Garnacho has pretty much nailed his colours to the Argentinian mast. He was draped in the flag celebrating the Youth Cup. United themselves classify him as Argentinian on social media too.
Argentina NT | WC Discussion
- Thread starter IFC 1905
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Certainly more 2014 than 2018 vibes imo. Russia was a real mess with passed it Mascherano still the DM and guys like Pavon and Meza getting serious minutes.
Caballero also randomly starting and being a disaster v Croatia.
Now they have a very strong defernsive record and strength in depth at CB.
Not the strongest set of midfielders and attackers beyond the obvious ones compared to previous generations but there is a balance and that's important for Messi to excel as much as he can these days.
SFs, think everyone wants to see them and Brazil facing off in a world cup again. Was the last occasion 1990?
Caballero also randomly starting and being a disaster v Croatia.
Now they have a very strong defernsive record and strength in depth at CB.
Not the strongest set of midfielders and attackers beyond the obvious ones compared to previous generations but there is a balance and that's important for Messi to excel as much as he can these days.
SFs, think everyone wants to see them and Brazil facing off in a world cup again. Was the last occasion 1990?
Alexis Mac Allister is a player who just plays well in the PL but without any fuss or hype around him, interesting option for midfield but not sure if he will start.
The other question for Lisandro is if they would play with a back 5 in the knockouts, even in a 2nd half, at some point because Lisandro-Otamendi-Romero looks genuinely formidable, even mitigates Otamendi's weaknesses and helps the Argie fullbacks who are probably the weak link of the team on paper.
Even if they start De Paul and Fernandez ahead of Paredes (though Fernandez only has the 3 caps) in knockout games, you have to like Mac Allister in the group stages against some weaker teams where you need a bit of magic, and to come off the bench in knockouts. You figure Messi and Lautaro will mostly play 90 but left-wing will be a place to sub and then Mac Allister and maybe the fairly interchangeable fullbacks would be the next obvious sub spots.
So yeah, he may not start but he's a fun choice for the best sub of the tournament along with:
-Alvarez also for Argentina
-Fullkrug if Germany need a 9 can come on and score in a couple games and be a cult hero
-Nico Williams in the Jesus Navas role as a Spanish winger who can come on and beat a man and get crosses in when they're dominating but not dangerous
-Suarez or Cavani
-Multiple Japanese attackers really if they can shockingly get past Germany or Spain to finish 2nd in that group
-Richarlison just has multiple late goals off the bench written all over him
-Majer on Croatia is supposed to be mint and might not start
-Coman as similar to Nico Williams as a traditional winger to unlock a game
-Gapko or Xavi Simons if Van Gaal starts the Bergs (wijn and huis) next to Memphis in attack and they play like the decent but not world class players they are.
All the alarms went off as the media informed Messi has muscle overload and is traning apart from the group.
Gaston Edul who is an important source, says he's ok and will start the match. The training is only from prevention
In other news: Martinez the keeper warning Martinez the butcher
"Behave!"
What is muscle overload? Just another way of saying fatigue?
It seems the team for Tuesday’s match will be
martinez
Molina - Romero - otamendi- Acuña
De Paul - paredes - Mac allister
Messi - martinez - di maria
So no surprises then I guess.
Looks good, Argentina are a really exciting team this world cup. Hopefully they can go all the way.
Lisandro not starting is good news for me (though he'd obviously love to play). I want him to get some rest
Good for us, but Otamendi over Martinez is madness
I agree as far as club form/ talent goes but Otamendi has earned his starting spot with the national selection.
I do always think he will do something stupid though
Him and Acuña are a couple of pitbulls.Di Maria & Lautaro don't inspire me to be honest. 35 year old Messi has to carry that team.
Saw them in the last Copa America and they were a really physical, hard to break down team. I hope Messi has a good tournament.
Impressively enough, Argentina are one game away from equalling the longest unbeaten run in international football history (1 behind Italy who have 37!).
They are a very efficient side now.
If he's anything like in Copa America then they've got a helluva shot.
What do people think about Paredes/DePaul over Enzo? I guess it comes too soon for Enzo.
I can't see any major changes in the starting 11 without injuries this tournament.
Paredes/DePaul will start, they were too important recently to drop now.
He could get a couple of minutes in the group games if things are going to plan or later in the tournament if there are a lot of extra minutes (extra time/ pens).
Amazingly there are 2 Martinez in the line up, but none from us.
To be fair nobody expected our Martinez to start he has been great for us and is better than otamendi but until there is poor performance from either CB it will be Romero and Ota
England's squad is better than Argentina's for one. They should fancy themselves.Messi actually named England as one of the top 3 favorites.
England on paper is class and I think only Brazil have better options in attack
Which is why I don't get this whole Argentina can win it, England are a joke thing. It's a very open world up and I think many teams can win it including England.
I know form can be important but often in a cup competition it isn't. I'm not saying I think England are amazing or that they will win but I don't think they need to worry themselves silly about others (thats probably why they may not - reactive nature).
Argentina will need to prove that they can continue the form from run up into the tournament because for me they're a side that needs the cohesion as they are weaker than many teams personnel wise.
It’s like what I said in the match thread the fans don’t trust Southgate and this is why they are negative but on paper they have one of the best teams in the world and shouldn’t fear anyone.
While I don’t think England will win it the negativity is mental with most thinking they won’t beat even Iran. England should fear no team and the fact I’m expecting things from them being from Ireland and English fans aren’t is weird
IMO, it’s a slightly risk averse, conservative call. With Lo Celso missing, I would have preferred a midfield 3 of Paredes or De Paul/Enzo/Mac Allister depending on opponents. For me, even with the limited sample size, Enzo looks like their most complete midfielder. Hopefully it’s not a Messi in 2006 like situation, sub appearances and dead rubbers. Also Licha not playing seems odd, but Otamendi’s performances for the NT have been much better than his club ones.
This team does not look like one of the favourites to me.
Do not have them as favourites either. Brazil is the big one for most people i imagine. Then it gets really tough, as a lot of teams are on a similar level.
It is their unbeaten run + Messi that drives it, WC in the KO stages is a different beast though.
Mac Allister has been decent for Brighton this season but surprised to see that he's expected to start for them at the WC
With the injury of Lo Celso, the spot is up for grabs. I think they want someone more offensive for this game from midfield. The rest of their midfielders are quite defensive.
How many goals today you guys reckon?
Saudi have held 8 before against the Germans.
Saudi have held 8 before against the Germans.
Exactly my thought, that midfield is average at best.
I don't believe their squad is strong enough to win it, but I hope Messi has a good final wc.
Lisandro is benched by Romero and Otamendi? Wtf?
I found this a good watch.
I have fat overload
I find it really, really hard to understand why they're starting someone as useless as Otamendi over Lisandro, but there you go. He must have undergone a serious retransformation since I last saw him play for City.
Saving him for the knockout stages.Lisandro is benched by Romero and Otamendi? Wtf?
Lisandro is benched by Romero and Otamendi? Wtf?
WTF. why??!
The 78 team didn't either. And the 86 team was pretty much one superstar plus a lot of solid, as opposed to great, players. Much like this one.
On the other hand, quite a lot of the Argentinian teams who crashed out of tournaments had that star quality through much of the lineup.
So me, I think this is looking like a seriously dangerous contender.
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