Chile was the best team of the Copa America, by a distance. They’re the only big team in South America that currently relies more on collective play than individual brilliance, and that deserves to be rewarded.
But the basic that Argentina neglected to make it hard for them in the final. They made the same mistakes we’ve seen them make so many times. I’m not sure what exactly Martino’s game plan was, but it appeared to be the team was utterly incapable of finding any cohesion and instead, decided to try to run the ball all of the way to the Chile box. The number of of times I watched Di Maria (and later Lavezzi) or Pastore dribble to a dead-end made the match very frustrating. Generally if i was standing while on the touchline in Tata Martino’s shoes, I would’ve told the actual look up and link up. The said that South Americans have could know as ‘la pausa’ - the ability to slow things down for the short moment, which allows teammates to join the attack. Argentina had no pausa on Saturday.
They did have great chances for excellent counter attacks. Some were stopped by Chile’s fouls, some ended in an Argentine trying running past everyone and failing to find a teammate. There was space to be exposed at the back, but Argentina went about it the wrong way. The only time anything dangerous came regarding a transition play was when Messi finally got start out one at greatest end. Had Lavezzi and Higuain done better to finish it off, end up being be a different story. But make no mistake: transition plays could’ve been a great asset for Argentina as Chile constantly committed men forward. Perhaps overwhelmed, perhaps anxious, the Argentinians don't take advantage.
While it’s clear that Messi didn’t play his best game, two among the three great Argentina chances still originate from his boot. All he needed any companion - each day for a - who must have taken some of your responsibility while he was busy either being isolated out wide or looking to get something going from deep positions. Aguero did a decent job when he was on, although he mostly for you to battle for long balls because Argentina oftentimes found hardly any other way forward. Why he was taken off for Higuain is - to be frank - beyond me. Neither is often a target man, but by now everyone ought to know that Higuain is not the player you want on your team when you may need a big quest.
And speaking of target men and long balls, it’s baffling how often Argentina resorted to trying to just kick the ball as far up as they could. Chile midfielder Marcelo Diaz had more touches in the game than Javier Pastore and Lucas Biglia combined. When disorderly two are supposed to be the ones building up the Argentina game, you are probably see the spot where the problem is (although Pastore was, of course, subbed out on the 80th minute). They couldn’t get anywhere under the Chilean pressure, although Sampaoli’s men’s pressing had come as a surprise. When similar issues arose in Barcelona last season, Messi would drop to a midfield position and give his side tranquility with the football. This time, it appeared to be Martino’s idea was to keep Messi up high or out wide in order to sneak the backline. But the ball rarely got there.
Ever Banega came on for Pastore late inside of the game along a positive impact, Mascherano looked for sharp passes between the lines every now and again, but it was all very little against a side with your a brilliant collective concept. Messi couldn’t beat a brilliant Germany on his own last year, nor could he beat a brilliant Chile on his own this yr. The problem actuality that no one really moved up to help him. No-one can makes space for Messi, no one creates chances for Messi. He gives and creates and gets nothing to return the favour.
But although Argentina played a bad game, they still had the chance to win all of it on effects. Chile’s first shooter put the ball into extremely best corner, Messi stepped up and put his in the bottom corner. In this Copa America and within the last two World Cups, web site team to miss a penalty always went on to lose, so the pressure was on. Arturo Vidal scored Chile’s second although Romero got his hand for it. And then someone decided that Gonzalo Higuain shooting a lack of success in last was advised.
No comments: