------------ Armani --------------
Mercado Otamendi Rojo Tagliafico
--- Mascherano --- Lo Celso -----
Messi ------- Banega ------ Pavon
-------------- Aguero -------------
1. Stick to the 4-2-3-1 - Much more balanced and well-rounded formation today.
2. Replace Di Maria and Higuain for Pavon and Aguero (Dybala is nowhere near his Juve levels for the NT and would play out of position on the left flank; playing him on the right flank would mean Messi would have to play AM, which means Banega is out and the balance of the team would be off by a mile and then some).
3. Replace Enzo Perez for Lo Celso; Mascherano is not his former 2014 boss self, but he is still defensively strong and works at 120% for every second of the 90 minutes; he is the teams leader alongside Messi and I can't see him lose his spot in the starting formation. Enzo Perez is too slow/bad in playing through the ranks and Lo Celso would offer a different dimension as one of the two in a double-pivot formation, where he could move the ball to Banega (sort of a false box-to-box between the 'standard' positions of DM/AM) and he is also strong defensively; with him and Masch covering the area before the defense and being able to bring the ball forward, this could unleash Banega and give him some room for his brilliant creativity; he was solid today and when he has defensive cover, he is allowed more freedom to move forward and pass between the lines.
4. Keep the goalkeeper + backline from today! Essential! Tagliafico is solid defensively and decent in playing the ball forward, Otamendi is clearly strongest when he plays alongside Rojo in a backline of four, and even though Rojo has his moments of 'brainfarts' on the pitch, he offers alot of power, fight and tenacity.
5. Runs from Pavon and Aguero behind the lines would allow more space for Messi in front of France's backline, giving him room to operate; Mercado is also key and would have to add support to Leo's right side, attempting to overlap/add width when Messi shifts inwards from the right flank.
France has been abysmal so far and has the second lousiest coach at the WC (only topped by Sampaoli) so Argentina, with their momentum, can definitely have a shot at the quarter finals if they play by their own strengths.
besides I've only seen maradona and zidane play above their level in WCs when there is immense pressure on them so it's not like it's some common occurence.
