I watched last night’s 0:0 draw against Uruguay in agony. For a team featuring attacking superstars like Messi, Di Maria, Dybala with Aguero and Higuain on the bench Argentina had to do better than a scoreless draw. With 77% (some say 80%) possession Argentina managed only 3 shots on target out of a total of 10 shots on goal (!) and with the exception of a few brilliant plays by Lionel Messi offered nothing to justify its ambitions as a top 3 World Cup team.
There is no point analyzing the defense and the mid-field given the overwhelming possession and Uruguay’s tactics of “parking the bus”. The first culprit in my opinion was Sampaoli himself. His game plan and tactics were non-apparent and ineffectual. His substitutions questionable if in fact the objective was to win the match. It looks at time as Argentina were playing to run the clock – get the point and go home. No hunger, no intensity, no speed and no spirit. DiMaria showed nothing of his ability and did little to threaten Uruguay’s back four. Dybala did not show anything remotely resembling his reputation of late as the heir apparent to Leo Messi. Uruguay clogged the middle and easily kept the Argentinians moving the ball from side to side but not threatening the goal. Ask the Uruguayan goalkeeper and he will tell you that he had a pretty quiet night considering the amount of time Argentina spent in the Uruguayan half. Why didn’t Sampaoli call on either Aguero or Higuain to get some scoring punch in the Middle? Argentina cannot afford to rely on the magic of Leo Messi alone if it is to regain the World Cup anytime soon.
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