I have almost zero expectations for this team and I am still left disappointed.
Gago injuring himself 4 minutes after coming on just about sums up the night.
Gago injuring himself 4 minutes after coming on just about sums up the night.
Argentina NT
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Aguero got in a car accident. Icardi and Dybala are deemed too young for such an important game. Higuain was left home after a slow start to his season with Juve.
Not sure. Sampaoli was hired as coach, had a few iffy results and then started picking the locally based strikers. I think they have too many forwards, they just need to pick 2 to play with Messi.
Dybala played against the best team on the planet in a CL final only a year ago. He is single handedly carrying Juve's attack this season and is one of the most in form players on the planet. There has to be some sort of politics or something going on when it comes to the Argentinian FA.
This is the national team that made Maradona manager for a world cup who bemused everyone with his selections and tactics. So it's nothing new that Argentina pick the wrong players and play without any system.
This game was played at Boca Juniors stadium and Benedetto is their striker.
So yeah, there's that...
Sampaoli didn't play Paredes either because he was deemed too inexperienced, instead he played the uninspiring Biglia.
Higuain can't press like Sampaoli wants, Icardi picked up a knock and Dybala supposedly can't play with Messi.
They're in a much better position than what it seems actually. If they win they go through but even if they draw or lose they still have their chances. Conmebol is a mess
I would say the fact that so many teams are still in a chance of qualifying means it's healthy and competitive, Conmebol that is.
ACL rupture for Gago, out for 6-8 months
Finally he gets called up again to the NT and this happens to him 5 minutes after coming on..
I meant it's a mess to figure out all the possible scenarios
Conmebol in general is awesome. Easily the best qualifiers in the world
Not that good of a chance honestly... They have to win against Ecuador away, hell even a draw isnt an easy thing to do for a team thats playing like this (a few decent teams in Conmebol have lost to them IIRC).
A draw isn't good enough, hell even a win may not be. A draw would require all other results to pretty much work out for them
They are a mess but the coach isn't helping. Needing goals and having icardi and Dybala on the bench is madness. Needing some creativity and not involving Lanzini is madness.
A win means they are at least 5th and get to play New Zealand.
3 match days ago I though the talk about Argentina not making it was overblown, now it looks like there is a legit chance they actually miss out.
Does a draw ensure they finish 5th at least? Or if they draw is there still a chance they'll miss out altogether on the play offs?
No. It likely wouldn't be enough.
A draw is enough if in addition 2 out of those 3 results happen: 1) Chile loses by more than 2 goals @ Brazil 2) Paraguay doesn't win vs Venezuela 3) Colombia wins @ Peru.
Argentina 5 last WCQ results in Ecuador with most recent first.
D
L
L
W
L
Chances of Brazil fielding a B-team and trying not to win on purpose?
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It's amazing how a manager can ignore two top class forwards because they are too 'inexperienced' for an important game even though they have been consistently great in one of the best leagues in the world for more than a couple of years.
They need to win to be sure of fifth place, a draw will only be enough if several different conditions are met (it's explained above). Ecuador have nothing to play for which works in Argentina's favour but those South American teams hardly ever give up and let you win.
He didn't ignore them because they were too young. Icardi got injured and Dybala is considered too similar to Messi.
Cheers @Sarni @Schneckerl
Was referring to a post I quoted.
A win almost guarantees qualification without playoffs.
I guess weather conditions etc. play a big role and for sure travelling. But as Brazil did not have any problems I think that a lot of the bigger teams have issues right now. The competivity is not there because so many teams are that good but because the teams like e.g. Uruguay, Chile or Argentina are substandard.
There is a cat and mouse game going on. Sampoli said Icardi is injured, Spaletti said he isn't.
Well, Sampaoli, I think, only said 'physical problem' and not 'injury' so perhaps he wants a certain fitness from Icardi to play his energetic, pressing game. However, I've read that Sampaoli prefers Icardi over Higuain so I doubt he wouldn't want Icardi in the team either because of not suiting his style or any other reason.
His teammates were fine, the chances they missed was mostly great goalkeeping and defending. Messi missed his chances too
You've got to wonder if things would have been different with Icardi on the pitch though
Are they cursed? That is disturbing if you are an Argentine.
Not sure why people are bemoaning Aguero and Higuain being left out.
They've never convinced at International level and never been able to replicate their goalscoring form at club level for the NT.
They've never convinced at International level and never been able to replicate their goalscoring form at club level for the NT.
Us missing the world cup isnt that strange considering we have a shite squad, but how are Argentina doing this poorly with those players?
they're just badly managed team that don't have the luxury of playing in group with Latvia, Andorra and San Marino like their European rivals. South American qualifiers are tough and it's harder to mask your weaknesses.
You make it sound like Bolivia and Venezuela are actually decent teams :P
they aren't, but they are more likely to hold Brazil or Argentina than Latvia, San Marino, Gibraltar, Andora etc. especially Bolivia. somehow I doubt Argentina would be struggling to score against those nations.
I know... Messi and Dybala! - certainly hope they make the world cup - wouldnt seem right without them
What the hell!? Incredible they run the risk of not qualifying.
I can see them doing this to kick Argentina out.
I love watching Messi play football. He's hypnotic! I think Argentina failing to qualify has to be put down to the coach. Look at that attacking talent.
They could play Arguero, Messi, Dybala, Icardi, Di Maria and then play 5 fans from the stands and still have a decent team!
Isn't Bolivia one of the toughest places to go for an away match due to their altitude or something? But considering 4 teams go through, and iirc the 5th gets a playoff, Argentina really shouldn't be struggling.
But again, it seems every manager ends up mismanaging them somehow, as it's not just their tactics, but their squad is fairly imbalanced too (top heavy), IMO. I'm sure they had high hopes with Sampoali taking over - but I guess patience is needed. He hasn't been in the job that long.
Hard to disagree when you mention Gibraltar, Andorra or San Marino
Latvia has a very decente team... if the sport is basketball
In a perfect world, Argentina players would spend a few hours in chambers to adjust themsleves to the oxigen level of Bolivia. Unfortunatelly, international football is a mess in pre-match arrangements. There's barely time to make a couple of training sessions before the matchs, since mos of the players comes from Europe and will spend 8+ hours on a bloody plane to get to any suth american country.
True, but the first five countries go through. Ok number 5 will play New Zealand, but still.