2022 World Cup Qatar: Group C - Argentina vs. Mexico

Exactly, this is the last chance for the entire team, not cuti and Paredes. No place to give courtesies to any players. Nothing is guaranteed, but Enzo and Lisandro being in better form is a fact, and has been the case for a while.

Almost any other coach and I'd be resigned already, I trust Scaloni to do the right thing and understand the wc is played in this month and not in the past.

 

Dibu

Molina Otamendi Lisandro Acuña
De Paul- Enzo- Mc Allister
Julian-Lautaro-Messi


(Then sub Julian for Di Maria in the 2nd half for super runs)

 

If we're able to have at least 2 goals lead and Mexico is forced to attack, then ADM would be able to finish the game.

If its 1-1 in 70th minutes and they still park the bus, we're almost doomed.

 

Ill change Molina for Montiel I think

Montiel Ota Lisandro Acuña

 

I'd take that risk since Molina was awful in first game. In WC you always needs to fix things right away or elimination is inevitable.

 

I re-watched the 5 minute highlight video and almost got sick. Kudos to you and you are 100% right that Di Maria and Papu should be super subs.

I'm afraid Di Maria cemented his place as a starter with that Maracana goal. Scaloni wasn't just saving Di Maria's fitness for the KO's and using him as a super sub, which IMO, is the right way to manage Di Maria.

Papu lost the starting spot 100% and I feel he only ever got starts against 'weaker' opposition that would park the bus. Papu helps unlock a bus but is not good in a physical, fast contest.

Enzo or Mac will start in MF. Paredes will remain with De Paul.

 

Papu only role in the team is the booty dance after we lift the cup

We sacrifice too much playing him just for some passes and maybe shot (zero goals this season with sevilla). Vs Dybala who can do all of that better and more explosively or Acorrea.

 

So far this year Di Maria has scored 5 goals & few assist in NT. He's not out of form or still injured, he's simply not effective againts bunkering sides that press hard & just sit back waiting to counter.

Againts team like Italy, Brazil, Germany, Uruguay, France, he's able to use his best assets, which is powerful shots & acceleration. This is why we saw him plenty of time in headless chicken mode during qualifier when we played the lesser opponents.

This is why he should only starts againts the stronger sides who wont bunker , otherwise he should be supersub.

As for Papu, he's done & dusted. His only role now is to lead the team in locker celebration .

 

So, it might be looking like Enzo will in fact start. But it’s interesting…’He may replace Paredes, where Mac Allister replaces Papu. So, it’s a unique look. You have players who have defensive and offensive capabilities in the midfield. It appears Scaloni trusts Mac and wants him closer to Messi rather than Enzo. Julian could also start and Lisandro will likely replace Cuti.

 

Looks like Scaloni gets the memo, younger and more athletic players are needed.

I would like to see this line up.

Lautaro - Messi
Mac - Enzo - RDP - Julian
Acuna - Licha - Ota - Montiel​

 

I could live with that lineup. For me, I would put Julian on the LM with RDP at RM.

Lautaro - Messi
Julian - Enzo - Mac - RDP
Acuna - Licha - Ota - Montiel
​

This was the game plan that Scaloni had throughout the Copa 2021 except for the final. Only difference is with Julian replacing Nico G.

-I feel Julian is better on the left rather than on the right
-Mac and Enzo are in the middle where they are best at
-RDP still gets to associate with Messi on that right hand side.

 

Latest rumors: only two changes, enzo x Papu, Montiel x Molina.

 

Julian is not effective out wide. He is a central player only.

Don't know why we change things now. Midfield should be De Paul - Paredes - Mac.. We have won many games with this midfield.

 

Depending on which side Julian plays. If Acuna plays and Julian is in the left side, Julian will be more involved in the center while Acuna takes care of the left wing like how they did vs Saudi Arabia.

The midfield of De Paul - Paredes - Mac only played 3 games and won 2.

 

So you would rather go with a midfield that hasn't played a full game together?

I dont know what is better. All I know is that I really miss GLC and Nico :-(

 

Paredes was good vs Mexico last time. I would just do Enzo for Papu for the midfield change. I really don't want to see Mac when we are trying to score (if it's up to me he only plays last 15 minutes of games) .

Di Maria was useless vs Saudi imo all his crossing in the second half is a waste of time. How many goals from crosses have we even scored? Just completely desperate. He needs to make runs and in tandem with molina to disrupt maybe he will get more space vs Mexico

 

Never said that I wouldn't go with the De Paul - Paredes - Mac midfield. Just saying that they only won 2 out of the 3 games that they played together which is not the same thing as "won many games with this midfield"

But yes, Lo Celso's absence really messed up the balance of the team. Even Nico is missed as well. Tough decision for Scaloni and hopefully he makes the right one.

 

Scaloni probably thinks uprooting the midfield could be an issue, so he may just use Enzo.

Our most inform players are the likes of Mac Allister, Enzo, Lisandro and Julian. But will Scaloni live dangerously and just try Enzo in Papu’s position when he’s never done so in a match for the seleccion? Or will he be that pragmatic manager who will just use what he’s seen and is comfortable with and use Mac? We will speculate until an hour or so before kickoff.

So was Palacios, should we play him as well? Paredes has probably had two matches since coming back from injury. He’s currently in preseason form. We need to see more out of him if we want to progress. If he can’t do, then he needs to sit down for a player that is in form.

 

Because lo celso wasn't a forward like Papu. People forget lo celso played as #5 even early at psg. He is a midfielder who had the awareness to staye close to paredes and press. My point is vs Saudi we didn't even attempt to replace like for like

 

Palacios in that role ahead of Mac in a heartbeat yes. He is also just coming from long hiatus as well. Scaloni has to assess paredes sharpness in training. Without him you lose a lot of creativity we saw many times when Guido started. Btw Depaul completely invisible vs Saudi but seems immune to any criticism (not that I fully blame him). I think Scaloni will give his midfielders another chance.

 

Even though I think both De Paul and Paredes played horribly (De Paul had his worst match ever in an Argentinian shirt), I blame more on Scaloni for his weird no midfield build up. The majority of the midfielders would have struggled with that tactic. I would give them another chance as well.

 

Is Palacios is in more form than Mac Allister? And yes, RDP was awful. Bad giveaways and etc.

 

No, that's why it's Enzo or Mac for Scaloni. I wasn't clear, I meant for me in-form Palacios ahead of Mac for offensive role and of course Enzo miles ahead of both. I rate Mac as a little more mobile biglia with good set-pieces hope he doesn't start.

 

That's right, we need someone like Enzo, Mac, or Palacios in MF to help win the ball and build up. I think any one of those with Acuna will be a huge improvement over Papu + Tagli.

De Paul has been bad this entire season and I mentioned it long before the World Cup that I was very concerned about him. He has not been the same since that Copa final.