Can’t get my hopes up on this Argentina against France

A divine pass dropped from above after which football’s God on earth took over. That raking ball from Ever Banega merely deepened the mystery why he isn’t a regular starter in Jorge Sampaoli’s set-up but it still needed the brilliance of Lionel Messi to control it and fire home with his weaker foot. With his right foot, Messi showed the kind of control most players may not have on the foot that helps pay their bills but why am I not surprised.

In the first half, Argentina pressed, persevered and they had Messi having his best time on the pitch since coming to Russia. And the move for the goal showed the sort of swift transition from back to front that Argentina hadn’t produced so far.

But after Javier Mascherano conceded a penalty that was really about not being able to rid himself of bad habits in the time of VAR, Argentina were back to being their disappointing selves.

That is why I remain skeptical about their chances against France. For the most part of three games they have looked like an assortment of skilful players and not a team. It is perhaps an indication of how deep-seated Argentina’s problems are. I read that at 30 years and 189 days, this was Argentina’s oldest squad in World Cup history. They looked that after Nigeria equalised. Mascherano looked like a player who had the right ideas but not the legs to execute them. He scrapped, had blood streaking down his cheeks but he is simply not the player he was. Angel di Maria failed to control a routine pass and conceded a throw as did Nicolas Tagliafico, and mispasses started piling. I also couldn’t figure out why Gonzalo Higuain started in place of Sergio Aguero.

So, if Argentina have the same 11 against France, I feel something has finally got to give. France haven’t flourished but they have looked more of a team and have younger players. Like Brazil in the 2014 World Cup, this Argentina team needs more than repairs.