PBP Match Thread: Argentina vs Croatia, 21 June 2018 [R]

Nigeria can still take first place in this group by beating both Iceland and Argentina by enough goals, if Croatia lose to Iceland.

Is that going to happen? I hope so but not very likely. We will see.

 

We got +5 you are at -2 with only 2 games and 1 game...you really believe in that?

 

No, I don't believe it will happen. I said it was still possible.

Possible scenario

Nigeria 3 Iceland 0
Nigeria 3 Argentina 0
Croatia 0 Iceland 2

Nigeria 6 Pts +4 GD
Croatia 6 Pts +3 GD

Possible is very different from probable.

 

If you can beat iceland with margin you will have to expect them to beat us by a margin as well when we got the best team of the group

 

Most likely result today is Nigeria 1 Iceland 1

 

Yes, but we all know football is not mathematics.

1994 WC

Norway 1 Mexico 0
Mexico 2 Ireland 1
Ireland 1 Italy 0
Italy 1 Norway 0

 

Yea tight scores...
But our scores were not tight.

You will have to expect from a team that would have taken 1 point in 2 games to win 3-0 against a team that won 2-0 and 3-0 against the other 2....it's like 99,99% that it won't happen

 

GOAT is still Pele. Messi could have appraoched that with some WC wins. Frankly, POrtugal was piss poor in the Euros (finished third in the group but snuck in because of the 24 teams) and got lucky.

 

where's the iceland/nigeria pbp threaD?

 

It was misnamed as the ARG-CRO thread.

 

wow...Mutiny on Argentina's ship? https://sports.yahoo.com/argentina-...-coach-jorge-sampaolis-ousting-133242114.html

Argentina's loss is not Messi's fault....It's the coach, stupid! lol

 

I am almost sure that Argentina will advance. They will defeat Nigeria. In case Messi scores @Bada Bing will declare Messi the Messiah.

I think FIFA will not allow Argentina get eliminated that early.

 

If you look at statistics only, Messi can approach in case he wins it. But if you look at the football they play, Messi will not approach Pele even if Messi wins next 10 World Cup in a row.

Messi's level of play,skill, influence and ability is nowhere near to Pele's and has never been. As Cesare Luis Menotti said "Pele is a combination of Di Stefano, Cruyff, Maradona and Messi." Nor was Maradona close to Pele.

 

No worries. Nigeria will knock Argentina out of the WC on Tuesday, FIFA or no FIFA.

 

I hope so. I want an African team to advance instead of South American one or European one.
I would actually want Argentina and Nigeria to advance from this group. May other continents catch Europe but now only an African or South American can advance.

First of all, Argentina, even though too paralyzed at the moment, has potential to defeat Nigeria. Both will play in either do or die match. A draw is sufficient for Nigeria, Argentina has to win.

Argentina has potential and as I said, Argentina is too big to be allowed to get eliminated on the group stage. It is a resource of income: Many stars, more tourist fans currently residing in Russia, more possible advertisement incomes and more attention. Of course there has been great teams that were eliminated in the group stages, I am not saying FIFA will certianly help Argentina. But for me, now it seems Argentina may be favoured by FIFA.

 

Argentina, with that defense, are not escaping that game against Nigeria with less than 2 goals. Now they might score more than 2 against Nigeria, but I highly doubt that.

Now all this is predicated on Nigeria not putting out a cowardly formation like they did against Croatia.

Spain, France, England and Italy have all been eliminated in the 1st round in recent world cups. If it is your time, it is your time. Not much FIFA can do about that.

 

Pele is like Jim Brown in American football ... different era... no one will dominate like the way those guys did ever again because now there’s video study, the opponents are not just some skinny amateurs... everyone takes it more seriously... people have wised up. It’s like Royce Gracie in the UFC. Comparing stats across generations is pointless. Just give people their respect for being the best in their time. The England team Maradona ran through were not the best athletes... cmon look at Gary Lineker’s body...

 

Argentina Central Midfield: Mascherano (34, Chinese league) + Enzo Perez (32, River)

Croatia Central Midfield: Rakitic (30, Barcelona) + Brozovic (25, Inter) + Modric (32, Real Madrid)

Sampaoli: "Oh my... we're losing the midfield battle! We're down 0-1! I know, I'll pull out Enzo, add another forward, Dybala, and let Masche deal with those three! Messi can help him, if he needs help! I'm a genius!"

 

Yes and no. They let Ronaldo get eliminated in 2014, but you’re right Argentina is a hot bed of soccer Fanatacism much more than Portugal so they may have FIFA’s help we’ll see in four days.

At some point during this tournament VAR is going to be used to give someone a red card and help the other team win... I’m expecting this in the semifinal or final.

 

A younger Mascherano could but he’s too old now. I think the problem is where to put Messi just like where to put Wayne Rooney.

Sampaoli is in a jam.

Argentina have too many left legged players.
Mascherano is old he needs help running the defensive middle... this leaves only availability of one central attacking midfielder. Otherwise they get exposed defensively.

If they put Messi Centrally and they cut him off the play has to develop through the wings, but the wings well they aren’t very skilled this World Cup for Argentina ( rb lb) and aguero isn’t gonna start winning headers any time soon. Neither will Higuain against Nigeria.

No more 343 Nigeria is too fast

The fix: 4-4-2. Messi concedes his play style. Play defensively and just grind out a win.

______________ higuain/ Aguero____________
___________________Messi___________
Di Maria Mascher Biglia/ Banega Meza/ Dybala
Tagliafaco rojo otamendi Salvio/ Mercado
Armani

Lol I’m just bullshitting I’m no manager just another armchair athlete

 

At one point Argentina had like 5 defenders and 5 attacker, and Modric/Rakitic were like "really?"

Also, nobody forced Argentina to take such an old team. They have a big pool of players under 30 like Rulli, Pezzella, Mammana, Paredes, Kranevitter, Pastore, Perotti, Correa, Icardi, Benedetto ... More than half of Argentina's squad is 30 or over ... 14 players to be exact.

 

Personally i would play 4-3-3. Defense same as you but Fazio instead of Rojo. Midfield: Mascherano-Lo celso-Perez (he wasn't bad last game). Up above: Messi-Aguero-Pavon (or Dybala if you want).

Obviously, Armani in the goal.

It's so simple to me, I have no idea how can Sampaoli can be so stupid. Especially the Lo Celso situation is mind-boggling, he was a starter during all preparation and now suddenly he hasn't played a single minute.

 

That would be fine if this was just one failure. He's had MULTIPLE. Will you find an excuse for each one of them?

No, the truth is that Messi is incapable of leading his national team to ultimate victory, like the great players usually do, and his been incapable of it tournament after tournament after tournament.

Enough is enough. The emperor is naked.

 

No hard rock evidence, of course, since I never personally examined Messi or had access to his medical/psychiatric records. But it's a rumor that went around several times, and one that I've heard and read over the years (never generated by me - if I recall correctly it's the first time I repeat it). But sure, I shouldn't "diagnose" someone without evidence. But I do believe he is a strange individual. It's an opinion, not fact.

 

Many big teams have been eliminated in group stage in the past, including Argentina.