BHARGAB SARMAH
KAZAN: The Bauman Street in Kazan is one of the busiest areas in the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan. Dotted with restaurants serving Tatar delicacies, it also houses some of the city’s most popular pubs. Not surprisingly, it is one of the most popular tourist spots.
Two days before the first prequarterfinal of the World Cup between Argentina and France, only a handful of fans in white and blue were seen. By Saturday though, the landscape will change drastically. Argentine fans have been omnipresent this World Cup. Come Saturday 5pm, they will be expected to once again outnumber their rival fans.
On the pitch though, Argentina enter the fray as underdogs — an unusual situation for the last World Cup runners-up. After an unconvincing group stage, meeting France is one of the last things Jorge Sampaoli’s side would have wished for.
A win here though will surely erase Argentina’s initial struggle and reestablish their title claims. It’s easier said than done though. The 3-0 loss to Croatia in Nizhny Novgorod had exposed Argentina’s midfield for its lack of strength, forcing Sampaoli to bring back Ever Banega to his starting eleven in the 2-1 win against Nigeria.
With France possessing one of the best midfields, Sampaoli is expected to again start with a threeman central midfield. Against Nigeria, Argentina had started with a four-man backline but resorted to a threeman defence after conceding a second-half equaliser. This is the conundrum that Sampaoli has to solve while strategising against France. A four-man defence could provide him with a stable three-man midfield with Messi at his favoured position of a freefloating role to its right.
Statistics can be of some inspiration for Argentina, having gone on to reach the final — in 1930 and 1978 —the last two occasions they beat France in the World Cup. At ground zero though, the situation looks difficult.
As opposed to Argentina’s struggles, France had a pretty smooth ride to the group top despite being far from their best. Resting a number of first-choice players in their last match
but save Germany no team to have disappointed more. Tactical upheaval and painfully ponderous performances suggest Didier Deschamps is still working out how to make the most of his talented squad. Is Nabil Fekir thet answer? Out wide or up front? France have more questions than answers.
main-man Antoine Griezmann was directly involved in 44 per cent of their goals in qualifying (eight of 18), the Atletico Madrid forward has failed to make an impact, possibly due his deployment behind Olivier Giroud.
have to live up to his reputation, especially when he is supported by the pace and dribbling skills of Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele out wide. The duo will also have to do better. France have argubly the world’s best defensive midfielder at their disposal. He will be tasked with keeping Messi out of the game and is unmatched in his ability to break up plays given his stamina. will be the creative force and should ensure that France control a majority of the possession.
one of the youngest defense in the tournament. A central partnership of Samuel Umtiti (24) and Raphael Varane (25) with Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez — both 22 — on the wings.
could lead to silly errors and fouls in dangerous areas. rather composed figure in France’s goal but has not been tested much. He has made two saves so far but will have to be far more alert against the likes of Messi and Higuain.
against Denmark meant France coach Didier Deschamps allowed Paul Pogba & Co reach Kazan fresher than Argentina.
Pogba, Hugo Lloris, Benjamin Pavard, Samuel Umtiti and Kylian Mbappe are all expected to return. The only major concern crashing out of the World Cup and seemingly saddled with a coach without authority, Argentina's progress could have been bbumpier. They ran out of ideas against Icceland, were outplayed by Croatia and ssurvived only thanks to a last-gasp winn over Nigeria. They are through thhough, and still have Lionel Messi to wwork some of his magic.
his account with a glorious goal against Nigeria, but with teams shutting down passes to the talisman, he will have to find a way to get on the ball even more to create openings for his teammates.
barely creating chances, Higuain will also have to be far more efficient in front of goal.
be the key for the South Americans against France. With very limited supply to Messi and the frontline,
Argentina will rely heavily on Banega’s aerial balls, just as he put Messi through in the last game.
27 passes to each other in the match against Nigeria.
is Argentina’s best defender on paper with Marcos Rojo, a second string player for Manchester United, 31-year old Gabriel Mercado and Nicolas Tagliafico, who plays in the Dutch league.
one of the fastest frontlines, Argentina’s defence could be their undoing.
replaced by Franco Armani after shaky displays against Iceland and Croatia. Armani showed better composure against Nigeria and will have to be at his best versus France.
for Deschamps could be the toss-up between Olivier Giroud and Corentin Tolisso. The latter had started in a three-man midfield against Australia but Giroud has two starts to his name.
Given Argentina’s midfield struggles, the French coach could
be tempted to start Tolisso alongside N’golo Kante and Pogba. That could force Antoine Griezmann to start as lone striker instead of playing behind Giroud.
Backed by one of the strongest benches in this tournament, Deschamps will not shy away from ringing in changes if things don’t go France’s way in the first half. Yet to concede to South American opponents since beating Brazil on penalties in the 1986 World Cup, France will be quietly confident of a win. But then, stranger things have happened. Played