Argentina keep winning World Cup games but why do they make it such a struggle? – The Athletic
Argentina have a game-state problem.
It seems strange to be saying “they never make it easy for themselves” — a phrase generally used by supporters of eternally frustrating bottom-half clubs — about the reigning world champions. But honestly, why do Argentina keep on doing this?
To clarify, at the last World Cup, Argentina were guilty of squandering a lead no fewer than four occasions. They memorably lost 2-1 to Saudi Arabia in their opening game of the tournament, having been 1-0 up. They went 2-0 up in the quarter-final against the Netherlands, before conceding twice to Wout Weghorst and having to win on penalties.
In a memorable final, they blew France away in the first half, going 2-0 up and seemed set to win at a canter. Then Kylian Mbappe’s quickfire double changed everything. Lionel Messi promptly put Argentina 3-2 up — only for Mbappe to equalise again. They also made heavy weather of their first knockout tie in 2022, an eventual 2-1 win over Australia, that seemed to be game over before Australia scored and gave Lionel Scaloni’s side a scare late on.
All this sprung to mind on Friday, against a Cape Verde side that were dogged, well-organised and capable of scoring spectacular goals. The pattern was very familiar. Argentina took the lead, switched off, and conceded. Argentina took the lead again, switched off again, and conceded again. Argentina took the lead, switched off again… and had to rely on Emiliano Martinez to ensure they didn’t concede for a third time. “We received many tough blows tonight,” conceded Scaloni after the game. “Everyone thought the match would be a walk in the park — we didn’t think it would be.”
A walk in the park? Perhaps not. But why was it quite such a struggle? Complacency? Tiredness? A tactical problem or a mentality problem?
Here, it felt like Argentina were trying to win the game in second gear. This will be a physically gruelling knockout stage, the first World Cup with five knockout matches, and conserving energy for later matches makes sense. The problem, of course, comes when you conserve so much energy that you get sloppy and are forced to play another 30 minutes unnecessarily.
“When you need rest the most is when you least have it,” said Scaloni, pointing to only three days off before the next game, a round of 16 clash against Egypt. But this is a starting XI that was rested for the final group game, a 3-0 win over Jordan.
It’s not just about physical fitness. Argentina’s style is a little different to the leading European nations. They don’t attempt to offer constant intensity or high pressure. “We couldn’t press them well, and our lines were a bit too far apart,” said Messi. “They always had an extra man because we couldn’t match them. And, well, that’s why they had the ball and made us run, because we couldn’t press them properly.”
It’s rare for Messi to offer proper tactical critique after a match.
Lionel Sclaoni was pleased with Argentina’s character (Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images)
Argentina’s plan in attack is to rely on sudden bursts of energy, epitomised by the way Messi suddenly sprung into life to go in behind, collect a diagonal ball from Lisandro Martinez, control it beautifully and fire home for the opener. But when the opposition are obliged to come forward and make the running, Argentina are too content to sit deep.
They’re not terrible at defending their own box, but they spent too long doing it. Eventually, opponents find gaps — like for Deroy Duarte’s equaliser, hardly against the run of play — or produce something outrageous, like Sidny Cabral’s absolutely wonderful shot to make it 2-2. “You need to bounce back from that,” Scaloni said calmly afterwards. In fairness, they always did.
What Argentina don’t do particularly proficiently, for all their strengths, is offer a serious threat on the counter-attack, punishing opponents for pushing forward. Their nominal wide players aren’t explosive wingers who sprint 50 yards in five seconds, but more languid players who like drifting infield and playing passing combinations.
Messi, while still a brilliant creator and ruthless in the final third, doesn’t have the legs to bounce on the break. Indeed, Messi’s physical limitations mean the striker alongside him — usually Lauturo Martinez, sometimes Julian Alvarez — has to focus on their defensive tasks without possession, and isn’t able to wait on the last line of defence and spring in behind.
Lautaro Martinez is asked to track back in Argentina’s system (Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images)
It should be acknowledged that Argentina responded impressively to both equalisers. There was never any sense of panic. They dominated possession and barely conceded a chance. Both goals came from centre-backs at set pieces — Lisandro Martinez’s blast and Christian Romero’s header which eventually went down as an own goal — which was a reflection of them piling on the pressure, and needing something different against a defence sitting deep. Scaloni took the positives.
“I still remember those matches that went to extra time in Qatar — it was a similar situation, the team continues to trying to score, and end up very tired,” he said. “There were some moments where it felt like the Saudi Arbia game back in Qatar. But if we compare with Saudi Arabia, I think the team reacted this time compared to Saudi. We have much more experience now.”
Cape Verde manager Bubista was more succinct. “They showed why they’re world champions,” he said. But they also showed why they needed two penalty shootouts to become world champions.
