Argentine coach Diego Maradona (Zumapress)

Argentine coach Diego Maradona will most likely change half of the starting XI that he fielded against both Nigeria and South Korea. Most of these changes are due to give some players rest as well as prevent players from missing the second round and possibly the quarterfinals of the World Cup.    We have to keep in mind that this time around FIFA changed their suspension rules and players will be clean come quarters instead of the second round.

Sergio Romero will remain in goal after he was worked out by Maradona on Saturday 20 minutes after practice.  He practiced catching and getting in front of balls as well as parrying shots away to the sides instead of straight ahead.  According to the Argentine coach his goalkeeper has been clearing straight ahead.  He has also noticed that the lack of control of the ball has been a cause for the some of the rebounds that have ended up in the back of the net.

Meanwhile Nicolás Otamendi will start for Jonás Gutierrez, Mario Bolatti replaces Javier Mascherano, and Ángel Di María would be replaced with possibly left back Clemente Rodríguez. Those are a couple of the changes in place for the Albiceleste.  These are just some of the changes that Maradona has in place for their Group C finale against Greece.

Vélez Sarsfield man Otamendi comes in for Gutiérrez after seeing his second yellow card in as many games and will have to sit out one match.   Otamendi is playing in his natural position, unlike "Greyhound" Gutiérrez

Heinze will sit out in order to prevent another yellow, thus missing the second round match against the Group A rival.  Estudiantes man Clemente Rodríguez, who has been rumored in the past few days to be linked with AS Roma, will take over in his position.  Clemente offers more offensive projection on the right and will allow Juan Sebastián Verón to pinch in and be a more natural partner with Lio Messi.

The big question mark is that of keeping Lio Messi in the lineup instead of resting.  According to sport daily Olé, Maradona asked Messi if he wanted to rest and the Barcelona star refused to.  According to the report, Messi looked to play and maintain his level of play compared to the two previous matches where he has truly made a difference in the pace of the Albiceleste attack.

Although he has not scored any goals so far, Messi was setting up his teammates and generating interesting propositions in front of the opposing goal.  So this could be a huge gamble for Diego Maradona.  If the match starts to get very physical, expect Martín Palermo to come on.

Argentina will face Greece on Tuesday in Polokwane.