World Cup countdown: 50 days, Argentina moment number 48, Angel DI MARIA

1. […] World Cup. 49: Roberto AYALA scores in the 49th minute vs. Germany at 2006 FIFA World Cup. 48: Angel DI MARIA’s 48th cap for Argentina vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina at 2014 FIFA World Cup. 47: Mario KEMPES scores Argentina’s 47th goal all time at the 1978 FIFA World Cup vs. Peru. […]

2. […] FIFA World Cup. 49: Roberto AYALA scores in the 49th minute vs. Germany at 2006 FIFA World Cup. 48: Angel DI MARIA’s 48th cap for Argentina vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina at 2014 FIFA World Cup. 47: Mario KEMPES scores Argentina’s 47th goal all time at the 1978 FIFA World Cup vs. Peru. 46: […]

3. […] If you missed it, here are our 50 World Cup moments: 50: Sergio ROMERO gets 50th cap vs. Switzerland at 2014 FIFA World Cup. 49: Roberto AYALA scores in the 49th minute vs. Germany at 2006 FIFA World Cup. 48: Angel DI MARIA’s 48th cap for Argentina vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina at 2014 FIFA World Cup. […]

4. Switzerland played really well against us in that game, they parked the bus as almost everyone did and had chances mainly produced by counters but COME ON NOW they didn’t play better than us! We had more chances for goal and we had most of possession and control. We didn’t play at our full strength during that wc though, i agree, mainly because our best players apart Mascherano were not fully fit or injured, but still even the Netherlands which was a great team in that wc fielded a 6-3-1 formation against us and we were also the better team in the final. We lost just because we didn’t convert our chances which were more than Germany’s, simple as that.

5. Many people in this suffers from maradonaesque thinking like we need Icardi, Dybala & every body. Why do we need so many strikers, while we have glaring deficiencies in other department? How many strikers spain/germany is taking? only 3 spots for strikers in those teams.

   We need to play better in back and midfield. We should leave the scoring to messi + midfielders.

   Some people here suggests some how mascherano form has dropped dramatically from 4 years ago based on nigeria/spain matches. While I agree that mascherano has grown older and slower, was mascherano playing in the ultra attacking system like sampaoli’s 4 years ago? Sabella’s defensive system was the reason we reached finals, but we didn’t see the best of messi as a results

   I modern football it is a given that if you need to play attacking system like sampaoli’s you would need atleast 8-9 palyers who tirelessly defend/press. In our 1st eleven, we already have messi who does not defend much. You guys want to add Dybala, Icardi, Aguero in the mix. Have any of you checked their defensive/workrate stats in whoscored/opta etc? We can only play any one of these guys : messi/dybala/icardi/aguero. Rest should be high workrate midfielders who can play both ways

   • Right on. We have plenty of talent, its physically where we suffer today.

   • I think people in this fotum would some times like to argue for the sake of argunement. How is no. ‘9 post even an issue when you have messi? Changing Choker Higuein either unreliable Aguero or inepts ; Icardi/ Dybalaw’d yield little output for a team dreaming to win the world cup.

     Focus or probe and argue the field that determines a winning WC team. Midfield, attacking full backs and reliable CB walls. Germany won with M.Close an average forward for Lazio and super sup Mario Gotze. But they had unbeatable midfield of T. Kroos, Scwnstriger, ozil, Khedira and unbelievebles of Lahm+ Neur.
     same for Spain and Italy.

     when you have Messi what is the point of fighting and cursing over useless forwardams like Icardi, Higuein, Aguero, and Dybala.

     Actually if any striker has to be missed it is Bendetto.Use the attacking Midfield and wing players like Perotti,Pavon, J. Correa! and even Maria. I am more worried abt the midfield and curious how sampa w’d rectify it. ‘n btw, Acuna for me is two times better than Tagliagico for Left/wing back role.

     • Following are the fifa 18 defender rating of the attackers everybody wants to play here:
       messi: 26
       aguero: 23
       higuain: 25
       dybala: 24
       icardi: 26
       lautaro: 33
       benedetto: 31 (sadly out)
       compare with strikers of rival teams:
       lewandowski: 37
       mandzukic: 67
       diego costa: 40
       neymar: 30
       coutinho: 35
       sandro wagner: 30
       iago aspas: 33
       lucas vazquez: 38
       suarez: 42
       cavani: 42
       greizzmann: 30
       mbappe: 47

       It is clear that we have an overload of creative players who don’t contribute nearly as much in defense. It’s OK if you’re messi, but otherwise not. It is a risk playing 2 of these players together. It is suicide to play 3 of them simultaneously. However it is not that we don’t have any body that runs & defends,
       di maria: 47
       lo celso: 40
       lanzini: 32
       meza: 37
       perotti: 32
       angel correa: 49
       joaquin correa: 37
       We needs to depend on these guys & not dybala icardi

       • Souvik Biswas. I share your perfectly stated remark entirely.

6. Di maria was great in WC 2018. i think the best position for Di maria is in the midfield not a winger or left forward. di maria plays his best football during mourinho’s era where he plays in the midfield.

   • Very true. If played in wing, Di maria do not have scoring abilities to play their effectively. We should play him in midfield. However we need icardi to be able to benefits from his crossess. I dont think Hugain is good enough in air if he were to indeed to go world cup.

     • I agree. Higuain is very bad in aerials.
       actually he is bad in every aspect.
       he is slow and cant win aerials. and he can’t score goals when needed to do so.

   • Yes. He is excellent at escaping pressure and springing into a counter attack, defends pretty well too with his stamina. Up top his decision making is awful.

7. For those like myself who would like to see new players. Stop dreaming…

   https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.thesportsman.com/articles/has-jorge-sampaoli-already-decided-on-his-argentina-squad.amp&ved=0ahUKEwjGt7u_8traAhUsTd8KHSfZBOsQyM8BCDQwAw&usg=AOvVaw2VR–ai0HEA4vBB4WqFABm&ampcf=1

   • if this list is true , then kiss the world cup winnig hope goodbye.
     i can not believe that Mascherano and Higuain will be there. especially Higuain , this man is real chocker. he just can not score in big games. i don’t know when Sampaoli will understand that. every one knows this truth except our coaches.

     • Agree on Hugain. I really hope Sampoali bench him in bigger games. I still think against smaller team, he can bully just like his time in Juventus and Real Madrid.

     • If this is true what for Meza had good game against Spain? Mundial without Meza while with Higuain who was mere shit in last friendlies. If this is true Sampaoli’s world is upside down and the guy is idiot.

   • Come on guys who is going to sing lullaby to Messi if Mashcerano is left out!! Who is Sampaoli going to blame for the early exit if Higuain , Injured Biglia and Aguero are left out.. use your brain!!

     • You are harsh on Mascherano. I would still take him as his leadership skills are needed but if i were to select him , it would be in expense of both Huigain and Augero. These two do not deserve to go there. If it were possible, Huigain would even make us miss the world cup entirely.

       • for me id not take mash but if it is for his leadership skills then take him as a member of staff as his n.t playing days should be over now, its a wasted space taking him as a player-a legend for us but his time should be up.

   • Just wait and someone will pop up and say this is false news and people like you easily swallow everything they read and hear.

     I’m really surprised how people are scared of the media and their inability to distinguish the right from the wrong.

     Leaving Meza, Lautaro Martinez, Paredes, Enzo Perez and Bustos behind and taking Biglia, Banega, and Higuain to the WC tells you everything you need to know about the cowardness of Sampaoli.

     • Mere coward. Higuain deserved well for WC in last friendlies LOL

8. Is it just me to think our World Cup 2014 was overrated? We rely too much on Messi and luck during last world cup. We were horrible against the teams that decided to attack us. It was pretty boring games we played. I think only Nigeria game was of our quality, other than that we were lucky. However i wish we play better this time and have same luck. Hugain miss still haunt me in world cup final

   • Overrated as in having the best defense of the tournament? The best player? Reaching a final with several of our star players injured? Having thr most (missed) chances in the final? The team was not overrated, it was a gritty no nonsense conservative team by a very astute coach against almost every team parking the bus against us (hence the boredom). The only teams to play open futbol against Argentina where Belgium, Holland and Germany and all games where exiting.. vs Holland to me was the best game of the cup.

     We lost it it due to bad luck, our strikers not converting, injuries and Sabella having called up a weak bench.

     • Well put Leandro….!

     • Nope. I remember Switzerland attacking hell out of us and we had no control on the game what so ever. We were very lucky that they hit post and their striker could not convert from 2 yards. That time, no body was injured. Against Holland, we did not create a single chance and in final we had Hugain lead out attack. If we get that much luck this time around, i am pretty sure we will win the world cup as i think Sampoali is still better coach than Sabella(i think he is still jobless if i am not wrong). Even fu***** Bosnia, they created lot of chances( if you look at the highlights) and we were lucky by post. I think Argentina fans have tendency to give too much credit to history and curse the present situations.

       • Vs Switzerland in which universe? Argentina 63% posession, 29 shots 8 on target, Switzerland 37% posession 15 shots 4 on target, really? They parked the bus all over the match with 1-2 counters.

         • Haha watch the match. Switzerland created tons of chances. It was heart attack watching that game. Swiss were desperately unlucky. Even Sabella conceded after the match that Argentina was not in control of the game by saying “giving ball to Messi was getting water in desert” as it give team some breathing space. Dont be deluded. It is one thing to support Arg. and it is other to deny the truth.

         • Belgium was the only team we beat convincingly. other group matches were due to Leo’s Majic. Swizerland had better chances and i never have seen a wasteful player as Maria as he was constantly dis possessed vs Swiz, despite his final conversion. Every time Lavezzi was playing either as sub or starter including vs Iran is effectiveness and pragmatic was only evident.

         • @perotti Thank you. You stated the exact situation. Even Switzerland coach said after the match that Argentina are nothing without Messi. I actually think 2010 argentina played more attractive football despite tactical blunder by Maradona. I really hope this time around, we use technicial player that can help Messi’s abilities. 100% Messi will beat any team in the world. He just need help and some luck.

9. Just when you need him will be injured

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