They are my favourites to win the whole thing, also because they have a rather easy route to the semis. You would expect them to top their group consisting of Bosnia, Iran, Nigeria comfortably. After that in the R16 they would face Switzerland/Ecuador/Honduras. In the quarters it will most likely be against Portugal/Belgium/Russia. Unless France or Germany unexpectedly finish 2nd in their respective groups that will be their route to the semis in which the hardest opponent Argentina could face would be Portugal. If Brazil and Germany top their group they could only meet Argentina in the final. From what I've seen of Argentina in the past 2 years that's doable if they play to their potential.
Argentina at the WC
- Thread starter Raoul
- Start date
Malvinas (Argentinian name for Falkland islands ) are Argentinian.
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thats a good point
their attacking talent is amazing. You won't find better forward trio than Aguero, Messi and Di Maria. I also think the hot conditions will suit them as opposed to the european teams
Demichelis and Zabaleta are part of a league winning defence and Garay and Benfica keep clean sheets most weeks. Were impressive in Europe as well.
Messi's number for Argentina is catching up towards Barcelona numbers under Sabella. He has made Messi play better than any other previous coaches. One thing helped Messi is that he has amazing understanding with all Argentine forwards. Kun, Higuain have the talent to score the chances created by Messi. IMO, the attack is even batter than Barca. He needn't play as a 'false 9' as they have 'pure 9' in Higuain and Kun next to him. With some defensive solidity, I have a feeling that they could go far.
Messi with ARG under Sabella vs total ARG career:
25 of 86 games
21 of 37 goals
9 of 25 assists
2 of 3 braces
3 of 3 hat-tricks
0 of 5 bookings
They will probably play this formation most games. In some games they may move to a 4-4-1-1 sacrificing either Aguero or Higuain. I don't see Lavezzi getting much playing time TBH. Not his fault, but you are just unlucky when you have such an attack.
For those who haven't seen Argentina play recently, check this:
This was a game against full strength Uruguay comprising Suarez, Cavani, Forlan, Godin etc.,
Messi with ARG under Sabella vs total ARG career:
25 of 86 games
21 of 37 goals
9 of 25 assists
2 of 3 braces
3 of 3 hat-tricks
0 of 5 bookings
They will probably play this formation most games. In some games they may move to a 4-4-1-1 sacrificing either Aguero or Higuain. I don't see Lavezzi getting much playing time TBH. Not his fault, but you are just unlucky when you have such an attack.
For those who haven't seen Argentina play recently, check this:
This was a game against full strength Uruguay comprising Suarez, Cavani, Forlan, Godin etc.,
So Messi threw up again on the pitch in their friendly vs Romania...
Happened quite a few times this season hasn't it.. With such worldclass medicare available to them I would have thought it would have been resolved by now..
Any rumors about what the cause might be?
Hope he is fit for the world cup.. That front 4 of Messi,Di maria, Aguero and Higuain can tear any defense apart!!
Their attack is simply amazing. Everyone is talking about the front 3, but I've got a feeling he Di Maria is going to be the star of the show. He's had an aamzing season with Real, they have a big chance of winning this.
He's seen specialists throughout the season but they haven't found the cause, or agreed on one anyway. Messi and Martino have said they don't know what's causing it, Sabella on the other hand says it's nerves/anxiety.
Moral of the story: Coca Cola makes you throw up.
if messi wins you can see ronaldo fanboys saying ''he plays with aguero and di maria'' 
if messi wins you can see ronaldo fanboys saying ''he plays with aguero and di maria''
And? Ronaldo plays with Nani and Postiga.
if messi wins you can see ronaldo fanboys saying ''he plays with aguero and di maria''
He does, doesn't he?
what i am saying is they will find the next thing to bater him with.
I actually hope it happens for the laughs.
he does but they will use it as why he isn't as good as ronaldo
i remember they used to say messi plays with iniesta and xavi although ronaldo was playing with some great players like ozil di maria etc...
Bad news - Aguero out for Switzerland, and possibly for the rest of the WC. Hope Lavezzi can step up and do a good job.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jun/26/argentina-sergio-aguero-world-cup-injury
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jun/26/argentina-sergio-aguero-world-cup-injury
Did not seem to be fit or on his normal level in the previous games, so not a big loss from that point, although his ability to score in big games/ against big opponents could be missed, they are now totally relying on Messi.
I think its actually realy tragic that such a great player like him is apparently made of glass, he is completly going the Robben way at the moment, I hope he will be like Robben at the moment once free of injuries for a longer period.
Higuain needs a boot up the 'arris sharpish. Lavezzi is probably a better foil to Messi than Aguero anyway, along with Di Maria
I haven't seen that much of Lavezzi but from my limited viewing he's very, very, very erratic - fair? He frustrates me any time I watch him, clearly has talent (and pace) but consistently makes the wrong decision and has awful finishing.
Though as said, Agüero hasn't been good so far so maybe Lavezzi can add something different.
Though as said, Agüero hasn't been good so far so maybe Lavezzi can add something different.
Honestly Aguero wasn't working, that could be a blessing in disguise for them. Higuain has been cack but they need to play one centre forward of their abundance of talent so Higuain Messi should work
Lavezzi has looked very good in his appearances at this WC, so hopefully he can do it again as a starter. They do need Higuain to step up this time though. Aguero's WC has been similar to Ronaldo's - playing through injury and not being nearly as effective as usual.
It's a shame , I do like Aguero even though he plays for city, however he hasn't really done anything for argentina so far so maybe it's better for them to start with Lavezzi
Lavezzi has looked good but I never quite realized what a temperament he had. While it won't come as any surprise, I think this WC just illustrates how underwhelming the rest of the players are compared to Leo. I can only conclude Kun was still not 100% because he wasn't playing to his potential and neither has Di Maria, for me. Yet, they keep going forward.
Still think Holland will be good enough to beat them should they make it out of their side of the draw
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Lavezzi's better at creating space for Messi by stretching the defence, working the channels, foraging wide...
Yup, lively player, but oh so erratic beyond the build-up.
Pretty soon someone else is going to have to step up, Di María was probably the most involved/active player v Nigeria but also very sloppy at times (compared to Messi's efficiency in that game; 3 shots on target, 2 goals + 1 great save, 3 key passes, of which 2/2 through balls that put Higuaín in clear 1v1 situations). Nonetheless, him and Messi are on the right track (they were also miles above anyone else on Arg NT during qualifying). Agüero was clearly not match fit to begin with. Higuaín also looks awkwardly sluggish and he'll have to do better next time he gets such golden opportunities as I mentioned above.
Ironically, the oft proclaimed "weakest links" in the side have actually been among the top performers; Romero and Rojo. On the other side, Zabaleta is having a terrible WC, not completely unexpected given he's basically screwed from a tactical/structural pov but still the extent of it is amazing (the Iran game especially was just dreadful and that was the one game where his side wasn't being overloaded, he just kept on losing key duels against his marker). Mascherano and Gago have been decent enough, but they'll need more help from Di María/Messi against the top teams or that will end badly... really badly...
Just to point out when I said "oft proclaimed weakest links", I include myself in that 
although I'm more surprised about Rojo than Romero (who's a decent shot-stopper anyway as long as there isn't too much pace on the shot).
although I'm more surprised about Rojo than Romero (who's a decent shot-stopper anyway as long as there isn't too much pace on the shot).I doubt even the Argentines living there would want to be ruled by that Argentine prime minister, she's not very well liked apparently.Falkland Islands
ethnic groups - Falkland Islander 57%, British 24.6%, St. Helenian 9.8%, Chilean 5.3%, other (including Argentinians) 3.4%
70% of Falkland Islanders are of British descent
languages - English 89%, Spanish 7.7%, other 3.3%
Falklands Islands are British, CIA said it, must be true
They're uninspiring if anything.
Just wanted discussion to emerge. >>
Just wanted discussion to emerge. >>
Their team is awful, and comfortably the worst side left in the tournament. Of their 'best' players - Aguero was poor until he got injured, Zabaleta has been shakey defensively and seems to refuse to get forwards, a far cry from what he does at Man City. Di Maria has shown flashes of his Real Madrid form but put in arguably his worst performance of all time yesterday, and you could place a statue of Higuain in the middle of the pitch and it'd contribute more to the side.
Then you have a decent, yet inconsistent, shot stopper in Romero, but he's no way near as good as Caballero, who for some absurd reason isn't being picked by Argentina. Mascherano has lost the ability completely as a holding midfielder and goes walkabouts. Gago contributes nothing other than slowing the side down and making all the wrong decisions and Garay is almost 28 years old, never fufilled the potential he was showing at Racing.
Much is said of their attack, and individually they are excellent, but Messi is the only player in that entire squad who has turned up for them.
Colombia have the best team unit, Germany have the most balanced side, France are strong all over the pitch, Brazil are one striker away from being the most complete team, Beligum are full of potential but lack the experience and Holland are the opposite, solid spine with the experience in Robben, van Persie and Sneijder carrying them through. Argentina are relying solely on one player, and it's worrying when the manager is coming out and admittng it.
Sabella will be luckiest manager of all time if Argentina manage to actually win this.
Then you have a decent, yet inconsistent, shot stopper in Romero, but he's no way near as good as Caballero, who for some absurd reason isn't being picked by Argentina. Mascherano has lost the ability completely as a holding midfielder and goes walkabouts. Gago contributes nothing other than slowing the side down and making all the wrong decisions and Garay is almost 28 years old, never fufilled the potential he was showing at Racing.
Much is said of their attack, and individually they are excellent, but Messi is the only player in that entire squad who has turned up for them.
Colombia have the best team unit, Germany have the most balanced side, France are strong all over the pitch, Brazil are one striker away from being the most complete team, Beligum are full of potential but lack the experience and Holland are the opposite, solid spine with the experience in Robben, van Persie and Sneijder carrying them through. Argentina are relying solely on one player, and it's worrying when the manager is coming out and admittng it.
Sabella will be luckiest manager of all time if Argentina manage to actually win this.
it's strange how poor zabaleta has been. i expected more of him but he's been disappointing.
fernandez has been pretty shit. Romero is still a ticking time bomb despite proving that yes, as we all knew, he's a great shotstopper.
fernandez has been pretty shit. Romero is still a ticking time bomb despite proving that yes, as we all knew, he's a great shotstopper.
Expect more from Lavezzi in the next game, never really rated him much but he played extremely well against us for both Napoli and PSG. An on form front four of Lavezzi, Higuain, Messi and Di Maria should be a handful for any defence. About time three of them finally started pulling their weight in the side.
i want to expect more from lavezzi, but i can't quite convince my self, i've never seen that much in Lavezzi.. he's more of a physical player then one that offers any real technical finesse imo, and that inconsistency he has on that aspect makes him a little hard to depend on. I'd wish Argentina had a more proper winger then him.
Whatever happened to Juan Iturbe? Few years ago at Porto I kept hearing how he really did look like the next big thing in Argentina. Has he even got a cap for them yet?
he's been pretty good at verona in italy, quite good enough to attract transfer attention, but he hasn't really developed all that much and he's not ready for the highest level. I'm not sure he'll ever be anyways. Someone like Zarate was even more impressive talent wise imo, one of those players that could've become (and still can become imo) world class with the right manager and right mentality, but like Iturbe, has neither.
Iturbe is slightly overrated as well imo.
that's disgusting, i feel ashamed
the press in argentina was very good, the biggest sport news paper wrote in big letters, "we wanted to beat you on the field"
To be honest I laughed when I saw that pic. Football banter can be really funny if you can take it for what it is. I am a Neymar fan and i thought that was bloody funny.
you can laugh mate, i also laugh at black humour, but it's still really tasteless from the argie fans that did it
I think is funny, fans all over the world mix Malvinas/falklands in football debates, thats a lot worst.