PBP Thread: Match #7, Argentina vs Iceland, 16 June 2018 [R]

In.

 

AR---GEN---TI---NA!!!

 

@Christina99 @afar @Rattlehead @SupaMario @argentine soccer fan @Leon12 @Burr @locoxriver @soul24rage @pipinogol @pregra

Will be traveling this weekend for the next few weeks so I will not be as active on these forums, I'll try to post as much as I can in the Argentina forum but leave it to you to defend our great, unique NT in the WC forums. Make me proud

ARGENTINA!!!!

 

Have a nice trip, hopefully we'll be one step better than previous WC, which mean a champion!

 

I hope Argentina win this.

 

Don't worry mate, i'm here ready to fight all the anti-argentine.

 

You guys take the baton tomorrow.

ARGENTINA!!!!

 

All we need is take the lead first and if that happens early, I could see a thrashing win. We have long history of having a big win at group stage like 4-1, 6-0 , 5-0 & 4-0. So why not this time?

At first, I predict a narrow in like against Iran & Bosnia, but Sampa seems to drill the team to their limit in training and literally everyone underestimating our performance prior to this WC, which will be adventage for us.

 

Amazing but after all of the WC cups except for the final, this was the hardest game to get a ticket to

 

Interesting, but Iceland have the tallest World Cup team (185 cm), while Argentina has one of the smallest (179 cm). Out of Argentina's possible starting players only Fazio, Higuain and Rojo are over 185 cm (and Higuain or Fazio aren't even guaranteed to start), while from the rest only Otamendi is over 180 cm.

As for Iceland? One outfield player is under 184 cm and he has 177 cm, more than half of Argentine's squad. Most of the rest has 187 cm or more.

Given Iceland's strength are set pieces this will be an interesting mismatch with a majority of Argentinians around 170-175 cm tall.

I'm truly intrigued how Argentina will defend from setpieces.

 

Iceland have bought all of the tickets

 

This is apparently the starting line-up.
Against the tallest team in the World Cup Argentina have decided to start with two players over 180 cm: Otamendi 183 cm and Rojo 187 cm, while five players are under 175 cm.

It might not matter, but how does Argentina aim to protect set pieces?

 

I think... for a team comprised of mostly small players it will be hard to foul those Icelandic giants, so probably their plan is not to commit fouls, which is pretty easy to carry out based on this logic

 

Playing better

 

Spanish players are mostly short, does it mean the taller team will outplay them? no

 

I have been saying for months now that if Sampaoli can find a way to get Messi and Aguero on the field and playing in rhythm together they will be tough for any team to beat.

Let's see how they do today. Iceland is going to play a lot like Australia against France and try and physically beat up on the Argentinos.

 

What about corners and Iceland's famed long throw?

I'm not saying it will matter, but that seems like an interesting disproportion.

 

They do seem to do a good job with their throw ins. It is like an extra set piece to worry about for sure.

 

But they have three tall players and several midsized players.

Argentina's tallest players have 187 cm and 183 cm. Iceland has one outfield player below 184 cm.

 

well, I have no explanation for the throw-ins and corners

We will see what those "little Argentinians" are up to soon

 

According to the FIFA Website a few months back this was the hardest Group stage ticket to get in Russia. (Even harder than Portugal- Spain)

The atmosphere should be electric. LEt's hope for a great match to go along with it.

 

I would like to add - It seems like with the players selected that the coach said: Iceland? Who cares how they play? I'm going with Aguero over Higuain and playing my smallest midfielders and right back.

 

It's Argentina, something different.

 

Argentina's Uniforms look solid.