in Serie A this season (8 goals in 11 games) and Romero has been integral in this. He has so far kept 5 clean sheets this season and easily beats his Argentine counterparts to this squad.

#2 Right back - Pablo Zabaleta

This one is not even up for debate. Pablo Zabaleta simply put is one of the best right backs in the world. There are very few fullbacks that can compare with him, but none in the Portuguese or the Argentinian squad.

Even with a slow start to the season, he's been miles better than Bosingwa and Carvalho. Zabaleta had a brilliant World Cup for Argentina, and offers a lot both going forward, and defensively. He is probably one of the first names on the team sheet, both for club and country.

#3 Center back - Pepe

Pepe has done well to leave the World Cup debacle behind him. After a shaky start to the season, him and his partners in defense, have picked up well to give Ancelotti's side a strong base to build their new style of possession football on.

Pepe's nous and experience, when he can keep his head straight, is an important strength for his team, and they depend on him completely, irrespective of his past disciplinary record. He has been solid for both club and country all through his career and will relish taking on his familiar foe Lionel Messi again.

#4 Center back - Nicolas Otamendi

He's big, he's strong and he's incrediby good at everything he does. Football manager fans will have known him for his potential from a long time, but rarely has a player matched his description to a tee like Otamendi.

In Nuno's new look Valencia, he's been a stand out performer, helping the team balance their incredibly attacking style with a calm and resolute defense. Valencia, with his help, have the second best defensive record (9 in 11) in La Liga this season, with Barcelona being the only team who have a better defence.

#5 Left back - Cristian Ansaldi

Simeone's Atletico haven't missed a beat since last season, and it is in part due to the players he's brought in. The new players, the likes of Moya, Ansaldi, Siqueira et all, have done well to fit into the Atletico set-up and fill the shoes of the players who achieved the improbable last season.

Ansaldi is among the players who has impressed, and though he hasn't featured as many times as he would have liked, he's done a good job from the handful of appearances he's had. A bright future awaits him, and he has been a part of the Argentine team of late, having also contributed to a goal in their friendly against Croatia.

#6 Midfield - Javier Mascherano

the much vaunted record of the least number of goals conceded in La Liga so far this season is held by Barcelona. Yes, the same Barcelona who have made wholesale changes to their defense. The same Barcelona who are under the stewardship of a relatively inexperienced manager and the same Barcelona, who even in the most illustrious of periods could not keep a clean sheet.

Barcelona's vigilance at the back has been a welcome change from their 'caution to the wind' days. From the outside, it looks like their improvement in defense has been brought about by a change in their tactical approach, but on closer inspection, it is clear that the personnel too have been important. Of the back four, three have been in and out this season, with the only constant being Mascherano, a player being played out of position.

Mascherano's importance to the team's he plays for cannot be mistaken as he's skilled, tactically brilliant and a leader both on and off the pitch.

#7 Midfield - Vieirinha

The Wolfsburg midfielder has finally come of age and is now starting to show his incredible potential. His team currently sit second in the Bundesliga, and he's been integral to their great run of form.

He has evolved into a reliable midfield presence, who has helped out both going forward and defensively. He is useful in breaking up play and then lays the ball off quickly to start counter attacks. He can also be a goal threat with his long range shooting. So far in his 6 starts in the league, he has scored once and created three goals for his team-mates.

#8 Midfield - Angel Di Maria

The Argentine winger has probably been one of the few bright stars in Manchester United's subdued start to the season. After leaving Spain to join the Premier League, he has dazzled from the off, helping his team slowly climb the standings.

Played in a variety of positions this year, he has already scored three and assisted five in his nine Premier League starts. He was very good for Argentina in the World Cup, and will be one of their pivotal players in this match too.

#9 Forward - Cristiano Ronaldo

The less said about him the better, because there aren't enough words to do justice to the kind of performances he's been subjecting us to this season. With 23 goals already scored this season, it'd be a crime to keep him out of any squad.

Also, having not had a very good World Cup, he would be keen to make amends for it, as he has been doing so far this season, having recently become the highest goal-scorer in European Championships (qualifying and tournament included) with 23 goals.

#10 Forward - Lionel Messi

Again, another player that doesn't require a case to be made on his behalf. A player that will make any XI from any time period in football. How then can he be kept out of this one? Messi has not scored as many as he does in general, but he has created a lot of goals for Barcelona this season, and was the best player during the World Cup, scoring decisive goals, and making crucial contributions. He will look to continue his rich vein of form.

#11 Striker - Sergio Aguero

Few strikers in the world can lay a claim to being in a better vein of form at the moment. Aguero this season has finally seemed to have put his injury troubles behind him, and the result has been a ferocious striker plundering goals for fun. It has been a brilliant start to the season for him and he definitely deserves a spot in this XI.

To give an indication of his recent form, he scored all four goals for Manchester City in their game against Tottenham Hotspur, and both their goals in their 2-2 draw with Queens Park Rangers.

#12 Manager - Gerardo Martino

Managing a team with such a great cast would require some experience and know-how. Tata Martino, having recently managed Barcelona, trumps Fernando Santos in this aspect. Nothing to take away from Santos, but given that Martino managed a team full of superstars in Barcelona, and is a good tactician, he will be able to marshall his troops better.

Subs: Beto, Tevez, Nani, Lamela, Moutinho, Demichelis

The players would line up in a 4-3-3 formation.