So we finally did it after another roller coaster ride like in 2010 qualifier! Somehow we still ended up in 3rd place on the table and only 3 points behind 2nd place Uruguay. It took some miracle from our talisman but what matter is, we're there! We can take a deep breath at least until 1 Dec when the group draw will take place. Apart from our bad performance, its pretty clear that Conmebol has becoming alot more competitive with each WC. I'm making this thread so maybe all the discussion of the NT leading up to the tournament (friendlies) and the tournament itself can be discussed here instead of the player stats thread. Masche recently said he's aiming to play in Russia but its all up to Sampa. He also said however, that would be his very last tournament. I dont think he's still strong enough to play all game, the guy is closing to 150 caps but his experience and leadership can still play a huge role both on the pitch and in locker room. Even if he doesnt start, I dont mind having him on the bench.
Depends on how the season goes, but I am thinking play Dybala back and Messi in front. Icardi should go too. I really hope we can develop any combination of Ascacibar-Paredes-Enzo Perez-Nacho-Lo Celso midfield. Friendly against Russia confirmed for Nov. 11th at Stadium where WC Final will be played.
Alario/Icardi ... Aguero, for as much as I hate his typical pecho frio performances for the NT, might be a decent option off the bench if he decides to finally grow a pair. I'd take him over Benemuerto any day. Hopefully Dybala finds a way to gel into the starting line-up from now to June.
Im not a Boca fan neither a River fan, so this "Benedetto is god/Benedetto sucks" is lost on me, since i dont care either way. I wanna know, objectively, is he good? Should he be in the NT?
I don't think Benedetto is international quality, especially in a World Cup where we will be playing big teams. I like him in Boca because he scores the goals that need to be scored to win week in and week out, but it's a different story at this level. As much as some mock him only scoring against run of the mill sides, it's needed to rack up points in a torneo, you only play the big clubs a couple times. Honestly I wouldn't pick anyone from the domestic league purely on their form there.
Goalkeepers Geronimo Rulli Agustin Marchesin Sergio Romero Centerbacks Nicolas Otamendi Federico Fazio Mateo Musacchio Marcos Rojo German Pezzella Emanuel Mammana Wingers/wingbacks Marcos Acuna Eduardo Salvio Franco Cervi Angel Correa Midfielders Leandro Paredes Enzo Perez Santiago Ascacibar Manuel Lanzini Ignacio Fernandez Forwards Lionel Messi Paulo Dybala Angel Di Maria Mauro Icardi Sergio Aguero This is the (semi) realistic 23 man squad I want to see. Sampaoli has unfortunately shown to sign of dropping Romero, but he has showed that he can drop Masche when he doesn't perform. The idea of Biglia not making the team is faint hope rather than expectation.
Icardi will score soon or later. He only played full minutes twice and still helped to score that equazlier against Venezuela plus 4-5 shots on target. Yes, Dybala should be the one playing behind Messi, not the other way around. Messi should be the one who always play close to the goal alongside the "9". Dybala possess similar ability as Messi, he can make penetrating pass and shoot from distance. Against Ecuador, Sampa clearly wanted Messi to be the one who receive the final pass and scores and as expected, we got the goals. In fact he got 3 and almost scored 5!
Attack wins matches but defense wins the tournament's , our chances are completely dependent on how Sampa is going to plan his defensive unit. This Messi dependent show can't repeat much , big teams already knows how to handle that dependency. Hope somehow Sampa come up with strategy to handle Messi and dybala together.
Messi presence alone will make 90% of our opponent play defensively especially at knockout stage. In group stage, Asian and African teams usually dont sit back, they just play attacking football since they're not under preasure to even reach QF or the last 4, let alone to win it. The same with team from Concacaf. Argentina? that's a different matter, we have been in 5 out of 20 WC finals and that despite missing few WC do to withdrawal from political reason. Now with having Messi, the expectation would be even higher that anything other than reaching the final would be consider a disaster (or at least semifinal). USA play attacking football against Germany and Mexico always try to attack Argentina in major tournament. Its team like Iran, Sweden, Greece , Switzerland, Belgium that will contain to sitback most of the time. Off course South AMerican team will do the same as we've seen in qualifier. They'd play for a draw and will never risk themselves conceiding goals like Ecuador just did. They scored but was outscored in return , and this is what SA team always had in their mind.
Belgium sat back in the last world cup because they had an incompetent coach. This version of Belgium will attack as their coach is Roberto Martinez- famous for his almost kamikaze style approach at Everton. He has the likes of Hazard, Lukaku, Mertens... Based on names alone, I'd say Belgium is the only team out there that has never before won the world cup that could break into the club. Croatia might be an outside shout, but they have to qualify through the playoffs. The rest, yes, are ver defensive, especially Switzerland, who is normally the most boring team in every world cup, famously knocked out in 2006 without conceding a goal.
How exactly is a game that was played three years ago more relevant than a qualifying campaign that just ended?
Other than Aguero, this is the best roster for Argentina at the moment. You didn't include Gabriel Mercado, I would have him for Aguero. Also, perhaps Mascherano for one of Mammana, Perez or Fernandez.
You don’t learn anything from the European qualifiers. Those qualifiers are an absolute mockery to the game. Seriously, Gibraltar, Kosovo, San Marino? It will be like if we had to play Suriname and we just ran up the score line. The teams that have any talent tend to crush the living life out of these minnows. It must be nice having automatic three points when you look at your schedule.
Belgium is welcome to attack Argentina. Just keep in mind it'll be different than playing Estonia, Cyprus or Gibraltar.
What does that have to do with anything? You can only defeat the teams you face in qualifying. Unless you know of a way to score against France on Germany whilst playing Estonia or Cyprus.
I did not boast, I used it as proof that we are not defensive-minded. But fine, you are right and I am wrong, we bunker-balled our way to 43 goals.