Will Sergio Batista, Diego Maradona's short-term replacement as Argentina head coach, be able to sway the Argentine soccer federation (AFA) with a good performance against World Cup champion Spain Tuesday in Buenos Aires?

The AFA meets next month to pick a permanent coach for Maradona, who was not retained after the World Cup. Batista, who won his debut against Ireland, 1-0, in August, has recalled three players rejected by Maradona for the World Cup: Inter Milan teammates Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso and Andres D’Alessandro, who helped Brazilian club Internacional win the Libertadores Cup last month,

“Argentina is in shape to beat us,” Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said. “They have players with great talent."