OK, I’m stretching to get a Rush reference into these. However the coronary heart needs what it needs.
It’s a complete new world for Argentina coming into this World Cup. Actually in Russia in 2018, and to an extent in Brazil in 2014, the noise across the Albiceleste coming into the match was to type of surprise how they may encompass Lionel Messi with such an underwhelming assortment of the bewildered and gradual. In fact, in 2014, Messi dragged them to the ultimate, however he wanted 4 objectives in simply the group stage, together with a last-minute winner towards Iran. They wanted further time to get previous Switzerland within the second spherical, principally held on to beat Belgium after scoring within the eighth minute, and squeaked by on penalties over The Netherlands in one of many worst matches ever performed. And had Gonzalo Higuain been capable of find his ass with one hand and a GPS, Argentina in all probability would have received the ultimate. However a formidable workforce, it was not.
2018 was even worse, the place they barely scraped out of the group, and although they threw one thing of a scare into France taking a 2-1 lead, they largely bought thwacked thereafter (2.2 – 0.8 in xG). Trying on the lineup that day, solely Angel Di Maria may declare to be wherever close to world-class degree, as Javier Mascherano by that time was utilizing a walker to get across the pitch. Even the 2014 workforce solely had Di Maria, a nonetheless clinging to his prime Mascherano, and arguably Pablo Zabaleta. The urge is to place Higuain on the checklist, besides when he was placing on an Argentina shirt he reverted to being Alvaro Morata or one thing. And his costing Messi three main trophies with their nation with some hilarious misses backs that up. You realize it’s dangerous once you get a devoted YouTube video of your failures.
This time round, Argentina are being talked about because the second or third favourite with France and Brazil. A few of that’s primarily based on their Copa America victory final yr. They usually did that in quite a lot of methods. They completely clubbed Ecuador within the quarters, and did the identical towards Colombia within the semis however had been the victims of David Ospina’s newest wonderwall for his nation and wanted penalties. In opposition to Brazil at The Maracana, they had been capable of rating within the first half after which smother the hosts fairly successfully (0.7 xG whereas trailing for many of the match for Brazil) to win Messi his first main trophy for Argentina.
They’ve gone on to lace by qualifying after that, with solely attracts towards Paraguay and Brazil at residence a blemish, in addition to a last-day draw towards Ecuador that didn’t actually imply something to them. Actually, Argentina haven’t misplaced in a really very long time, with a 35-match unbeaten run heading into this match. That’s just a little arduous to guage totally, as they’ve solely been capable of play non-European groups for probably the most half because of the Nations League and the marathon South American qualifying course of. Nevertheless, after they bought a take a look at Italy within the Finalissima final June, they kicked their dicks proper into the filth to the tune of a 3-0 win.
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It’s not simply the outcomes, however that Argentina simply has a method higher squad this time round. Perhaps there’s nonetheless a dearth of gamers in Messi’s class, even in his 35-year-old stage, however ahead Latauro Martinez in all probability can declare to be. Argentina have largely performed some type of the 4-3-3 that Messi used at Barca to develop into an unholy pressure, although he’s bounced from enjoying from the appropriate and as a straight No. 10 behind two forwards. Papu Gomes has normally been on the opposite facet of Messi and Martinez. Or it might be Man Metropolis’s sizzling younger factor Julian Alvarez. There are alternatives.
And there are much more in midfield, the place Giovanni Lo Celso or Alexis Mac Allister or Rodrigo De Paul or Leandro Paredes dwell. Not solely do all of those guys present a good quantity of metal in midfield and might principally flip each lead right into a mountain to climb for opponents, however all can do sufficient working and work to make up for the truth that with out the ball, Messi isn’t going to do a lot shifting in any respect. This can be a bonus of the opposite forwards Argentina use as effectively. Supervisor Lionel Scaloni has cracked the code on this.
The draw is fairly sort as effectively. That is simply above a nothing group, particularly if Mexico carries their kind from qualifying into this. There’s a possible banana pores and skin with Denmark within the spherical of 16, although that might develop into France in the event that they get just a little foolish within the group. The quarters may see a wonky Dutch facet (it’s arduous to see Senegal getting there with out Sadio Mane) or England in the event that they don’t win their group or some such. They’ll duck Brazil and doubtless France, and nobody else ought to make them quake.
It feels prefer it’s arrange for them, and the one pothole is that if Martinez pulls a Higuain, or Messi simply can’t fairly conjure one thing at a pivotal second because of his advancing years. Seeing as how he’s barely needed to break a sweat with PSG all season, that doesn’t appear doubtless. It’s all methods go right here.
They’ll have that smooth touchdown within the group stage partially as a result of this is without doubt one of the stinkier Mexico squads to indicate up for a World Cup. Whereas they’re nonetheless on a quest for “quinto partido,” the land past the Spherical of 16 that they’ve by no means reached for the reason that tourney included that, this one would possibly need to focus extra on getting out of the group. Poland will at the least characteristic Robert Lewandowski and Piotr Zieliński, two gamers higher than something Mexico has. There was a time when Raúl Jiménez would have been one of many extra feared strikers on this match, however he’s barely getting on the sphere for Wolves lately and hasn’t been the identical (understandably) since he suffered a cranium fracture. His well being might hold him off the squad altogether. Issues bought even worse for them when Jesús Corona was dominated out with an ankle damage. Chucky Lozano goes to have to hold nearly all of the water up entrance right here.
The place the midfield isn’t outdated it’s unproven and missing concepts. Mexico can have a ton of the ball and go nowhere with it, which appeared fairly apparent in its 4 video games with the US and Canada in qualifying, none of which they received. It additionally looks like they’re on the verge of firing Tata Martino as supervisor each 5 minutes. Perhaps they pull all of it collectively now that the massive match is right here, but it surely feels extra like that is the ultimate push for a complete catastrophe. And no, even when they handle to get out of this group, there will probably be no fifth sport ready behind a date with France or Denmark.
Poland come into this like they do each match, hoping that Lewandowski and Zieliński can by some means do all of it by themselves. Zieliński is at the least enjoying for the world’s most enjoyable workforce in Napoli proper now and fairly effectively, in reality. If we have now to speak ourselves into Jesus Ferreira being up for this, then Poland is completely in a position to take action with Karol Świderski who banged in 10 objectives for Charlotte in MLS to go together with his 5 throughout qualifying. Nonetheless, Poland bought a free cross within the qualifying playoffs when Russia was tossed out, which means they solely needed to play one sport to Sweden’s two final spring and it confirmed. Their match with Mexico may show pivotal.
Saudi Arabia could have a bonus in that almost all of their workforce performs for one membership within the nation, Al Hilal, in order that they’ll have a baseline of chemistry and familiarity that a whole lot of different groups received’t. You noticed how simply they had been capable of frustrate the U.S. in a pleasant, and it’s not arduous to see them doing the identical to Mexico or Poland which lack firepower. May simply make issues attention-grabbing taking place to the final day.
Supervisor probably to get red-carded: Needs to be Martino, who will see his firing behind each name that doesn’t go Mexico’s method. Ought to issues go sideways he may get an early begin on his exit.
Finest jerseys: Argentina may need the basic look, however need to say Mexico’s are fairly boss, particularly the away ones.
Schedule:
Tuesday, Nov. 22 — Argentina v. Saudi Arabia (5 a.m. EST), Mexico v. Poland (11 a.m. EST)
Saturday, Nov. 26 — Poland v. Saudi Arabia (8 a.m. EST), Argentina v. Mexico (2 p.m. EST)
Wednesday, Nov. 30 — Argentina v. Poland, Mexico v. Saudi Arabia (each at 2 p.m. EST)
