DUBLIN (AP) — Argentina will begin the post-Diego Maradona era with a friendly match against Ireland, looking to imitate the style of play that led Spain to World Cup glory last month.

Interim coach Sergio Batista has Lionel Messi, Javier Mascherano and Gonzalo Higuain available to him in a squad selected last month by Maradona, whose contract was not renewed by the Argentina Football Association after the team's quarterfinal exit at the World Cup.
Batista, who is a candidate to replace Maradona on a full-time basis, says ""it is good to copy Spain's system. I like Barcelona's game and it's what I want more than anything else.""