Will Aguero’s return inspire Argentina to World Cup Glory?

Sergio Aguero (R) back in training for Argentina

The premier league season last year saw Sergio Aguero recover from injury to lead Manchester City to their 2nd title in three years. Two years ago when Manchester City won their title in the most dramatic of fashions, it was again due to a very late goal from Aguero. He is known to make comebacks and perform his best when his team needs him the most.

Although Aguero had an injury struck season throughout the calendar year, he had been inspirational whenever he entered the pitch for Manchester City. The question now however is whether he can repeat his heroics of the premier league in the World Cup 2014. Aguero missed Argentina’s two most crucial encounters against Switzerland in the round of 16 and Belgium in the quarter-finals. He is now said to have recovered from his injury and gained full fitness to play the match against Netherlands in the semi final. However, he will have more responsibility on his shoulders than what he had during the group fixtures due to the injury of Angel Di Maria, who won’t be fit for the semi-final.

Aguero has not lived up to his name at the World Cup

Aguero’s World Cup record at the senior level has not been as impressive as his Premier League or U-20 World Cup or the Olympics record. The Manchester City forward led the Argentina U-20 side to victory in the Netherlands in 2007 and was a key member of the squad that won gold at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Recently he was key to Manchester City’s 2nd league title just before the World Cup.

When it comes to the big stage, however, the story has been different. The Aguero that we saw in South Africa 2010 and the Aguero in Brazil 2014 hardly has any difference between them as he failed to score in either tournament. Although he was inspirational in the qualifiers for Argentina, netting five times in eight games, the World Cup just doesn’t seem like the perfect location for Aguero to perform, at least not as of yet.

It is difficult to even doubt the potential of Aguero as he kept a smile on the bench for years and coming on with full enthusiasm when the coach asked for. He is a great team-player with impeccable scoring abilities, as witnessed at Athletico Madrid and Manchester City and even for Argentina during the World Cup qualifiers. But he is still missing his shooting boots at the World Cup.

This World Cup has too been below par affair for the diminutive striker, although he is now much more developed, mature and better oriented in the squad. Playing just about 200 minutes in the three group fixtures, he was not able to find the back of the net even once. Thus, a complete let-down by one of the world’s best strikers.

Aguero’s chance with Destiny

When injury struck Aguero in the fixture against Nigeria, it might have well crossed his mind that probably his chance of helping the squad lift the World Cup are over, but destiny gave him the chance that he deserves, the chance to make it count for his country in the most crucial games of the tournament.

Argentina faces, their toughest challenge so far in the World Cup in the semi final against an in-form Dutch side. Louis van Gaal’s men lead the scoring table with 12 goals in the tournament so far, and a perfect win record so far in the tournament.

The Albiceleste would require every bit of their armour in their battle against the Dutch, and Aguero returning from injury and helping the squad to victory in the remainder of the tournament would possibly be the best way for him to silence his critics.