2022 World Cup Qatar: Quarterfinals - Argentina vs. Netherlands

Ironically for Netherlands, in all their victories they never finish as a champion. When we beat them in 1978 & Olympics 2008, we finished as champion.

 

Netherland with their low block this tournament. It is not hard to stop their attack but to break 8-9 man low block is. Hope for Messi's magic and Di Maria returns. Also should overload their flanks. 3-5-2 is my pick from start. Should dominate possesion and do something like Pep here


They don't have Robben, a player who was extremely dangerous in one on one and counter.

One thing is there will be much more Argentina's fans in stadium.

 

Either 3-5-2 or if we play 4-3-3, we must play Enzo a little bit further up than what he did against Australia and play the FBs more closer to our goal than the opponent’s goal. We need to play RDP, Enzo and Mac much closer than the recent games so that we can control the midfield better.

This will allow us:

- To control the game better
- Involve Messi more in the game as he will be closer to the midfield.
- Midfielders will also have more chances to create goal for our strikers. So our attack won’t only depend on Messi.
- We will have more chances to create centrally, instead of trying to create from the wings all the time. More variations.
- Defend better as the Netherlands often attack better through their FBs.

I am pretty sure Netherlands will also try to play similar to Australia, but this time the opponent is better so we might suffer more. Against Australia, we did not create any chance before the goal. In addition, Australia were keeping the ball very well without any problem. At one time they had a sequence of holding the ball for around 150 seconds We must therefore change our way of playing one way or the other.

 

Holland will spam our flanks, which means no more hiding and subpar performance by Molina. He has been dreadful. He is going ot be tested and thats worrying because he is bang average. Very limited "right wing back" and stiff as a board. Acuna on the other hand is harder to beat. The midfield needs to protect our full backs.

 

I agree with the sentiment of playing a 352 as we need Enzo a bit higher to work his magic. Lisandro can make the pass between the lines as well.

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

But I have a feeling Scaloni will start a 442 with the starters being the same. Wouldn't mind this either.

Dibu---Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuna---Di Maria, RDP, Enzo, MacA---Messi, Alvarez

- The battle between RDP vs Frenkie De Jong will be very important. Good thing RDP is in form now.
- Dumfries is really the player that I am most concerned of and MacA to play to help Acuna deal with his pace.

Overall, I'm still confident in this team to deliver the victory. The players got a day off today and seeing their families. Very well deserved and I hope they enjoy it.

Quick question: Acuna has 1 yellow right now. If he gets another yellow and we qualify to the semi's, will Acuna be suspended for the semi?

 

All cards are cleared. Acuna was subbed off and Montiel the only other recipient was subbed on. He didn't pick up a second. So the entire squad is available.

 

I think this is a good game for a fresh Di Maria

 

Netherlands gave up several chances and a goal to a USA team that barely knew what it was doing offensively and all three of their goals were due to ridiculously poor defending. I think mental sharpness is the key as they're able to quickly exploit any lapses. Fortunately we have a long break to recharge unlike the USA which was on short turnaround after an emotional and hard-fought win where everyone had to empty their gas tanks.

 

The yellow card slate is wiped clean after the quarterfinals have concluded. None of our players will therefore miss any game due to yellow cards now.

 

Netherlands looked good and comfortable against the US, but for us a week off should do wonders.

I just hope Lisandro and Enzo start as I still don’t agree with the starting XI from the last match. Was so nice to see De Paul look like a footballer again.

I definitely feel more worried about Netherlands than I did a week ago but we just need to play our game. Some of the sleep walking against Australia I’m hoping was due to the short turnaround. I hope we really bring the intensity on Friday because now the real World Cup starts. Really looking forward to it

 

FDJ needs to be exposed. He's a soft guy. Paredes has his number btw.
Papu just has no place in this team, he was occupying Mac's territory before being sent to the right. I hope we don't see him even as a sub.

 

Mac, I want to see more involved, he shows up for some nice touches and control but most of the time I just don't see him fighting like I used to see Lo Celso (in fact I barely see him). I also think he is playing too far up almost like a second striker maybe as per Scaloni's instructions but I don't remember our midfield being this disjointed the space between Mac and Enzo is all empty. That's why we say let's triangulation, Paredes used to be higher btw Enzo is pretty much between defender but that has much to do with Scaloni extra cautious plan I think

And I really believe a lot of the lack of creativity and options aside from Messi is due to Paredes absence. Maybe just maybe Mac is a better second half sub in case we go to penalties too

 

Scaloni's in-game real time reading and reactions with subs still isn't the best for me.

 

Given that their main threat is their fullbacks I would go 3-5-2.

Constrict the midfield and push our WBs to keep their FBs on the defensive. Have a deeper lying DM infront of a back three.

In possession have one of the back three come into midfield and act as an alternate playmaker with the DM. Controlling possession is key. Wear them out.

----------------------------------Emiliano-------------------------------------
---------------Romero-------Otamendi----------Licha-------------------
-Montiel----------------------Enzo------------------------------Acuna----
------------------------RDP-------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------MacAllister---------------------------
---------------------Messi----------------------Alvarez--------------------

 

This is why I would like the 352. Let the wingbacks take care of the width and this will allow MacA to be more involved in the center. Also, this allows Messi to be more involved as well.

Cross proximity with the players and winning the midfield battle by overloading midfield.

 

Molina looked extremely tired vs Australia like he lost 50% of his pace. The goal is partly his fault if you watch, first a bad clearance, then fails to close down the wing when he was double teaming the australian attacker who left him for dust. He will be fresh on friday tho

 

It is true Mac and the team improved in the second half after formation change due to Papu's injury

 

With a good mentality, rested players and a good tactical plan, we could win this.

We certainly have the players, the grit, the talent and the goat.

 

So, the Dutch are gonna play with a counterattacking style. Or maybe LVG will have something up his sleeve. I think finding a goal could be tricky but the Dutch could be penetrated quite easily. Yes they have VVD, who I admire quite a bit, but I’m overly concerned about anything else but their speed. We need to nullify it. You saw how lazy the US were in their second goal?


Depay aka Poor Man’s Neymar(Seriously, doesn’t this guy look like Neymar?) Also Gakpo is quick and can cause damage.

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Seriously, Neymar has decided to play for the Dutch

No pussyfooting around in this match. Our defenders need to be ready. I’m still concerned with a back 3, finding that goal could be tricky because ADM won’t start. But if we do bring him on late in the match, who gets pushed out?

 

A 2010 rule change by FIFA, global football’s governing body, means players will have outstanding yellow cards wiped after the quarter-finals of World Cup 2022.
https://en.as.com/soccer/are-yellow...-world-cup-2022-group-stage-n/?outputType=amp

 

That's the thing. I don't see us starting with 3 in the back then putting an attacker in the second? I think Scaloni starts 4 in the back then switches in the second as he has done so far.

I gotta give credit to Scaloni he did notice when things weren't working:

“He has a big knock on his ankle but even so, I had the feeling that the team needed something else, which is what we tried with Lisandro. To have Acuna and Nahuel and three midfielders with Leo. We improved in that aspect.”

 

It's concerning that an injury forced Scaloni's hand not an intentioned change. Gomez cannot press and we need that.

 

Messi is going to set the tempo for us again. That instant when he decided to press like mad in the first half turned the whole team on.

It is imperative everyone remembers they are a threat too and believe in their own skills and do their part. Not leave it just to Leo. Because you can be sure the Dutch will have him double marked along with a low central block.