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

A fashion statement.

 

If we get out in GS, I will be all in with my other team: PERU

Lets hope they win today

 

It's too early to worry so much. For all we know, maybe this afternoon Croatia and Nigeria will draw, essentially resetting the group to equal opportunities for everybody.

 

For you the hardest part of this WC is gone, honestly. Your games against Croatia and Nigeria will be much more opened and easier to score. The only thing you (well, your coach, not you) need to fix is the defensive aspect. You guys do concede a lot of goals IMO

 

In addition, Argentina needed several players to step up to take advantage of spaces created by Messi closely being marked by several Icelandic defenders. It didn't happen.

 

Is Sampaoli as bad a coach as Maradona was? even more?

 

No.

 

Pretty sure Ronaldo and Co would’ve struggled against Iceland. That team can even probably nullify Brazil.

 

Considering that Iceland pretty much pulled the same effort in the Euroes in '16, Its kinda unfair to label them one hit wonder, even if they have a golden generation that could explain all the team tactics in detail if woken up 2am

 

This dependency on one player is a killer. Argentina shouldn't have this happening. Messi isn't the only good player they have, but they behave like the rest have no ability.

Argentina were also lucky Iceland never played with a tall striker partnering Finnbogasson (they have Bodvarsson). Doing this could've led to knock-downs and better hold-up play. I know Croatia can be big chokers, but we will beat Argentina if Fazio doesn't play in their back line in 5 days.

 

Btw this is off topic, but do any of guys face some loading problem using footballia. It takes a lot of time for the videos to load.

 

footballia sounds like a sickness people get to excuse themselves from work during the World Cup.

 

LOL

 

Football ain’t basketball where an individual top player can actually single handedly win games. Sampaoli should stop prioritising Messi and think about Dybala and other good players.

 

Clowns make me laugh

 

Sampaoli is a far better coach than Maradona. Look what he did with Chile and his tenure with Sevilla was impressive. Well, he’s a bit like Guardiola and really isn’t flexible in terms of tactical decisions.

 

To be fair the guy has not been a manger of the team for that long and is still trying to figure things out on the fly with little time.
The team he went up against has been playing together under the same system and manager for a long time in comparison.

 

That same team drew Portugal in Euro 16 and we know what happened. I’m optimistic that Argentina will do well, but Sampaoli should play someone like Dybala.

 

At least early on, before Aguero scored, the Argentines seemed nervous. The Icelanders in contrast showed no fear whatsoever. Were I not a follower of this sport, I would have never guessed this was this team's first-ever World Cup participation.

As one would expect from an Argentine NT, the South Americans had the majority of possession, and they did create chances, but the "Vikings" were consistent in defense and did not panic. The last time I saw Argentina "surround" a team so often in search of a goal was the 2nd half of the England vs. Argentina group stage match in Japan back in 2002.

From a tactical standpoint, I'll be surprised if Argentina returns with the same formation. Croatia has an excellent midfield, and they are unarguably superior to Iceland. The good thing about a disappointing result in the group stage's first match is that it grants a manager time to tinker and the opportunity to alter his lineup for the next match.

I also believe that the results of Nigeria vs. Croatia will play a direct role in the formation the South Americans deploy vs. the eastern Europeans.

"Dramatic" most aptly defines this game.

 

And that is the reason why many Swedes was (even if sorta reluctantly, 'cause it removed some of the star power) happy to see Zlatan remove himself from the NT and so against any cheeky suggestions from him that he was the one deciding if he went to WC or not and that he barely had to make a call saying that he was considerering it to get an invitation on a silver platter (completely disregarding the fact that he was injured at that point)