Portuguese referee Joao Pinheiro to referee Argentina vs. Switzerland at World Cup

1. France toyed with Morocco. The missed penalty may remain a talking point, but it does not change the bigger picture — France looked like a well-oiled machine, controlling the game with frightening efficiency.

   And this is the bitter pill we Argentina fans may need to digest: at this moment, we are not operating at the same rhythm as teams like France or Spain.

   While they look settled, we are still searching for answers. We struggled against Cabo Verde and Egypt, and those games exposed some uncomfortable patterns. Our defence is looking vulnerable during opponent transitions. Every quick counterattack suddenly feels like a threat. The solidity that once defined this team has somehow disappeared.

   Our midfield, despite having technically gifted players, is often circulating the ball without consistently creating clear openings. Possession is valuable only when it hurts the opponent. Right now, too many moves end without a real threat. Even our long-range attempts have lacked precision — apart from that Mac Allister strike against Algeria, which already feels like a distant memory.

   The big question is whether Scaloni can fix these gaps before Switzerland.

   Because Switzerland will not make life easy. They are physically stronger, taller, tactically disciplined, and exactly the kind of opponent that can exploit our current weaknesses.

   This team has shown before that it can transform under pressure. But the transformation needs to start now — not after another scare.

   • Agreed. We are far too vulnerable to counter attacks. Our players need to engage on 1 on 1s more ideally so defensive line doesn’t need to come up so high for support. Unfortunately, we do not have a true winger or competent number 9 to get into the box. Nico Gonzalez has shown some good pace and ability to cut in but he struggles to end the attack well. Both Lautaro and Alvarez are also not fast enough to survive as a lone striker. Paz is a potential solution but Scaloni does not seem to want to play him for his own reasons it seems. Another concern of mine is Emi. He is not performing well lately and is letting in basic tap-ins. Not sure where his mind is currently, hope he can get it together.

     On the other hand, Argentina’s possession game has worked well since if you look at goal replays the team looks like an incredibly fluid group. Everyone covering each other and players being vocal and directing. Perhaps we just need to finish better.

2. Media cried when the officials for the France vs Morocco match were all argentines.Now what would they say when a Portuguese referee officiates our match ? Shall we also raise a flag that fifa is rigged bla bla

3. @ Paul

   Argentina’s situation is interesting because the squad is not old , many key players like Lautaro, alvarez, Macallister, Enzo, Romero, Licha, Molina, Palacios, and Almada are at or approaching their prime years. The issue is not age, but form and timing, as several arrived after injuries, inconsistent club spells, or without their best rhythm. Messi is the only one in right form and leading this ship with many holes!! He still able to control games through his intelligence and creativity which is mind boggling!

   France, their biggest advantage is their attack. Their midfield and defense are strong, but not not the best in the world. However, their forward line is operating at an elite level! Like how the R-s in the Brazil team operated in the 90s and early 2000s! Mbappe and Dembele are at their peak, Olise is playing like he is also at his peak even though he is still far from it!! Doué, and Barcola provide incredible depth and speed and explosiveness!! I don’t see any team beating them in this tournament!!

   If Argentina reaches the final, we would likely need a picture perfect performance. Our out of form strikers, slow midfielders and most importatnly slow and error prone defense & goalie have to find a way to return to their best,make no errors and then France’s attackers will have to have a collectively poor game and off day! Which again is looking impossible with the number of inform forwards they have in their squad!! The only slight ray of hope is Spain. If they can dominate possession, create chances and score early, they might put France under pressure. But even that currently feels like an impossible task against this version of France.

   • I have faith in Lamine and Spain tbf. France give me prime Real Madrid vibes with all their Goliath-like Galactico attackers, but they will always be little bro’ed by the one superstar kid on the RW who can dribble through them all like Messi did in El Clasicos.

     Spain have their number I’m pretty sure.

   • Spain will defeat france! If we defeat swiss,it will be Argentina vs Spain in the final and we will lift the world cup once again.

     • Anulo mufa

4. I hope people are watching the France – Morocco game. France destroying a top 10 team in the world. Same France that Argentina made look like children for 70 minutes in the final.

   This is how Argentina should be playing. This is how this team used to play in 2021-22. The team that barely scrapped by rank 20+ Egypt and rank 60+ Cabo Verde is a shadow of that. If Scaloni & co can not see that and change things, it will end in heartbreak.

   • Shocking defending or tactics by Morocco knowing how France play or will play. Nothing extraordinary. They play same just replacing Griezmann with Olise. I knew Morocco gonna lose after seeing first 15 minutes coz i don’t know why they didn’t play how they play normally like possession base football. They let France to come and attack and they think they will win ffs. Also we did scrape through Australia last time too. It’s a tournament football where you just need to peak in right time.

   • It’s not the same France. Olise, Dembele, and Doue are all in form. Their attack is far more lethal than 2022. Kolo Muani was nothing.

5. My team vs swiss
   Emi
   Palacios licha cutie tagliafico
   Parades
   Enzo Mac
   Messi
   Lisandro. Alvarez

   • You mean Lautaro at the front along with Alvarez? Licha and lisandro is same.Swiss poses aerial threats,so Otamendi is must.

6. The match against Cabo Verde was a significant concern for me, as I anticipated their physicality and athleticism would pose challenges for Argentina. Following our victory in that match, I developed a strong sense that we would also overcome Egypt. I maintain a similar feeling of confidence regarding our upcoming match against Switzerland, despite acknowledging their superior strength compared to the previous opponents. However, their slower tempo of play may be more advantageous for Argentina.

7. Gaston Edul came out and said it seems like Scaloni’s making no changes smh

   • I think we’ve played well except for the goals. It makes sense to keep the same starters and adjust the playing style and positioning to deal with the defensive weakness. And then to adjust as the game goes on with the substitutes. (Which is ultimately what won us the last game).

     • Ah I have to correct myself. He said no sign of “many changes” so there is a possibility of 1 or 2, but we can’t be sure.

   • Let the opponents and media keep guessing.Starting 11 can be known just an hour before the match

8. Portuguese Chinese Indonesian German….etc makes no difference….LET’S GO🇦🇷💙✊️

9. Can we remind the back line and the goalkeeper that’s this is football not musical chairs there dosnt have to be music playing to MOVE YOUR GOD DAMB ASS

10. This pinheiro guy officiated swiss vs bosnia in group match and gave 1 red card and 3 yellow to Bosnia players
    swiss won that match 4-1
    May be this guy has a favoritism for the swiss

11. Great performance we need to be more focus

12. We should play 3-5-2 vs Swiss like the 2022 QF vs Nedtherlands

    EMI
    ROMERO-OTA-LICHA
    MOLINA-ENZO-PAREDES-MAC-NICO GONZALEZ
    MESSI-ALVAREZ

    • I agree. But I would replace Otamendi with in-form younger sharper Senesi, Molina with Giuliano Simeone, Enzo with Lo Celso. That team would be brilliant and can beat any opponent.

      Of course I know Scaloni will stick with his favorites. It is insanity that any of Lo Celso, Paz, Simeone, Senesi have not played a single minute more despite their great performance in the third game. Favoritism chosen over meritocracy.

      • Playing A knockout and having serious changes will affect team but the best would be play almost the same team with 1/2 changes and having a different formation

        • Except the same team is playing very poorly. Basically compounding one bad decision with other. Doing the same thing again and again and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.

    • No more Molina please…

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