2002 should have been Saviola-Crespo. Bati only scored 6 goals and only played half of that season due to ankle injury. Player form can change drastically within half season. I still think we wouldnt be struggling in first game if this WC started in Finalissima date.
Yes, we need to press and hunt the ball down. Only that way we will force them into making mistakes. That slow ass passing in first game and first half againts Mexico will not let us beat any team. My line up would be similar to bigsoccer pekerman but I'd start Alvarez cause he could help to press off the ball and has plenty of pace & energy. If Alvarez still cant score or help to score, Dybala starts right away in second half . I honestly wouldnt sub Lautaro cause once he receives a good pass/cross, he'd hit the net.
Hoy lo contamos temprano en #espnf12 y @todonoticias. Se perfilan cuatro cambios en Argentina: Molina x Montiel, Cuti Romero x Lisandro Martínez, Enzo Fernández x Guido Rodríguez y Julián Alvarez x Lautaro Martínez.— Leo Paradizo (@leoparadizo) November 29, 2022 I dont know if this guy is reliable (he is a sports journalist according to twitter bio) but if this is true....Im excited On the other hand, the rumors are that the starting XI is the same as Mexico but with Cuti instead of Licha and Paredes instead of Guido
Edul now saying the same team as Mexico but Romero instead of Licha and the only doubt is Paredes/Fernandez.....
I'm very surprised Licha is getting dropped, if the rumours are true. Obviously Romero is top class but Licha has played well and we haven't conceded a goal with him on the pitch, in either game. If the guy with the jersey is performing he keeps his spot, in my opinion. If he is dropped you can guarantee Guido is getting dropped and Scaloni is worried about the lack of height. If Montiel starts I'll be very surprised and very disappointed. I think it's going to be a nervy night. An early goal for us would do my heart rate a lot of good.
It's looking more and more like this will be the team .. Dibu Montiel, Cuti, Otamendi, Acuña Paredes or Enzo RDP, Mac Di Maria, Messi Lautaro
I'm ok with that lineup but would prefer a midfield with RDP, Paredes and Enzo. We would need more attacking input by Acuna more than ever. If it's a choice between Paredes and Enzo, I like Paredes, but he is rusty and Enzo is in much better form right now. This is not the time to play any passengers. Edit: According to Diego Monroig from ESPN Argentina, sounds like Enzo will be starting over Paredes. According to him, there is decision whether Paredes or Mac start and whether Lautaro or Alavarez start. https://www.espn.com.ar/video/clip/_/id/11303436?ex_cid=TW_FansAr
Let's be clear. Enzo Fernandez has to start this game, period. We can debate if it's best that he replaces Paredes, De Paul or Mac Allister. But he has to play. Sometimes coaches outsmart themselves. Scaloni, just make the obvious move, play Enzo. Not playing him could be your downfall, just as taking out Riquelme against Germany was Pekerman's downfall.
Game day. Game day. Game day. Enzo should start. And I believe he and Cuti both will do so. Scaloni is just overthinking this.
Exactly my thoughts. Enzo needs to start, this is the best player to pair Messi with. And Cuti didn't forget how to play defense, he had one bad game; Cuti could be our best option against Lewa
I understand Romero replacing Licha. Its because we are basically a team of midgets and the Poland forwards are all 6 foot. Romero and Pezzella are tallish defenders, and Romero is the best out of those. I love Licha and he has done great vs Mexico, but Romero has also been great and a solid rock for us for many games, only the Arabia game he was a fluke cause he was coming out of an injury. He is probably ok now after resting and practising.
well i just googled romero height and he is 1,85 cm, so pretty tall, same height as lewandoski actually. In feet it would be 6 foot 1, so between him and Ota we are pretty good in our centrals height.
Romero is good enough to deal with any height concern. No need to go crazy like diego in 2010 playing 4 central defenders because he was so worried about german height. It's really exaggerated and modern football really isn't as much about long crosses and headers. You overcrowd the midfield and wings and cut off the plays there.
Lol, I remember Pekerhead subbed in Julio Cruz instead of Messi just because he's 6'3. Ayala is 5'10 and he scored header against Germany , Puyol is 5'10, scored similar header against Germany aswell.
Guys!!!! Scaloni reads this forum!!! Argentina va a jugar con Dibu Martínez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuña; De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister; Messi, Julián Álvarez. y Di María. pic.twitter.com/CKsL4eyayq— Gastón Edul (@gastonedul) November 30, 2022
Enzo and Julián confirmed by Edul. This is the strongest line up we can currently field based on form IMO, if we can't win I won't have anything to say about the coach.
It's an interesting line-up.. I see on the formation boards they show Enzo as the 5, and while I think when they jump on the pitch that's where he'll be, I believe the midfield will be much more fluid with Mac, Enzo, and RDP alternating the role... when one goes up, the other will slot into the 5. At times it may even turn into a double 5 (Mac-Enzo) when Acuna moves up. I like it. I don't like it when players are in static positions... it becomes way too predictable. Happy to see Julian, but I think this was a Lautaro game.. I wonder if he's not fit or Julian just won the spot based on better form
I love this lineup!! Lautaro is great but he had some kind of ankle discomfort after last game and i actually think Julian is great to penetrate and go forward, which is what we need!! Im loving this with Enzo, Julian, Angelito, Messi!! Just go go go until we score!!
I am surprised no Lautaro but lineup should do the job. Di Maria needs to stop with this winger play, Molina should help them there. We need Di Maria cutting-in and shooting.
So, the analysis I saw on Poland’s defense is they are a bit stiff, and they would struggle with agile type players rather than a traditional forward. Maybe this is the reason why JA is given the nod. We have no excuses not to win.