Group F: Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria

[MagIX]

MATCH STATS
Possession
Iran 23% - 77% Argentina
Shots
8 - 21
On target
4 - 3

That was a bus and half.

Exactly.
Not easy to play vs 11 defenders in 30 meter, let be honest, any team would have big problems

 

[beautifulgame]

You guys hard on sabella overlook fact Argentina had plenty chances I score had their finishing wouldn't not have been shit.

Truth is when a team is organized well and is willing to work it is really hard to break down 8 much less 10. Even that last goal as genius as it was for Messi was an issue of Iran giving up on defending properly. They were too close too each other and thus, Messi had a sight of the goal from 25 yards cuz Iran was bit too far back and not marking and running as they were early.

Iran was very good and Argentina still create many chances but finish today was woeful. Sabella is correct to not do too much adjusters cuz he knows what risks he would be taking with this team if he gives up space to chase game too much

 

[MagIX]

Don't be so butthurt. Excuse me if I don't want to see such a boring team at the World Cup. Two insanely boring games jesus christ. If you thought Nigeria-Iran was bad.. Snooze team.

:thumbsup2:
same thought

 

[AURELIUS]

A very lucky escape.

I honestly thought game one fair enough. They are working the rust out of the system. In this showing I am worried.

Sloppy passing from midfield with not enough penetration.

Not enough movement upfront. Higgy is not match sharp. Slow and gave the ball away a few times.

Need to work on defending corners and attacking them. Some excellent balls in wasted by Rojo, Garay and Fernandez. Could have been three headers with better positioning on attack of the ball.

Need more width at times, a faster tempo of play.

Romero ? Two saves but the first he should have grabbed in and kept not let rebound. The second he came for a ball he had no chance of getting was caught in the middle of nowhere and forced to perform a tip over.

Sabella ? I was going mad at fifty minutes that he had not subbed Gago out (who exposed Masche on the counter) and brought in Perez to bring some thrust to the midfield and he had not replaced Higgy with Palacio who looked sharp in the pre WC friendlies. Needs to be more proactive.

I am sure the playing staff know they will have to do a lot better. A whole 100% better and not rely on Messi pulling something out of the bag. A team like Switzerland or Ecuador can bunker as well and they will be sharper on the break.

Congratulations to Iran on almost pulling a rabbit out of the hat but that referee allowed so much time wasting including di Maria dawdling off the field at the end.

Simply put a 4/10 performance that is unacceptable and we will crash out in the round of sixteen or quarter finals if we keep on like this. Rojo MOTM. A pity several other players did not show his heart throughout the game.Sort it out players and manager. This circus only comes around once every four years. Very disappointed.

 

[AURELIUS]

Yeh, like they ate them alive in the WCQs.

This is true. Those sides will not bunker. However the whole team needs a massive kick up the you know what. If they start to click well.....

 

[Kinlejus]

It wasn't Iran who was boring today, it was Argentina lacking the passion
In my view they did not deserve to lose

 

[AURELIUS]

To be honest, Argentina really doesn't have that many option anywhere other than attack. So it all depends on their fron tline to deliver. Today was a day to forget for Aguero, Di maria and Higuain. Higuain at least setup a nice chance for Aguero which was saved. Although there were umpteen of bad touches from Higuain. Somehow I don't feel Aguero is completely fit - physically or mentally. Di Maria made so many bad passes that I lost count.

Perez should have been brought on to steady midfield and help Masche. Pace, skill and the willingness to go box to box allowing Masche to patrol for the defence. Biglia is also a pretty efficient player if not spectacular. Both Gago and Higgy are still not match fit or sharp.

 

[GoobiePls]

3rd smaller country that has been robbed so far?

 

[zanela]

You guys hard on sabella overlook fact Argentina had plenty chances I score had their finishing wouldn't not have been shit.

I don't think ARG created many clear cut chances from open play partly due to Iran's organised defense, and partly because of their final ball was lacking. Their best chances came from corners, both FF and Garay could've done better. I've always thought fab 4 system is a bit overrated, as both Gonzo and Kun like to operate in the same spaces. One of them needs to be dropped for Lavezzi/Palacio to stretch play, and provide more balance in attack.

Need more width at times, a faster tempo of play.

Agree with that. But I've noticed you're always overly critical of Romero. I'm no fan, but he's done well when called upon. He has 'd some nervy moments, but you'll hard be pressed to find any keeper with a perfect 10 performance so far.

 

[Djab]

Don't be so butthurt. Excuse me if I don't want to see such a boring team at the World Cup. Two insanely boring games jesus christ. If you thought Nigeria-Iran was bad.. Snooze team.

Not butthurt or anything like that. But people don't or IDK can't see anything other than what they want. Iran deserve some credit for the match. And Argentina need to step up or they will be kicked out of the tourney.


Anyhow. Congrats to Argentines. And Messi for the magnificent goal.

 

[AURELIUS]

I don't think ARG created many clear cut chances from open play partly due to Iran's organised defense, and partly because of their final ball was lacking. Their best chances came from corners, both FF and Garay could've done better. I've always thought fab 4 system is a bit overrated, as both Gonzo and Kun like to operate in the same spaces. One of them needs to be dropped for Lavezzi/Palacio to stretch play, and provide more balance in attack.



Agree with that. But I've noticed you're always overly critical of Romero. I'm no fan, but he's done well when called upon. He has 'd some nervy moments, but you'll hard be pressed to find any keeper with a perfect 10 performance so far.

I am always critical my dear. He has done pretty well but I would expect no less. However I still get the heebie jeebies when he is called upon and he did make a couple of positional errors.

Let's hope that they wake up and take on board what they learnt today and where they need to improve. Iran will not be the first team to bunker with nine behind the ball in the final third or the last.

 

[sabby]

Perez should have been brought on to steady midfield and help Masche. Pace, skill and the willingness to go box to box allowing Masche to patrol for the defence. Biglia is also a pretty efficient player if not spectacular. Both Gago and Higgy are still not match fit or sharp.

Judging by your avatar, maybe you can answer what happened to Pastore ? He was supposed to be a big thing a few years ago but i don't follow serie a or liga 1. Was he very bad for PSG last season or is he injured ?

 

[sabby]

3rd smaller country that has been robbed so far?

Nope. That picture doesn't tell what happened. Zabaleta got to the ball and cleared it and caught the iranian guy in follow thru. Not a penalty.

 

[AnfieldEd]

Maradona won the world cup by himself in 86. These past two games Messi looks like a man on a mission and has won those games by himself basically.

So to the Argies and to those other people not from Argentina but are some reason supporting them. I say this don't worry about the crap in defence and the crap in midfield as it seems like Messi is a one man machine on mission to win the world cup.

 

[zanela]

Also, how is Rojo Motm? His umpteen no. of wayward crosses gave me a migraine. He also failed to convert his chance. He saw more of the ball, but lacked any efficiency or application in the attacking third. Too robotic for my liking.