This is the first time Argentina arrive at a word cup in peace. Excited, yes, but also calm. The greatest strength is the team’s collectiveness, the fact that everyone works hard for each other and that has been highlighted again and again over the past four years. Everyone in the team – in the squad in fact – knows their role: this is a well-oiled machine.
The current cycle began towards the end of 2018 after Jorge Sampaoli’s disastrous spell in charge, which included a last-16 exit from the Russia World Cup and off- and on-field problems. Lionel Scaloni, who had been an assistant to Sampaoli, took over on an interim basis – together with Pablo Aimar – and the former Deportivo La Coruña and Lazio player never looked back.
His contract was extended to include the 2019 Copa América, in which Argentina finished third, and finally to include the same tournament two years later as well as the World Cup. Argentina have not always performed well under Scaloni and there were times when the team looked unsure of how to play, confused even, but slowly things came together.
Scaloni discarded some players who were coming towards the end of their careers and stood by his decisions to form a cohesive unit that goes into the World Cup undefeated in 35 games, only two short of the record set by Roberto Mancini’s Italy between 2018 and 2021. Scaloni was criticised in the beginning (Argentina is the country with the most licensed coaches and last World Cup, 8 countries had Argentinian coaches so obviously it’s a country that understands football) but that noise has gone away now.
Part of that run including wining the Copa America, the country’s first major title for 28 years. Beating Brazil in the final at the Maracanã made the triumph even sweeter. In June Argentina beat Italy 3-0 at Wembley with an utterly dominant performance.
The team has a mix of experience and youth and, of course, Lionel Messi. Argentina go to Qatar with the aim of winning the World Cup, it is a dream for the whole country and, above all, “La Pulga”. There are many in Argentina who feel football owes Messi a World Cup.
As an Argentinian, this is the first time I feel like we have a “team” rather than Messi and 10 others. I think we will go far
Argentina have flopped to the ground about 5 times in the first 8 minutes - every time holding their shins even though there was absolutely no contact near where they were holding. Just dog shark football...
And now they've got a soft penalty to make the evening even easier.
Yeah, got well and truly taken out. 15 seconds before ref stopped it. Wonder if he would have stopped earlier if didn’t look like he was about to score.
Deserved to lose that.. they were more prepared tactically and physically superior and rode their luck in the first half.. that’s football sometimes, got to learn and move on fast.. km confident we will still have a good tournament
The amount of possible areas to introduce inaccuracies in that picture is significant. They're using pitch lines to find the vanishing point, which they then guestimate an offside line (the green lines have no fixed reference at the bottom, it's just guess work), to overlay on a pixelated image of the guy's boot, to try and make a few pixels difference to rule offside.
There's no reason to suggest this is more accurate than Fifa's technology accurate.
Let's not forget that opening group match, in 1990, Cameroon 1 Argentina 0 and then Argentina made the final. Funny game is football. 🫡
Spain lost their opening game in 2010 to Switzerland.
But I thought Argentina looked a bit bereft of ideas once they went behind. I know they came in off a 36 match unbeaten run, but they seem an old team now. 4 starters including Messi over age 34.
Even the GOAT can't beat Father Time. Have a feeling teams with the younger squads are going to do best in Qatar.
The amount of possible areas to introduce inaccuracies in that picture is significant. They're using pitch lines to find the vanishing point, which they then guestimate an offside line (the green lines have no fixed reference at the bottom, it's just guess work), to overlay on a pixelated image of the guy's boot, to try and make a few pixels difference to rule offside.
There's no reason to suggest this is more accurate than Fifa's technology accurate.
That is often the issue with VAR and other offside tech, it often doesn't show the pitch or uses poor video angles to refute any claims of incorrect decisions. In this instance they only showed the Argentinian attacker relative to one of the nearest defenders and not across the defensive line - so it looks like the Saudi LB is not being accounted for; and its not like these systems are infallible https://www.marca.com/en/football/serie-a/2022/09/12/631f143646163ff23e8b4584.html
The Argies got suckered by the Saudi high line and offside trap but they should have adjusted their play. Hard to read too much into this result. How good/bad are Argentina? Sure they were on a 35 unbeaten run but this only included two games against European sides, one of which was Italy. I still think they have enough quality to get out of the group but they will need to up their game.
The Saudi king has given the country a days holiday to celebrate the win. Apparently the whole country has gone nuts. Horrible regime running that country with terrible human rights record. Didn’t see any female Saudi supporters in the stadium either.
Yeah that's my thing, 4 over 34 at the same time from minute 0 and Tagliafico and Romero at 75 %. Too much. I wish Cacace was argie he is a superplayer
When you need him most.. when things get tough, Leo does it time and time again. Incredibly proud of this team today, reacted brilliantly to a tough loss and something that few Argentinian sides have had before, show strong mental fortitude. Enzo is going to be a superstar also.. now rest for Poland
Poland only need to draw, really. Argentina needs to win to ensure progression. The Saudi vs Mexico game will be a real cracker, since (depending on the result from the above game) either can still qualify for the R16.
Poland doing enough to keep in 0-0 at the half, would have been poor showing if Messi had scored from the spot, super soft penalty decision. Saudis pushing the mexicans to the wire too.
Good win by Argentina. Looks like they have their mojo back. They looked really nervous in the first two games. They also looked to have settled on their best 11. The youngsters Enzo, the Man City kid and McAllister look good prospects. And Messi is still Messi. Missed a penalty but his ability to beat people from a standing start is quite something. They have an easy-ish draw now too. They will beat Australia then it’s the Dutch, who have been average. Australia will try hard but Argentina is a huge step up from Denmark.
