Sampaoli’s stragglers meet soaring Eagles Argentina’s struggles stem from midfield
CRUNCH TIE Despite denying reports of mutiny, Argentina likely to ring in changes against Nigeria
Maybe we needed to be more creative in the first half (against Iceland); perhaps we needed some more through balls from midfield such as the one which led to the penalty.
JORGE SAMPAOLI ,
Argentina manager
unlikely to be preferred ahead of Banega, who is arguably Argentina’s best playmaking option in central midfield.
With Javier Mascherano unlikely to be dropped, playing Banega next to him could also provide more defensive solidity to the side. Di Maria, on the other hand, has in the past excelled playing on the left side of a threeman central midfield. It is a position he often played at Real Madrid under Carlo Ancelotti and later in the national team.
With Argentina’s lack of creativity from midfield evident against Croatia, Di Maria’s pace and eye for a pass could be an effective tool i n unlocking Nigeria’s defence.
After the 1-1 draw against Iceland, Sampaoli had acknowledged the lack of creativity from the midfield. Argentina had struggled throughout the first half before Banega was brought on early in the second half. It helped Argentina create sustained pressure on Iceland and also win a penalty but the winning goal never came.
“Maybe we needed to be more creative in the first half; perhaps we needed some more through balls from midfield such as the one which led to the penalty,” Sampaoli had said after the game.
It remains to be seen how Sampaoli lines up his side but reports in the Argentina press on Sunday claimed that both Banega and Di Maria would start against Nigeria. A 3-4-2-1 formation against Croatia had remarkably failed and Sampaoli is likely to switch to four players at the back.