World Cup 2018

[Morten]

So? They were outplayed by most of the teams at the Euro, but with hard work and team spirit they pulled through. They also have the greatest goal scorer in their team and some technical players to support him with above average service. And a top manager to put it all together.

To be honest, Portugal aren't a great side, but they are a good team and I'm not sure teams can afford to treat the European Champions lightly.

I guess you could say they play "better" as a team than Argentina, due to having worse players on paper in many positions. Overall though, they are both very average sides at this stage, dont expect miracles from Ronaldo today, Uruguay CB pairing will most likely shut him and Quaresma(to some extent) down, they also have proper strikers to finish the game off.

 

[El Gato]

Portugal plays like a team. And every player works his ass off. And they have a top manager. That's 3 things Argentina don't have. Argentina were hilarious at this WC. A team with stars who don't work hard, and defenders who work hard but are simply too dumb and untalented for this level.

Pretty much this.

Portugal lost like 3 competitive non-friendly matches since Fernando Santos took over in 2014, and that includes Confederations Cup fixtures. They've become hard to beat. Team building starts from the back. CR upfront is enough of a worry for many defenses.

 

[serghei]

I guess you could say they play "better" as a team than Argentina, due to having worse players on paper in many positions. Overall though, they are both very average sides at this stage, dont expect miracles from Ronaldo today, Uruguay CB pairing will most likely shut him and Quaresma(to some extent) down, they also have proper strikers to finish the game off.

It's a 50-50 game imo. Two teams with elite strikers and good defensive structure, physically strong all around. Tabarez and Santos are also top NT managers, very similar in terms of their approach. They know how to form a group, and they know how these games are won.

 

[putogusiluz8]

There should at least be an acceptance to this loss and the expectation put on Messi and Argentina. No way in hell they were going to win unless a miracle happened, a big one.

 

[Morten]

It's a 50-50 game imo. Two teams with elite strikers and good defensive structure, physically strong all around. Tabarez and Santos are also top NT managers, very similar in terms of their approach. They know how to form a group, and they know how these games are won.

Uruguay has the best CB pairing in the torunament, imo, they can shut anyone down, Messi included.
Good organization all around and two top strikers, 70-30 in favor of Uruguay imo.

 

[serghei]

Actually, to be completely honest, except for Peru, Argentina played the worst out of all South American teams. Worse than Brazil, Uruguay, and Colombia.

 

[Much2soon]

Amazing he kept bringing on Meza, even that chance right at the end, Meza fucks it up blasts it high.

If that's the future of Argentina after Messi then LOL

Meza is 26. I doubt he be a prominent player for Argentina after this.

He only had cap for Argentina before the WC and that was when they lost to Spain 6-1. Somehow he gets well over 150+ in crucial WC matches, while Dybala, an established player at a huge club couldn’t get anything. Enzo Perez, another example, couldn’t make to original 23 man squad but somehow played way more than their other midfield options.

Things like those makes it hard to feel sympathetic for the Argentina team.

 

[bodi16]

Actually, to be completely honest, except for Peru, Argentina played the worst out of all South American teams. Worse than Brazil, Uruguay, and Colombia.

Peru actually showed some nice football. Just the quality of their players wasn't at the same level with the likes of Brazil, Uruguay, etc.

 

[serghei]

Peru actually showed some nice football. Just the quality of their players wasn't at the same level with the likes of Brazil, Uruguay, etc.

Yep. Narrowly better than Peru that is. Argentina didn't dominate anyone like Peru dominated Denmark.

 

[blaugrana1987]

There should at least be an acceptance to this loss and the expectation put on Messi and Argentina. No way in hell they were going to win unless a miracle happened, a big one.

Agreed. Problem with Messi is that he was actually expected to get them to Finals. Like Argentina in 1990 where they didn't really play well at all, but somehow ended up in Finals. They got there because their defense nullified every other side they played against (and won on penalties).

This side has conceded 9 goals in 4 matches. That is 2.3 goals per match, and it could have been worse today. They are pure and simply trash.

 

[Morten]

Peru actually showed some nice football. Just the quality of their players wasn't at the same level with the likes of Brazil, Uruguay, etc.

Thought they played well, should have trashed boring Denmark, but they got away with their bus-football as they usually do.

 

[Luftstalag14]

Actually, to be completely honest, except for Peru, Argentina played the worst out of all South American teams. Worse than Brazil, Uruguay, and Colombia.

Peru was far better than Argentina. They completely dominated Denmark, the Danes only got lucky to beat them. They were good against the French too. Argentina by far is one of the worst teams in this World Cup.

 

[Morten]

Major difference between Argentina now and last world cup, if this was 2014 they would simply have shut France down once they got the lead, even if they played kinda underwhelming.
They conceded so few goals in that run, this time they concede goals for fun.

 

[Stoichkov1]

Pretty much this.

Portugal lost like 3 competitive non-friendly matches since Fernando Santos took over in 2014, and that includes Confederations Cup fixtures. They've become hard to beat. Team building starts from the back. CR upfront is enough of a worry for many defenses.

If you haven't top players parking the bus+best players up front is the best solution for winning. Sampaoli transformed Argentina in a possession oriented team with a high line when the players he has are old and unable to face counterattacks.

Sabella just parked the bus against teams who were better than them like Germany and in fact they even had the best chances in the WC final.

Instead of hiring a Guardiola wannabe they should have picked Simeone. He would have started Dybala for sure.

 

[bodi16]

Major difference between Argentina now and last world cup, if this was 2014 they would simply have shut France down once they got the lead, even if they played kinda underwhelming.
They conceded so few goals in that run, this time they concede goals for fun.

They were probably the best defensive team from that world cup. Let's not forget that they had a completely different backline (except Rojo, who was a LB) and a way better version of Mascherano. I can remember Zabaleta had the games of his life too.