2022 World Cup Qatar: Quarterfinals - Argentina vs. Netherlands

Scaloni will approach this game cautious. He was cautious against Mexico and cautious against Australia, with the number 5 more or less playing between the CBs. The most important moment in this WC so far is when he subbed Guido and Lautaro against Mexico and brought on Enzo and Julian. Enzo played forty yards further forward than Guido, on the halfway line, and everything changed. Against Australia Enzo was suddenly playing deeper and we barely had a shot in that first half.

Because Holland are a more dangerous opponent I’m worried Scaloni will be tempted to play Guido. This cannot happen. Paredes for me, allowing Enzo more freedom to play his natural game, or if Di Maria is fit, leaving it as it is, but without Enzo playing so deep, where he is basically a glorified CB.

No Guido, no Papu and no Montiel. These are average players. We’re now in the last eight with the big boys. We need quality from 1 to 11.

 

Well, Paredes may get in the lineup to give that freedom for Enzo. Scaloni has tried this but I do wonder if he’s going to pack the midfield with Mac, Enzo, Paredes and RDP.

 

If this were the case, we would be relying on our FBs for width, which means they will leave gaps behind them on the flanks, which Holland will try to exploit.

 

Would be fine if Scaloni was aware of A.Correa and Dybala's existence

 

Nah Papu is half injured anyway Scaloni is not clinically insane yet. I think that's a good lineup, I think you will see a big difference in our midfield with Paredes back and Enzo more free. Mac playing almost like a second striker never would have imagined it prior to the WC. I guess he fits Scaloni prototype player... *restraining myself from my daily Mac rant*

 

This is perfect.

 

Ha, another epic confrontation in the making.

Oranje boven: koningin Máxima juicht vrijdag toch echt voor Nederland
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NieuwsKoningshuis
05.12.2022 | 15:17 UUR | Robyn van Gorsel
Het is voor koningin Máxima absoluut geen vraag. Wanneer komende vrijdag Nederland tegen Argentinië voetbalt, dan juicht onze majesteit voor oranje.

Naranja arriba: La reina Máxima realmente anima a los Países Bajos el viernes ¿Quieres saber

NoticiasKoningshuis 05.12.2022 | 15:17 | Robyn van Gorsel

No es en absoluto una pregunta para la reina Máxima. Cuando Holanda juegue contra Argentina el próximo viernes, nuestra majestad animará a naranja.

 

This team has a long way to go, it's time to increase the tempo.

 

Great article, can’t wait to read it again.

 

Both those formations lack a player who can threaten on the counter alongside Alvarez. Not a concern when we were playing closed teams but the Netherlands will probably be a bit more open and we need to be ready to take advantage. Messi is great at making the pass on counters but he no longer has the pace to finish them alone.

I'd rather see Correa over Paredes. Maybe even Almada. Of course, Garnacho would be ideal.

 

It's not like we're without flaws in execution of the defense either.

 

As it is the case for most teams, we highlight our flaws and applaud our opponents strengths.

 

I am liking what I am hearing regarding the tactics/formation. I think It’s better to have more bodies in midfield than in the flanks for defensive purposes. Not everyone will agree with me, but I think it’s better we attack through the middel than from the flanks as well. Of course one cannot only setup to attack through the middel to avoid predictability but most attacks should go through the middel and some through wings when an opportunity arise. This should specially be the case for team like Argentina (and Spain for that matter) as we both lack target striker and our best creators are not the ones who crosses.

I therefore believe that we should play to our strength and play our midfielders more closer than what we have done until now in this WC. We should also play more like a possession team (Poland 2nd half) to utilise our players better in attack and to move as a unit both in attack and defence. We do not have players like France, England and Brazil who have other types of qualities. We should therefore play to our strength and I think having Paredes as a 5, with Enzo further up the pitch, where he can interchange with Mac and RDP to make runs from midfield to the opponents 16m is the best tactic/formation for this team. Playing with 4 midfielders will also make it easier for our midfielders to cover the FBs when they are caught out of position. As I mentioned earlier, we should either go with 4 midfielders or 3-5-2 from now onwards. Playing Enzo/Guido as a deeplying playmaker as we have already done couple of times in this WC is a recipe for disaster and we should immideatly stop this nonsense.

 

Van Gaal is Butthead, cant convince me otherwise.

 

ADM has started training with the group; still to be seen if he can keep up the intensity with the rest of the group though. I'd say he has a good chance of starting vs the Netherlands.

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

 

We need DiMaria. He solves a lot of our issues on offense. I expect that the Dutch will play compact and we will need to maximize our counterattack opportunities - to which, its DiMaria for me.

 

Agree. Di Maria will be fit. He surely wants to say something to Van Gaal.

 

I just hope it’s more than a 70% Di Maria

 

Do you think Di Maria still has the speed? He did last year but has been a bit injured since then. I have not see him play much this year.

His injury was so predictable. Frustrating that Scaloni thought he could play all minutes of every match and neglect takign another fast winger after Nico got injured.

 

What is the story with this fake queen of Holland??

 

I really don't want to watch Enzo, easily our most skilled and creative midfielder, playing as Scaloni's recent version of a DM which is pretty much a 3rd central defender.