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

Teams like Poland can be tricky just like Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden or even Iceland. They could be hard to break if they decided to defend with 7-8.

I remember Greece in 2010, even though we beat them 2-0, we didnt break their defence until very late in the game. Hell, they went all the way in Euro 2004 with that.

Sweden in 2002 spent the whole game defending, we have close to 70% possession and countless shots but it ended 1-1.

Unlike African or Asian sides, when European team decided to park the bus, they often really good at doing it. In fact African and Asian teams usually just play openly without afraid of being thrashed but European team would be more than willing to park the bus if needed.

 

Poland got spanked 6-1 v Belgium.

 

Im not afraid of this Poland at all. Not much better than Estonia...

 

I don't watch Poland that often, but seems like the team that started was a mix of A and B players. Would need to watch more of them to see if this is a one off or if it's actually their level.

 

In terms of football, this is perhaps nothing… But…

BREAKING: A senior U.S. intelligence official says Russian missiles crossed into NATO member Poland, killing two people.

A Polish government spokesman did not immediately confirm the information, but said leaders were meeting on "crisis situation." https://t.co/W1hhjwa6ez

— The Associated Press (@AP) November 15, 2022

 

I predict this will be the starting XI vs Poland

--------------------Alvarez
------------------------Messi
Acuna, MacA, Enzo, De Paul, Molina
------Lisandro, Otamendi, Romero
-------------------Dibu

If my gut feeling is correct, my hope is that:

-Palacios to be subbed in for De Paul
-A. Correa to be subbed in for Alvarez
-Maybe Paredes if we need another midfielder.
-Maybe Di Maria for Acuna to rest his pulbagia injury

 

I would be happier if De Paul is benched as well. Enzo & Julian must start.

 

-Agree with you on De Paul, I would play both MacA, Paredes, Enzo but don't think Scaloni will bench him

-Enzo should be locked in as a starter going forward

-Agree that Alvarez should start, from the past 2 matches Lautaro was moving not well.

 

Enzo needs to start every game.

I predict we will play much better this game. I wont risk saying any score *anulomufa*, but we will do well, some kind of weight have been lifted today (in the 2nd half).

 

Lautaro is either injured or has nothing in the tank. He is rather ponderous and totally transparent. Julian would give fits to the Poland defense, not the fastest one by any means.

 

Lautaro isn't injured or out form he had 2 flawless finishes last game. He barely got any service aside from a cross.

 

Lineup against Poland has to be this:

Dibu
Montiel - Ota- Martinez- Acuna
ADM RDP(Weak WC performances so far, but wont be benched), Paredes ( think he will get another shot) and Enzo
Messi and L.Martinez.

Martinez didnt have any service today, because Mexico were camping with one point. Wouldnt fault him today, couldnt do anything with their campy football.

 

Lautaro & Julian both needs to open their account or they'd continue to struggle. Lautaro was even worst in Copa before he scored a tap in againts Bolivia, and then he'd scored again in QF & semi.

 

Exactly. Only Batigol with his canon could possibly found the way to beat that 8 players wall.

Also, Lautaro has been replaced before Messi goal I think? He'd probably have done something in last 20 minutes when the game has been opening up.

 

5 minutes of pure roller coaster of emotions. Poor Aimar, he looks like he`s about to have mental breakdown.

 

We need to sort out our midfield from this match. Our midfield was non existent for 3 of the four halves we have played in this WC. It is more to do with the tactics than the players themselves. We must play defenders as defenders, midfielders as midfielders and strikers as strikers. No more deeplying playmaker bullshit….. we do not have any player who is good to play this role anyway and it only leaves a huge gap in our midfield and disjoint attack from defence which results in passing between the CBs and FBs who occupy the flanks. We are a team with short forwards, so please let’s attack most of the time through the middel.

 

Don't care what the team is as long as Enzo plays and Guido doesn't.

I'd like so see RDP benched too but that will never happen.

 

Three thoughts:

• I'd like to see Lautaro and Alvarez play together; might need to limit DiMaria's minutes.
• Enzo should be a starter now. Messi has been waiting to play with a player like Enzo at the NT the whole time. RDP, Enzo and Paredes in the midfield is perfect for Leo
• Cuti might be the best defender for Lewa. Otamendi can't play 90mins and Licha has "short comings"

We need to get 3pts from this game. That puts us in first place in the group

 

If Di Maria starts, we know what will happen. Our attack will mostly go down the right flank and it will be Di Maria dribbling in isolation and then crossing it. Very hard to score like that against a closed Poland defense. We need more trickery with quick combo passing to create an opening in the box or set up a long range shot. Thinking Messi, Correa/Almada, Lautaro/Julian with midfield support from Enzo and Mac/RDP/Palacios.

 

Rewatching the 2nd half to see the effect of the subs. First half the problem is clearly that our midfield can't bring the ball up at all. Mac is too advanced so nobody gives it to him. Best that can be done is to give it to the 2 fullbacks + Di Maria on the flanks but that doesn't do any good. Messi finally drops back and that finally works except He mass it to RDP who loses it with a bad touch. Took 15 minutes to bring one ball to the final 3rd!

In the first 25 min RDP lost 4 balls in dangerous positions! Did have a couple of good interceptions.
Guido is just super conservative.
Mac I think should have dropped back more but I assume he was following instructions.
Overall that mid 3 is so undynamic.

Only times we were able to get ball into attacking positions was
1) Wwhen Messi dropped way back in which case he plays some passes with the LEFT flank including Lautaro, Mac, Acuna. This is why we need a left flank player. Messi interacts more on that side.
2) Di Maria solo dribbles on the flank.

 

We didn't start playing until finally Enzo came in. He was involved in first goal as I mentioned. Palacios entry too helped, with him I can't really pinpoint tangibles but he gives me confidence over Mac. That and maybe, just maybe 3 in the back is the right formation for us

 

This might not be a bad mid. Paredes x Guido if too static.
---Guido---
Palacios-Enzo

I know RDP is the lungs of the squad but you play the most in-form players. If a player is very important but out of form, give them a trial. Well, RDP came into the cup in poor form, he got 2 chances, and played very poorly in both.