2026 FIFA World Cup: Group J - Argentina vs. Algeria

He played up the pitch to offer the width unlike Montiel. He did his bit. I was concerned more about his defence and to be fair to him he is not a natural fullback. We've always in recent years tended to play through the centre without conventional wide players. Even di Maria and Messi when they offer width do so by pushing out from the centre barring a few games with di Maria and Messi earlier on his career well very early in his career with the seleccion.

 

Speaking of Paz, even Yamal looked anxious and over eager when he came in. He seems unsure whether to tries a curler (which Spain badly needs) and ended just running into traffic & making sideways passes.

Didnt we have a good psychologist? I think if we beat Austria, then Paz can starts againts Jordan much like Messi againts Netherlands in 2006.

 

Lautaro proof to be more effective as a sub at CA 24. I think he started because Julian just recovering. I expect Julian to start in next game while Lautaro can starts in third game like he did againts Peru in CA.

 

I may be biased because he is not Argentinian - not born in argentina, didn't grow up in Argentina, doesn't speak castellano much less lunfardo, never played in Argentina at any level. If u want to consider him part of the nation because of one tenuous tie (his horny father), go for it. I don't.

Despite of my bias, despite of his inexperience, Gallego Paz was garbage.

 

He did alright defensively, had some shaky moments but got bailed out by Licha and Enzo/Mac. Very evident that he is not a fullback. He backs off little bit too much for my liking. When it comes to attack, we should create or at least start our attacks from the width like the third goal before playing through the middle. Disguise our attacks more.

 

Yeah thats excatly it. He just doesnt have the quality to create somehting out of nothing. At Inter, they play with two strikers so he has a player to link up with but for the Seleccion, he becomes out of sync with the rest.

 

4-4-2 with nothing offensively from the fullbacks is the worst situation for Lautaro. Also in this match Mac and Enzo failed to crash the area.

Still on the shot stopped by Algerian keeper after Messi's first goal, he should have played Lautaro through.

 

Any ideas guys?

The calendar is undefeated. No outfield player has ever defined a
World Cup at 39, and Argentina will have to ration his minutes
whether they like it or not.
https://wcup-spot.com/messi-world-cup-record-why-it-wont-happen

 

Lautaro is only few goals away to become Argentina 3rd all time goalscorer. Saying he isnt effective would be an huge understatement.

 

Lautaro was fine, I actually thought he was good with his holdup and didnt have any clear wasted chances.

Almada the fraud is the problem for me. Ngonzalez and Lo celso should be ahead of him. Literally anyone

 

Mac was bad. They were passing him like a cone.

Next game play Enzo in the deeper position and Alexis as 8. If he still doesn't perform then he should be benched.

No clue who to replace Almada with but he's very noticeably off form.

All cool with Lautaro but Julián is the starter every time.

 

Almada is easy to replace. Either one of our donkey wings or another solid mid, probably Barco since he can also play wide. Very surprised Scaloni started Alamada. If Messi rests, good time to bring in Almada.

Mac had several good interceptions. But yeah he is better a bit higher. Am not worried about our mid. We have too many good combinations between RDP, Mac, Enzo, Barco, Lo Celso, Exequiel, Paredes.

 

De Paul haters been real quiet since yesterday. He stepped up as usual, he was as good as his best games from '22. Absolute workhorse but I would sub him out at around min 70 when steams run out

 

Well, some fans actually thinks Scaloni is stupid while Bielsa is the real legend

Small portion of the fans cant accept players like Paredes, RDP, Lo Celso win something that the previous generations failed to achieve.

I'd criticize our players if they play bad for multiple matches, but not out of blind hatred. If they do deliver when it really matters, then they deserve huge credit.

 

Actually not, I still see lots of people worshipping Bielsa as if he won 2 WC and 3 CA. Lots of people did say silly stuff about Scaloni just because he didnt pick certain players they wanted.

 

Means a lot coming from a Brazilian, and a footballer who I consider the 4th greatest ever.

 

Bati at Florance and R9 at Inter were the big reason why I got into football. Also Baggio in WC 1994.


Meanwhile, Zlatan just said this

“Winning another World Cup won’t change his status as the greatest of all time. It will just be another trophy in the trophy room.”,

 

Algeria are not Curacao level but they're also not their 2010-14 level either. It was a really good win and we made them look worse than they are, but I don't think they'll be doing any damage in the tournament. I'll be interested in how Algeria vs. Austria goes because I think they're on the same tier ultimately.