Argentina

[Ter Stature]

One goal against the worst Peru ever at home, everyone knows sudamericana matches don't have many goals, but it's still telling.

There is no justification for not giving Paz and Buonanotte at least some minutes and increasing the competition.

Many teams in South America football are stuck on with that old guard mentality, where geriatric 40yos are walking around the pitch.

 

[AURELIUS2]

I am getting concerned with Scaloni. The team has been playing worse & worse & is nowhere near December 2022 standards,

The players seem lazy & complacent. So many misplaced passes. Scaloni had decided to play CBs in fullback roles. Doesn't give kids a chance. Soule brought in then left out. Equi a few minutes then out. Soler not even used. Paz a great cameo & crying out for him last night not used.

Meanwhile deadwood like Otamendi are still there and others who should not be picked. de Paul is a prime example. Lost the ball so many times, misplaced passes & ran around a lot to no effect. Scaloni hasn't got the cojones to say that's it for you.

Usual boring late substitutions as well. Paredes of course. Peru are no great shakes yet it was a stolid win. Also Scaloni has this mad idea of playing Alvarez at wing. Either he or Lautaro can play the striker role upfront for 50-60 minutes then change.

Scaloni really needs to buck his ideas up. I would be more than happy to see Placente who has done a great job with the u15 u18 u20 when chosen to take over.

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

Replace Scaloni with Aurelius 💯

 

[Temptation]

Tuchel, Deschamps >>>> Scaloni

 

[TheStig]

It always happens with successful teams, it's hard to replace legends like that until they fail or grow old. Only Don Perez did that in the right time.

 

[Andresito]

That's the downside to building a tightly knit group. That was arguably Argentina's strength over these past years with all the trophies won. But now when the time has come make changes the dynamics will shift and you might not have a group that would kill for each other.

The players that feel too comfortable need a spark in their asses. You had someone like RDP who was very average for Atleti but very good for Argentina. Now that his NT form has dried up there's really nothing that warrants him a permanent spot in the XI while other players also have good form for their clubs. Plenty others in same situation.

Time to introduce some new players with an eye on WC 2026. Surely can't start likes of Otamendi, Paredes, Molina, RDP, Tagliafico then, so why even bother playing them now.

 

[Barcaman]

They are top of the South America group and 5 points clear. After winning Copa America, World Cup, Copa America again of course there would be a downtrend in form.

 

[TheStig]

I think most of those will play at WC. I think many here just look at the current form but for Scaloni it's more important status as absolute legends for winning everything and relationships between them, Scaloni and Messi. If anyone should know how this goes it should be us, former fans of FC Amigos.

I expect bigger changes after WC26.

 

[soul24rage]

The problem is a bit overblown imo. For any team, it's always going to be difficult to play a team who is more focused on defense and sitting deep resulting in slower plays.

Granted, Scaloni should have played players who are more comfortable in closed spaces.

There needs to be some clean up, especially with Otamendi and Pezzella, but a major overhaul is not needed imo.

I would be interested to see what kinds of changes Scaloni will make in March.

If Argentina wins the next two matches and Bolivia draws one of its game in March, then the team will automatically qualify to the World Cup.

 

[Rory]

Don't think Argentina have looked great against most south american teams for years, even including the 2 copa america wins. It's more that they've been able to get the result. There's been the odd great performance but it's mostly been about grinding out a result.

 

[Temptation]

The problem is a bit overblown imo. For any team, it's always going to be difficult to play a team who is more focused on defense and sitting deep resulting in slower plays.

Granted, Scaloni should have played players who are more comfortable in closed spaces.

There needs to be some clean up, especially with Otamendi and Pezzella, but a major overhaul is not needed imo.

I would be interested to see what kinds of changes Scaloni will make in March.

This is a very cohesive, resilient team which relies on Messi and Di Maria to produce the magic in the final third.

It's natural that since ADM is gone and Messi is declining, they'll lose that X Factor.

The workhorse qualities won't work on it's own without the magic - at the highest level.

Also, Macca has been poor for club and country this season. Don't know what happened there.

 

[soul24rage]

Don't think Argentina have looked great against most south american teams for years, even including the 2 copa america wins. It's more that they've been able to get the result. There's been the odd great performance but it's mostly been about grinding out a result.

This is true. Games vs South American teams is more about grit and combativeness and you usually don't see the beautiful game.

The only time Argentina has blew away a top South American team in recent years is vs Uruguay in the WCQ back in the fall 2021. That is one of my favorites performances that I've seen

 

[soul24rage]

This is a very cohesive, resilient team which relies on Messi and Di Maria to produce the magic in the final third.

It's natural that since ADM is gone and Messi is declining, they'll lose that X Factor.

The workhorse qualities won't work on it's own without the magic - at the highest level.

Also, Macca has been poor for club and country this season. Don't know what happened there.

100%.

idk if MacA is still feeling the injury that he had but something is not right with him. Wish Scaloni didn't play him at all vs Peru.

 

[Temptation]

A lot of these key players are bang average or poor for their clubs.

RDP and Enzo are crap. GLC is talented but has struggled for half of his club career. Alvarez is nothing special(called it way back when everyone was twerking for him).

Lautaro is the only world class player in his prime currently.

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

Only Dybala can rescue this Argentina team!