Sampaoli’s stragglers meet soaring Eagles
CRUNCH SITUATION Despite denying reports of players mutiny, Argentina likely to ring in changes ahead of mustwin tie NIZHNYNOVGOROD:It’s
not a situation Argentina are familiar with and for all their vehement denials of reports of rift between the players and the coach, they refuse to go away.
So, even after Javier Mascherano and Lucas Biglia addressed a press conference saying all is well, it did little to stop the rumours from swirling around before Tuesday’s must-win tie against Super Eagles Nigeria in St Petersburg.
According to a number of reports, in the aftermath of a fallout with coach Jorge Sampaoli, Sergio Aguero is set to be dropped. Aguero had reacted to Sampaoli’s comment that the players had failed to adapt to his style following the 0-3 loss to Croatia by telling a television channel: “Let him say what he wants.”
Regardless of his relationship with the players, Sampaoli will be expected to ring in changes. With the Argentina midfield being overrun by Croatia, it looks unlikely that Enzo Perez would start again. But Mascherano is one of Sampaoli’s more trusted players and is expected to keep his place. That said, it would be interesting to see how Sampaoli — so sure in his decisions four years ago while helming Chile — deals with the midfield conundrum. Ever Banega has yet to start a game but with Argentina struggling at the centre of the park, he would be expected to feature against Nigeria.
So could Angel di Maria, who has often been a creative force for the national team playing in a midfield-three but had disappeared against Iceland and was dropped against Croatia. Paulo Dybala and Cristian Pavon too will be in contention to start.
In contrast to Argentina, Nigeria are on a high after the 2-0 win against Iceland in their last game with Ahmed Musa scoring a brace. Having started off with a 0-2 loss to Croatia, Gernot Rohr’s side looked more creative going forward against Iceland and will be confident of their chances against opponents who seem to be disintegrating. But Nigeria know that a draw may not be enough to take them to the knockout rounds should Iceland beat Croatia in the group’s other game.
Rohr changed his formation after Nigeria’s loss to Croatia. John Obi Mikel, who was played out of position as a No 10, a move that drew criticism from his former manager at Chelsea Jose Mourinho, was given a deeper role against Iceland. That helped Nigeria take control of the midfield and against an Argentina side that has struggled in that area so far, Mikel could well stamp his influence on the game.
When the two teams faced each other in a friendly last November, Nigeria won 4-2. The circumstances are different ahead of Tuesday’s game but Nigeria will know this could be their best chance of ending their four-game losing streak to Argentina at the World Cup. Venue: Saint Petersburg Stadium Capacity: 64,287 Uzoho
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Mikel Ebuehi Iheanacho Musa FORMATION Deliveries into attacking third Runs into attacking third Deliveries into penalty area Runs in to penalty area
Salvio Tagliafico Mercado Otamendi Banega
Mascherano Perez ICELAND CROATIA Stats: Fifa While there have been numerous additions and reductions from the Argentine squad that made it to the World Cup final in Brazil, it was Messi’s brilliance in the group stage that dragged the Albiceleste to the knockout stage.
Messi scored in all of the group stage matches, including an in Germany 2006 v Serbia in Brazil 2014 v Bosnia and Herzegovnia Messi has dragged Argentina to three finals in four years (World Cup 2014 and Copa America 2014 & 2015) but could not finish the job in the end. While teammates failed to step-up besides him, Messi too, as captaincouldnotinspirethemto give their best.
This time though, a final may be a distant dream, as even their progression to the next round is in doubt. It now depends on how the Barcelona talisman can lift and evoke a response from his deflated team. And with Russia 2018, possibly his last chance at World Cup glory, Messi’s leadership will be a major factor against Nigeria. injury-time winner against Iran. He set up Angel Di Maria’s winner in the round of 16 game against Switzerland and got Argentina off the mark in the semifinal penalty shoot-out against Netherlands.
He will have to find his form if they are to beat Nigeria by a good margin. in Brazil 2014 v Iran in Brazil 2014 v Nigeria Argentina midfielder Messi was completely shut down by Iceland and Croatia’s defence in their first two matches. A missed penalty in the first game against Iceland may have deflated Argentina’s leading scorer, who was already under immense pressure, from critics and fans, to guide his nation to glory.
To make matters even worse, he had just 20 touches in the first half against the Croats, the second fewest touches by any Argentina player. In the second-half of the encounter, aside from a couple of occasions, Messi could be seen nowhere near the ball.
to the final four years ago, Messi was well supported by his team. Unlike in 2014, the Argentine defence has already conceded four times as opposed to the four goals they conceded in the entirety of the last edition, including the goal against Germany in the final.
of Argentina’s six goals in the group-stage, Di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain contributed the winners in the round of 16 and quarterfinal. Defender Marcus Rojo, too, pitched in with the winner against Nigeria in the final group game.
has failed to even find their talisman this time around, with Messi completely isolated in both the games. If Argentina are to progress to the next round, the team will have to turn up against Nigeria.