Argentina suffered a humiliating 6-1 loss to Spain as Lionel MESSI sat in attendance.
When Jorge SAMPAOLI’s men took to the pitch on Tuesday night in Madrid, no one expected them to lose by five goals. The match started off with Gonzalo HIGUAIN missing a goal scoring opportunity early in the first half. Moments later (in the 11th minute to be precise), Spain opened the scoring through a Diego COSTA goal. Goalkeeper Sergio ROMERO was injured on the goal and had to be substituted off just minutes later as Willy CABALLERO received his second cap. In many ways, he may wished he never got that opportunity.
ISCO scored Spain’s second of the night, despite Argentina actually performing well. Nicolas OTAMENDI scored Argentina’s only goal of the match, a header right before half time to bring the Albiceleste back in the game. The second half was all downhill for Jorge SAMPAOLI and the team as one of the favorites to lift the World Cup trophy in Russia scored four more goals.
Captain Lionel MESSI was in attendance with the injured Manuel LANZINI next to him as the two sat to watch the match. MESSI appeared to leave after Spain scored their sixth goal of the match.
Here were the substitutes which were made for Argentina during the match:
Cristian PAVON for Javier MASCHERANO
Lautaro MARTINEZ for Gonzalo HIGUAIN
Pablo PEREZ for Ever BANEGA
Gabriel MERCADO for Fabricio BUSTOS
Marcos ACUNA for Giovani LO CELSO
Argentina’s 6-1 loss vs. Spain – Match Highlights
Many, if not all, were excited to see Racing Club man Lautaro MARTINEZ make his Argentina debut and while it was a memorable one for him, it was memorable for all the wrong reasons. The loss comes as the last match for Argentina before May where they are expected to play a game in Argentina prior to play Israel in June before the World Cup.
After watching these two games with the available players the Argentina World Cup team (my choice):
………………..Aguero/Icardi……………………
DiMaria/Meza……Locelso/Dybala/Benega………Messi/Lanzini
…………..Pardes/Acuna………………….……Mascerano/Biglia…………….
Tagliafico……….Fazio/Mori……..Otamendi/Garay……..Mercado/salvio
……………………………………..Romero/2nd/3rd…………………………
total 23 players
1. Acuna can play as LB position also.
2. Don’t play Mascherano Biglia together. Mascherano is the starter.
3. we need one good RB, DM and keeper
4. Hope Pardes will improve
5. stating midfield combination pardes lecelso Mascherano
6. Dybala can play in sub of aguero or locelso . He should play every match.
[…] legend that is Cesar Luis MENOTTI came out and spoke about Argentina’s recent 6-1 catastrophic loss against […]
I agree to that. First half wasnt that bad and Argentina had more chances to score than Spain, 3 to be precise. Higuin could have had two and one for Meza, if those goals were in or at least the first one, pressure would have been on Spain. The goals Spain scored were not really quality it was due to lack of understanding between Argentinian players, if Fazio was there instead of Rojo it could have been a little different since he had already played with Bustos and Taglifico. Spain has been playing the same side for more than a decade now (minus some new additions like Asensio and Isco Aspas etc.) the core of the team remains the same so they had a better chemistry. Its a really good thing to happen especially after Italy game as it gives a good wake up call. I think these players need to play together for a while-may be 3 weeks best 15 practice together-will see a different chemistry. Higuin needs to go so does either Masche or Bigila..Enzo Perez has always been solid, he needs to come back and for the back line Rojo is not an option, it has to be between Otamendi, Fazio if Garay decides him and someone who is playing on regular basis like Pezzella, Perez or Parades can play as a holding midfielder. I am not too worried as Messi wasnt there. After all, you can not expect a Bulls team to win without Jordan or Patriots without Tom Brady and so on…him Aguero, Dyballa, DiMaria would make a huge difference once ONE position in the midfield (holding midfielder) and one in the CB is sorted out. Youngsters were very positive Lo Celco, Meza, Taglifico, Bustos, Lanzini- all of them deserve to go to the WC, also whatever I saw of Martinez, he is a work horse and should be included if not Icardi.
Argentina with 3-5-2
Lo celso has creativity in attack, his thru balls were amazing against Italy and Spain
3cb
MERCADO OTAMENDI FAZIO/MORI/ROJO
MID 5
1- MASCHERANO(CDM) /PIZZARO /PAREDES
2- LO CELSO(CDM FOR PSG)
3- DYBALA(RW)/PAVON,CORREA
4- LANZINI (CAM)/SUB BANEGA
5- DIMARIA(LW)/MEZA,ACUNA,PEROTTI
FORWARD
MESSI FALSE9
AGUERO/ICARDI
MARTINEZ/ALARIO BENCH
My World Cup XI
3-3-3-1
Romero (experience in world cup final)
Mercado Otamendi Fazio/Mori/rojo/Garay(too old)
Paredes/Pablo/Enzo/Banega Locelso Lanzini (MID paredes locelso inexperience but can be good in attack)
Dybala(Pavon/Correa) Messi Dimaria(Meza/Acuna/perotti)
Aguero/Icardi
(Martinez bench after watching next 2friendlies)
Tagliafico, bustos, (mascherano/pizzaro) can be selected for WC
Nomore higuin, biglia waste
No pace atol
Inshort
Midfield 8
Dimaria(if injured BATTAGLIA(
Meza/Correa
Pizzaro
Lanzini
Lo celso
Paredes/pablo/Enzo
Banega
Acuna
Attack 5
Messi
Dybala
Pavon/perotti
Aguero(if injured Martinez)
Icardi
Defence 7
Mercado
Otamendi
Fazio
Rojo/mori/Garay/pezzela/lamela
Bustos
Taglia
Salvio
Yes Higuian missed a clear goal but you have to take into account that Sampaoli’s lineup made him the only CF. 1st half was not bad but he placed a formation that was not attack heavy. 3 mids and Higuain all by himself. We know how Spain plays, we know what they can do…why not put 2 fwds to keep their central defenders from pushing us out? Also, we have a lack of character…I grew up watching the 78 team, 82, 86 and so on and we have some soft defenders with the exception of Otamendi. With a team like Spain you have to play aggresive, break up their game play and get in their heads. A Rugierri would have hit one of those guys well enough to let them know your not just going to walk in here. Same goes for our CDM…set the tone that it won’t be a cakewalk but a struggle.
Meza was the highlight of this game in my opinion. He made some great passes, did not backdown against a great Spanish side, had some moments where he had “Picardia” and we lack that as of late. I would really prefer Meza to take Banega’s place, make him the engine of the team. Banega did Zilch today.
Our defense is key to getting wins in the WC. Otamendi is set but the rest can all be left. Fazio was decent against Italy. Bustos took some steps down today. Tagliafico was ok but did not shine and Rojo should not even go to the WC
For next games I say let’s play w Meza as creative mid with Masche as the cdm, Messi attacking from the right, DiMaria left and Pipita as CF…that I think would be a great beginning to getting the right balance and team we need.
Bustos loosing Isco has been the highlight of the defence of Argentina
2 silly goals in 1st half but argentina young lads showed fighting spirit
let’s see how sampaoli responds after this humiliated defeat to Spain
Positives and negatives
Lo Celso, Meza, otamendi, martinez, perez the stand outs
Mascherano can be CDM like Busquets for barca, to support CB when full baks attacks
Higuin misses chances and disposses counter attacks
Higuin repeats last WC flashback
Biglia is waste
Goal keeper
Argentina GK should be Rulli fr WC
Romero and willy both in bench for club
Rulli would hav tried to stop atleas 1 or 2 gols
HOPES FOR world CUP
1%chance 99%faith MESSI DEPENDENT
LANZINI
MESSI
DIMARIA (IF NOT INJURED)
LO CELSO
MEZA
DYBALA
MARTINEZ
ACUNA
MERCADO
OTAMENDI
AGUERO (IF NOT INJURED)
A. CORREA
BANEGA
Mascherano
Pavon, salvio, bustos, tagli, perroti, paredes, mori, pezzela, lamela, battaglia, alario, papu, pablo, pastore, J. Correa, enzo perez, pizzaro etc will be just good for talking but in game nothing works
FAZIO, ROJO SLOW AND BAD IN DEFENCE
So MERCADO SHOULD BE CB
If paulinho can succeed in barca playing along with MESSI, Sampaoli should find 3other paulinho for MESSI IN MIDFIELD.I mean not paulinho type midfield but good players who can combine well with messi.
Paulinho is schit in midfield but combining with Messi he scores goal or assist
Messi also helps in Argentina defence, when he plays rivals park bus attack less and also great teams man-mark Messi with 3 players which directly makes Arg players free and gets ample space
Sampaoli should try RULLI for next friendlies since hes playing regular game for Club instead of Romero and Willy (bench warmers for club) no match composure this season
Seriously first half is not as bad as suggested by scoreline. Had choker Hugain score even one of those clear chances and with Otamendi goal, Argentina would have draw in first half. Also Defense needs to improve. Dropping Huigain is must if Argentina wants to do good in world cup. Horrible player i have ever seen who is being disguise as one of the top player.
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