2026 FIFA World Cup: Semifinals - Argentina vs. England

Against England he actually made a change that people here had been asking. Almost everyone wanted RDP out of the starting lineup.

I hope you dont think thats my view because its a strawman bro. Scaloni gets so much right that we never even experienced before aside from maybe some of Pekerman's team. Things like playstyle, tactics, movements, ect.. Everything is peak.

The 2 legit criticism are: extremely conservative player selection sticking to his known favorites until forced and going on the backfoot after a lead.

I actually think Scaloni somehow fixed the second one by opting to start slow and finish strong. In reality that translated to us being down a goal and chasing but somehow its working

 

I haven't bought a new jersey since our streak started in 2021, and I haven't washed any of my jerseys! Still wearing them and in this Miami sun. I am sacrificing here!!

 

I've bought 3 of the 2023 jersey but I havent buy the 2026 one because I'm waiting, just in case... if you know what I mean.

 

Maybe your view was like this, but over the course of the matches leading to the World Cup, there were a lot of complaints about how we don't show intensity, slow passes and etc. Evidence is in this forum so I don't agree that the forum was in uniform about the playstyle, tactics and movements was good leading up to this World Cup.

Conservative Player Selection
For prior tournaments, You and I talked about this so I won't go into depth for this one.

For this World cup, I agree for the Cape Verde, Egypt and Switzerland game (also the part of the backfoot after a lead). Those are the criticisms that I do agree with. The England game, we were all in uniform that RDP was taken out. What I don't see is praise of the subs that he made that helped pushed us to the winner (this is definitely not targeted at you, but more for the forum in general)[/QUOTE]

I did see some good comments about the changes that he made vs Egypt of moving Messi to the RW.

The whole point that I'm trying to make is that there's a lot of criticism on Scaloni, and most with good reason, and not much positivity given to him. We can't have a proper and balanced football discussion if there's everything leaning to negativity.

 

I see both sides of it. To me when I post negative during the game it's to vent frustration mostly. I don't take things said in the heat of the moment and apply them to the final analysis when I'm more clear eyed about it. It just sucks to see guys struggling out there physically when it feels avoidable. But Scaloni is right in his post game conferences when he mentions there was a lot of good stuff going on too, even when they're losing. I'm glad he doesn't push the panic button, but it really is a dance on a knife's edge sometimes man. If any one of those previous knockouts, the other team hit one more lucky shot or if we made one more dumb mistake, it would've been over.

 

Yeah for sure shouldn't have been down against cape verde and egypt I get that. But I also think while you guys have an amazing team, spirit and fight, the squad isn't loaded with world class talent like other national teams. So you guys are vulnerable and can be scored on. But while other teams have a lot more talent, they lack the spirit and fight Argentina has. I'll be honest I am surprised you guys made another final, before the tournament I looked at the team and thought, okay Messi and Julian, enzo, but after that I dont see the best players in the world at other positions. So fair play to you guys, spirit and fight seems to get teams further than ever now. Talent alone means nothing.

 

This is where you are wrong. We know Romero is the best defender in the world. Licha not far off if not for injuries. Taglafico the most reliable. Paredes the goat of midfield. We know we got Dibu for penalties although he is off form and injured. Mac off form but was great before getting the disease of balding which is improving now. Not to mention the younger players and dybala who was left at home. We have talent please stop. You will see that when we spank spain

 

Its a good thing we are not arrogant

 

I think you are underestimating the squad.

Other teams players have been hyped. For whatever reason those playing for Argentine outside of Messi are not really respected or perhaps admired as they should be.

You don't get to be where this team is if you are not any good. They are all pretty decent technically. Sure there are those like Molina who are not that good and we need to find some fullbacks for 2030 although Simon Escobar is an amazing talent aged 17 if he keeps his head screwed on.

But for the others like Licha, Cuti, Julian, Enzo, Macca showing form they are not well regarded. I don't think other teams have more talent. We still have this myth that Brazil is loaded with talent. They cannot find a striker or fullbacks or a truly creative midfielder. Germany ? Hardly anything to shout out about. The Dutch have not produced a creative midfielder of the calibre they used to like Cruyff or van Haneghem or Hullit for years.

Sure we have great mentality resilience and self belief but that would be for naught if not for the quality of the players that constitute the majority of the squad.

There may be a drop off for a while as the newcomers post the WC blend in but there is always talent emerging. The canteras in Argentina are some of the finest football schools anywhere in the world.

You have to remember football remains a team game. Perhaps the two best units are in the final. They play as a collective whole.

 

Bellingham speaks Spanish obviously so knows what is being said. Messi was giving it to him. Anderson in the middle had no idea what was going on.

 

You’re right, talent does not win you anything. Just like at our 06 team and 07 CA team. Just stacked from top to bottom. We were baffled that we didn’t win anything with that group.

Unity is what brings this team together. We don’t need to have 4 100 ME players in the starting line-up, I think to fight for the person next to you is what makes this group so special. Certain teams have it and others don’t. There isn’t an ego on this team.

 

But the valuations of our players signed on the cheap compared to someone like Anderson who is pretty limited as a DM but who UAE City paid £150M for..are not based on actual ability just the relative economic weakness of Argentine clubs.

 

I cant believe everything that happened and im too busy/tired to even post right now, i ve been tired since this insane match happened and it feels i havent slept in 2 days (which i have, cos had to go to work, im a mom so do all the mom stuff, and yesterday i finished the last class for my masters degree, which is insane and is insane that everythings happening so together and the same time thats why it feels that it has been one looong day). All i wanna say until i can be back to comment is that im so incredibly PROUD of this team, that everything we are achieving is NOT normal, it shouldnt be given for granted, it probably wont be achieved by any other team any time soon, this group (players, coach, staff) are literal HEROS and this is even more epic than Qatar...the way we arrive to this final is insane, after the way the guys played against england i dont want more i dont need anything more, it feels like watching history happen What a group, the heart and grit and braveness this group has is nothing short of miraculous. HEROES in my book.

 

Mick at the game in 98…


Mick at the game in 26.


Paint it black, Mick…

 

I wouldnt even trade Almada & Molina for anybody from England NT. Thats how I rate them. Besides, you cant justify 6 decades of no trophy. They're champions of pundits talk.

 

Harry Kane??? The serial choker. No thanks, he did nothing as usual. Give me Lautaro any day vs this stats collector

 

Maybe the best analysis i have seen. England was outplayed had nothing to do with Tuchel

 

England trying to get their hand into international trophy.