Brazil 0-1 Colombia: Colombia stifle Brazil’s direct game with Carlos Sanchez getting the better of Neymar

Miguel Tovar/STF
Neymar of Brazil fights for the ball with Carlos Sanchez of Colombia during the 2015 Copa America Chile Group C match between Brazil and Colombia at Monumental David Arellano Stadium on June 17, 2015 in Santiago, Chile.

Colombia avenged their World Cup disappointment with a deserved 1-0 victory over Brazil.

Dunga made two changes to the side that defeated Peru in Brazil’s opening game of the tournament. Thiago Silva started at centre-back alongside Joao Miranda, whereas Roberto Firmino’s inclusion pushed Diego Tardelli to the bench.

Jose Pekerman persisted with his default 4-4-2 formation, introducing Teo Gutierrez alongside Radamel Falcao upfront. James Rodriguez and Juan Cuadrado drifted infield from the flanks, while Carlos Sanchez and Edwin Valencia sat in midfield.

This was a cagey encounter that saw Colombia defend superbly in open play, stifling Neymar’s threat in transition, and clogging space in central areas, before breaking forward with numbers. Better finishing would solidify Colombia’s overall performance, as here, they were clearly the superior side.

Pressing

Considering the previous fixture between these two sides at the World Cup, the likelihood of a cagey, frenetic match was expected. The common theme throughout, though, was slightly contrasting: a slow-burning encounter filled with fouls and several transitional attacks.

The disparity in creativity in central areas was evident, but the manner in which both teams pressed served as the significant factor towards the outcome of the match. With both sides operating in a 4-4-2, the standard base shape out of possession was identical – a simple shift into two banks of four.

Where Brazil sat off and allowed Sanchez to play horizontal passes to the flanks, Filipe Luis stuck tight to his Chelsea teammate, Juan Cuadrado, preventing the Colombian winger from dribbling forward. Identical formations equally ensured that the individual battles were even, yet Sanchez’s freedom, along with Cuadrado and James moving centrally from the touch-line – enabling the full-backs to adopt advanced positions – led to Colombia enjoying the better half of possession.

Brazil’s issue

This was another unbalanced Brazil performance. There was a better sense of defensive solidity and organization out of possession, with Silva offering stability, and an improved performance in midfield from Elias and Fernandinho, but the issue the Brazilian’s encountered involved their route to goal.

Dunga’s men struggled to create chances in open play, and occasionally found it difficult to bypass Colombia’s pressing. Unlike the Brazilian’s, Pekerman instructed Valencia to press Elias, whereas Teo sat goal-side of Fernandinho, thwarting the midfielder’s influence from deeper positions .

Another issue involved overall creativity. Fred endured an abysmal opening half, and while Willian started the match well, his transition into a diligent, functional winger solely offered brief moments of balance, and minimal guile on the pitch. This match was a prime example as to why Brazil misses Oscar: a technically disciplined midfielder that would likely stifle Sanchez from deep, whilst moving into wide positions to balance the attack and create space in central areas.

Colombia’s defender Jeison Murillo (C) celebrates next to teammate Teofilo Gutierrez, after scoring against Brazil during their Copa America football match, at the Estadio Monumental David Arellano in Santiago, Chile, on June 17, 2015. AFP PHOTO / NELSON ALMEIDA

Here, Dunga’s men were too narrow, which was odd considering their consistent source of attack against Peru developed through Dani Alves’ crossing. Brazil’s best chance stemmed through Alves: the right back received a pass from Fernandinho between the lines, before turning Murillo, driving to the box and delivering a cross to an unmarked Neymar, but David Ospina’s heroics preserved Colombia’s lead.

Apart from Neymar’s dribbling, which in fairness was fairly mediocre – in terms of evading challenges to beat defenders – Brazil lacked natural combinations, guile and creativity in the final third.

Colombia chances

As stated prior, both sides encountered difficulties in open play, which led to several players resorting to ambitious shots from distance. Colombia, however, enjoyed the better chances in transition and through their intense pressing.

Alves was dispossessed twice in the opening half – by James and Valencia – with both plays resulting in crosses from the left flank into the box, but neither midfielder was able to connect with the strikers. The strikers were paired against two physical Brazilian centre-backs and were unable to dominate around the box, yet when chances were presented it was the finishing and confidence, mainly from Falcao, that kept Brazil alive.

Then there were the quick transitions that were often sparked by deep balls from James to the flanks or over the Brazilian defence. There was a quick pass from James that hit off Teo into the path of Falcao, but the striker fired his effort wide. Yet, subsequently both Cuadrado and Falcao both stormed forward from half on individual runs, but neither player could hit the net.

Colombia’s pressing was vastly superior to Brazil’s throughout, and the combination of dynamism and creativity from Cuadrado and James posed several problems when they recovered possession.

Sanchez

More so, when you compare both sides, the major difference lied in the manner that both guarded central areas. The key man throughout was Sanchez, who formed an efficient pairing with Valencia.

Initially, Cristian Zapata and Jeison Murillo tracked Neymar’s runs in central areas, and proactively stepped forward to steer the tricky Brazilian away from goal – Murillo recorded a match-high seven interceptions. Yet, when Neymar moved into the midfield zone, Sanchez, who impressively completed five tackles and interceptions, often overpowered the Brazilian talisman.

With Neymar frustrated with the physicality throughout, Brazil was deprived of the penetrative runs that served as one of the few plausible sources for a goal. Ultimately, Brazil lacked a player in Sanchez’s mold – the provided adequate protection ahead of the back four, negating the opposition’s threat in the final third with powerful tackles, combined with vital last ditch blocks and interceptions.

Substitutions/Second Half

Following a disappointing opening half, Dunga turned to Philippe Coutinho to replace the underwhelming Fred. Whereas Brazil’s shape remained, it was evident Dunga was seeking another passer in midfield. The issue was that Coutinho’s incisive passing in tight spaces is mediocre, and he didn’t offer Brazil the required assistance. Coutinho excels in a deeper role in midfield, playing penetrative passes behind the defence, but here, he helped Brazil retain possession at a slow tempo, whereas his distribution was fairly sloppy.

Ultimately this made things worse for Brazil: They still remained narrow, and with Alves equally in a central position, Colombia simply sat two banks of four into a congested midfield. Brazil moved to a 4-3-3 with the introduction of Douglas Costa, and then Tardelli, but it equally didn’t alter the pattern of the match, as all three strikers maintained narrow positions.

Essentially, Brazil’s best chances came via transition through Neymar, and from a Murillo error that Firmino oddly squandered. Pekerman eventually moved to a 4-2-3-1 with the arrival of Victor Ibarbo, but their task remained the same. Maintain a compact shape, and break with numbers in transition to kill the game.

Cuadrado and James both came close following impressive individual moves, yet despite the two system alterations, stylistically, the second half was drab. Brazil couldn’t break down a determined Colombian outfit, yet while Pekerman’s men attacked well in numbers, their finishing was disappointing.

Conclusion

Two games into this year’s Copa America, and the vast dissimilarity between both Brazil performances highlights the lack of balance throughout the squad. While Colombia defended well for lengthy spells of the match, the lack of cohesion and heavy reliance on Neymar’s dribbling for creativity was vivid.

This wasn’t a vintage Colombian performance, but here, Pekerman’s tactics were spot on. Four years ago, Sanchez negated Lionel Messi’s threat against Argentina, and his performance was equally impressive on Neymar. The Colombian midfielder continuously thwarted Neymar’s mazy dribbles, preventing Brazil from attacking their zones with pace.

When two teams nearly at the same skill level play identical systems, the outcome of the match is often determined by definitive margins. Colombia were rarely tested due to Sanchez’s impressive job on Neymar, and in a match with very few created chances, Pekerman’s men displayed an effective approach to defeat Brazil.

 

Brazil 1-7 Germany

Courtesy of Wikicommons/Steindy

Germany avenged their 2002 World Cup final loss by convincingly battering Brazil at Estadio Mineirao.

Luiz Felipe Scolari made three changes to his XI welcoming back Luiz Gustavo alongside Fernandinho in midfield, while Dante formed a centre-back duo with David Luiz, and Bernard replaced the injured Neymar.

Joachim Low named an unchanged XI.

Germany played to their strengths and scored four goals in a six-minute span in what proved to be relatively straightforward tactical battle.

Germany’s shape

One of the key aspects to Germany’s success in the first half was their shape out of possession. Low’s side dropped into a 4-1-4-1 without the ball with Sami Khedira pressing Luiz Gustavo, Toni Kroos tracking Paulinho, and Bastian Schweinsteiger monitoring Oscar’s movement.

With the German’s keeping close to the Brazilian midfield, the vacant centre-backs had no passing options available, and were forced to play direct. For the most part, Low’s side negated the host’s threat in midfield, and without midfield runners, and Fred upfront –– he’s not renowned for his pace –– the German back-line was free to play higher up the pitch.

Brazil encountered identical issues throughout the tournament, but relied on quick transitions to score goals, and with Neymar unavailable, it always felt that a moment of brilliance or execution from set pieces would be their solitary goal outlet.

Direct Brazil

Similar to previous matches in the tournament, David Luiz’s long diagonal balls were pivotal towards Brazil bypassing Germany’s pressing. Luiz was Brazil’s creative outlet in the first half playing diagonal balls into the front four and surging through midfield to feed Hulk; the winger’s distribution in the final third, however, was putrid. Defensively, Luiz struggled due to the lack of protection in midfield, but he was undoubtedly Brazil’s most creative player on the field.

Likewise, Germany’s pressing in midfield prevented Brazil’s chief creator from receiving the ball in advanced positions in the final third. Prior to the goal fest, Oscar was most influential when he dropped deeper into midfield to receive the ball and link play. Brazil’s best move was created in this manner, as Oscar combined with Fernandinho and Fred, thus leading to the ball being played into Marcelo in the box, but Philipp Lahm made a key tackle to halt their attack.

Germany’s pressing nullified Brazil’s attempt to play through midfield, and impeded Oscar’s role as the no.10, while Luiz’s deliveries and surging runs from defence served as the successful method in bypassing Low’s side.

Germany dominate right flank

In last year’s Confederations Cup, fullbacks Marcelo and Dani Alves played key roles in Brazil’s attack. The attack-minded fullbacks would surge into the final third, and their crosses from wide areas created several goals en route to the final. 12 months later, the former endured possibly the worst match of his career, while the latter was dropped for Maicon.

Germany’s dominance stemmed from Marcelo’s advanced positioning as Thomas Muller, Khedira and Lahm exploited this space in transition. This approach was evident from the opening minutes, and equally played a decisive role in the buildup to Germany’s opening goals.

First, Khedira stormed past Oscar and Fernandinho before playing the ball wide to Muller, and his cross to the far post saw Mesut Ozil return the favour to Khedira who fired his shot off Kroos. Then Marcelo conceded possession cheaply, and Khedira shrugged off Gustavo, thus playing in Muller who earned a corner following Marcelo’s recovery run. Muller side footed Germany into the lead from the ensuing corner kick.

On an interesting note, a similar incident occurred on the right flank with Schweinsteiger looping a ball into space in the left channel for Ozil, who ran past Luiz, but the Brazilian centre-back out-muscled the diminutive playmaker to retain possession. Still, the massacre on the right continued as Muller surged into space behind Marcelo who was caught out of possession once again, but Dante cleared his corner to award the Germans a throw-in; seconds later, Klose slid the ball past Julio Cesar to double Germany’s lead, following great passes from Muller and Kroos.

Finally, the build up to Germany’s third goal was also created down this flank, as Lahm surged forward to receive an exquisite pass from Ozil, and the right-back’s low-cross fell into the path of Kroos, who fired a powerful effort past Cesar. A year ago, this appeared to be the logical approach to adopt from a Brazilian standpoint, but the quality from the fullbacks in the final third was putrid, whereas Bernard and Hulk failed to track the runs of Lahm and Benedikt Howedes.

This was a logical plan executed brilliantly by Low’s side, and it was surprising that Scolari didn’t instruct the fullbacks to sit deeper, or his wingers to trackback.

Brief Brazilian fight back

Scolari made two changes at the interval, introducing Ramires and Paulinho, and transitioning into a 4-3-3. This was the system the Brazilian manager should have utilized from the opening whistle, and there was an immediate response at the start of the second half.

Germany retreated into their half, whereas Ramires played as the highest midfielder to help Fred lead the press, and surge forward into attack. Ramires and Paulinho’s powerful running posed a few issues for Low’s side, and forced Neuer into making key saves to deny the latter and Oscar.

Low reacted brilliantly, introducing Andre Schurrle for Klose and moving Muller in the centre-forward position. Now Germany possessed pace upfront, and they were favoured to create chances on the break as Brazil pushed numbers forward in the second half. Likewise, Schurrle scored two wonderful goals in the second half, halting any chance of a miraculous comeback.

Conclusion 

In what should have been a tight-affair between two prestigious international sides, Germany annihilated Brazil on home soil in a match that will be remembered for years to come.

This was a one-sided affair that saw Germany play to their strengths, and dominate nearly every aspect of the match. There were three factors to Germany’s success: they exploited space behind Marcelo, their pressing in midfield –– an approach various sides have utilized in this tournament against the hosts –– prevented Brazil from playing through midfield, and Scolari’s reluctance to play a 4-3-3, saw Germany’s wide players drift centrally to overload central areas.

Germany combined approaches that were unsuccessful against Scolari’s side in previous rounds, but their ruthlessness and execution in the final third proved decisive. Neymar and Thiago Silva were missed, but Scolari got his tactics wrong, and failed to react to Germany’s dominance in the opening half hour.

Under Scolari, Brazil’s biggest strength was their ability to win games, and how they react to this emphatic defeat will define whether this group of players is capable of making the next step in future competitions.

 

Brazil 3-1 Croatia

Courtesy of Flickr/Jose Martinez

Neymar scored twice as Brazil came from behind to defeat Croatia in the opening match at the World Cup.

Luiz Felipe Scolari fielded his expected starting XI with Fred leading the line ahead of Neymar, Oscar and Hulk. Luiz Gustavo and Paulinho started in the double-pivot.

Without the suspended Mario Mandzukic, Niko Kovac was forced to start Nikica Jelavic upfront ahead of Ivica Olic, Mateo Kovacic and Ivan Perisic. Talented midfielders Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic formed a midfield duo in Kovac’s 4-2-3-1.

Croatia enjoyed a positive opening 15 minutes before Oscar stamped his authority on the match. However, a poor decision by the referee tilted the momentum in Brazil’s favour, and the hosts dealt with Croatia’s late onslaught.

Croatia’s defensive approach

The key to Croatia’s shape in the opening minutes was partially based around their shape. Kovac’s decision to field three ball-playing midfielders led many to believe that Croatia would attempt to control the match. Croatia, however, maintained a medium defensive block, as they dropped into two banks of four without the ball.

Kovacic and Jelavic sat off the Brazilian centre backs and positioned themselves ahead of Luiz Gustavo and Paulinho to cut off passing lanes into midfield. The Brazilian duo was forced to play conservative passes into wide areas, and Kovac’s pragmatism ensured that Croatia negated one of Brazil’s main strengths.

Perisic and Olic – two wide forwards – tirelessly pressed Marcelo and Dani Alves and prevented the full-backs from pushing forward. Considering Marcelo and Dani Alves’ offensive impact in the Confederations Cup, Kovac’s decision to instruct his wingers to limit their threat was pivotal.

Croatia’s approach without the ball was logical, and equally effective in the opening period.

Croatia attacks

Croatia surprisingly took the lead in the opening 10 minutes courtesy of a Marcelo own goal, but the goal and a previous opportunity followed the same pattern.

Modric ignited the break from midfield before playing a pass to Perisic on the right flank, and the Croatian winger’s cross towards the back post saw Olic out jump Alves and steer his header inches wide of the post. Subsequently, Rakitic’s ball to Olic on the left flank led to Jelavic guiding the Croatian winger’s cross off Marcelo and into the net.

There was always space behind Alves and Marcelo as they continuously aimed to maraud forward, thus leading to the duo conceding possession and being caught out of position. Equally, Croatia aimed to use their wide players’ physical presence to outmuscle Brazil’s diminutive full-backs. Along with Olic’s early chance, Perisic received a cross from Jelavic, and out jumped Marcelo, but he guided his header directly at Julio Cesar.

Croatia’s intelligent midfielders quickly transitioned into attack when they won possession, and exploited the physical and positional deficiencies of the Brazilian full-backs.

Oscar

Scolari’s men were poor in the opening 15 minutes, and their shape was often disjointed when they were in possession. Brazil required a link between midfield and attack, as Neymar was forced to drop too deep to receive the ball, while the midfielders couldn’t facilitate passes towards the wide players and Fred.

Oscar’s start to the match was quite shaky, but he did play two good crosses into the box that shouldn’t be overlooked. The Brazilian continued to take advantage of Vrsaljko – who isn’t a natural left-back – by pushing the ball towards the byline to earn a corner and delivering a cross into the six-yard box that evaded both Neymar and Fred.

Most of Oscar’s play continued down the right; his curling effort following Neymar’s magic was pushed aside by Pletikosa, and he played a great ball into Paulinho between the lines, but the midfielder’s shot was saved by Pletikosa. Oscar usually moves to the right to create space for his teammates, but here he served as the link that Brazil required. Oscar was equally impressive on the defensive end as he protected his full-backs out of possession, and completed key tackles in midfield to halt Croatia’s breaks on the counterattack.

Likewise, the Chelsea man was involved in all three Brazilian goals. His persistence in a challenge against Rakitic and Modric enabled the Chelsea midfielder to break free and flick the ball to Neymar who opened the scoring. Oscar impressively ran past Vrsaljko and Marcelo Brozovic and played a great pass into Fred, which resulted in the referee harshly awarding a penalty to Brazil for Dejan Lovren’s non-foul on Fred. Lastly, Oscar received a loose ball and capped off his tremendous performance with a low shot past Pletikosa to double Brazil’s lead.

Oscar nearly created another goal from the right flank as his cross into the box to an unmarked David Luiz was steered wide of the net. Oscar was undoubtedly the best player on the field, and oddly it was from the right flank – a position he isn’t naturally accustomed to playing – as he was the catalyst in Brazil’s comeback with his deliveries from wide areas, clever passes, and tireless work rate.

The 22-year old displayed why many classify him as Brazil’s most important player.

Second half

Prior to Neymar’s controversial second goal, Brazil continued to struggle as a unit. Their passing tempo was vividly slow, and Croatia did a better job in attempting to nullify Oscar’s threat. Croatia dropped a bit deeper in the second half, but continued to exploit space behind Alves and Marcelo.

 

On a few occasions Olic and Perisic broke into space behind the full-backs, but their poor final ball was often cleared, and Thiago Silva and David Luiz made several timely last-ditch clearances and tackles. Perisic, in particular, enjoyed a good game with his admirable defending, reliable passing, along with his pace and power to drive forward down the flanks. Rakitic and Modric saw more of the ball in the second half as players tired. Oscar and Gustavo harried the latter in deep areas, and without Neymar closing down Rakitic, the Sevilla midfielder began to string positive passes forward.

The match lacked many clear-cut chances apart from the goals and the managers’ attempt to alter the match via substitutions were futile. Scolari’s decision to introduce Hernanes was logical – he’s a good passer of the ball and could quickly increase the passing tempo – but the Inter Milan midfielder was ineffective. Bernard’s direct threat injected energy but he didn’t offer much going forward, while Ramires’ short cameo led to Oscar’s third goal.

Marcelo Brozovic’s presence did offer another threat upfront, as he remained higher up the pitch, and although Ante Rebic offered mobility, he failed to influence the match.

The match opened up in the final 15 minutes with Neymar receiving plenty of space between the lines to drive forward, but Brazil didn’t test Pletikosa. Scolari’s men preferred to drop into their shape to preserve the lead, but Croatia’s persistence led to Modric and Perisic’s efforts from distance – that Cesar poorly dealt with — and Cesar’s controversial collision with Olic.

 Conclusion

Croatia will feel robbed of a potential point following an effective display prior to Neymar’s second goal. However, Oscar’s well-rounded performance along with Pletikosa’s poor goalkeeping also contributed to Brazil’s success on the night.

Kovac’s men did a great job without the ball in negating Brazil’s full-backs and equally exploiting space behind the attack-minded defenders, but they didn’t create enough chances and their final ball was poor.

This wasn’t a great Brazilian performance, but to some degree this is what to expect from Scolari’s men. Brazil is a highly functional side that may not play the most attractive football in the tournament, but they possess a quality that majority of the teams in the tournament lack.

They know how to win games.

 

The Champions League has surpassed the World Cup as the pinnacle of world football

Courtesy of Flickr/Arturo Miguel

Cities across the world will be in the midst of a soccer craze. Throughout June and July, bars and local pubs will hit capacity, the streets filled with passionate supporters, and plastic flags will be blowing in the wind.

Yes, it’s World Cup year.

Every four years, FIFA’s illustrious tournament brings people in unison to enjoy the global game. Hearts are broken, stars are born, and one country will gasp in glory –– obtaining bragging rights as World Champion for the ensuing four years.

This is arguably the ultimate sporting event.

In 2010, 700 million viewers tuned into the World Cup finals between Spain and Holland, while approximately 3.2 billion watched at least one match in the tournament.

In a few weeks, eyes worldwide will be set on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. It’s not like the duo are unfamiliar with the attention, but the increased expectancy to dominate in Brazil will be instilled, especially with both failing to match irrational targets for their national squads in previous years.

The two superstars are undeniably the best players of our generation; some can argue that they will be the best to ever play the game. Their consistency, goals per-game ratio, and ability to perform under heaps of pressure are astonishing for their clubs, but many have harshly lambasted the duo for lesser performances on the international stage.

The World Cup may be the largest sporting event based on viewership, but is it still the pinnacle soccer event?

Currently, top players in the past who have claimed World Cup success are put in a separate category to those still searching for international glory. But with the vast changes in the modern game regarding transfer fees, wages, and the physical demands of playing for club and country, players would prefer to prolong their club career, rather than endure a career-impeding burnout.

On average, the top-sides play 50-60 games a season; when you include friendlies and international tournaments, the aforementioned numbers incline. Last season, Chelsea playmaker Oscar played 71 games, and he’s currently featured in 56 since the start of the new campaign. Xavi Hernandez, a key cog in Spain’s international success over the six years, has appeared in a minimum 55 games per season, thus highlighting the physical demands of a modern day soccer player.

With the World Cup held in the summer –– after an excruciating club season –– players enter the tournament fatigued, and often find it difficult to reach their best form. In retrospect, the UEFA Champions League is an 11-month marathon –– when you include the qualifying rounds –– in which teams have an entire season to derive a well thought-out plan to claim European glory and maintain energy levels; simply it’s a larger measuring tool opposed to seven games within a month. Managers are able to turn to the market and build a team that suits their philosophy, whereas international managers are forced to work with the players at their disposal.

Ahead of the 2010 Champions League final between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich, Jose Mourinho stated his thoughts on the European tournament.

“This game is the most important in the world,” Mourinho said. “It is even bigger than the World Cup because the teams in it are at a higher level than national teams, who can’t buy the best players. If you hold it to be important, you have to transmit that to the players.

With that being said, Mourinho’s acknowledgement of the best players featuring in the Champions League was factual. The World Cup’s four-year gap has slowly become a nuisance, opposed to a timely feat focused on the significance of the tournament.

Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, also agreed that the Champions League has surpassed the World Cup.

“I always said that club football is better than national team football, by far,” Wenger told Arsenal.com

“You have the best players from any country in the national team. In any big club you have the best players of all the countries in the world. It’s as simple as that.”

This year’s World Cup will be missing a few star performers, which inhibits the overall quality of the tournament. The likes of Gareth Bale, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robert Lewandowski, David Alaba and Arda Turan won’t feature in Brazil this summer, yet the aforesaid men were prominent figures in the Champions League knockout rounds.

The average career of a professional soccer player has decreased over the years, which explains why many have focused on achieving European glory.

Now the best players are moving to the biggest clubs in the world to increase their chances of winning the Champions League; the tournament has slowly become a goal that every player aspires to achieve.

In the past, former Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, shared his thoughts on the rise of the Champions League.

“The Champions League is the best competition in the world now, better than the World Cup, better than the European Championships; it’s a fantastic tournament,” Ferguson said.

“Have you seen the last six World Cups? It is better going to the dentist, I suppose.”

While both tournaments are a drab during the group-stages, there’s a vast difference between the two in the knockout rounds. The Champions League two-legged knockout set-up enables a variety of approaches, and challenges managers tactically, especially with the away goal rule.

The World Cup, on the other hand, has faced its critics in the past due to amount of conservatism in the latter stages. Look no further than Spain’s success under Vicente del Bosque –– they have yet to concede in the knockout round during his reign, and average a solitary goal per game. Del Bosque’s approach is logical, but in terms of overall quality and excitement their fixtures have been tedious.

Ronaldo and Messi have already achieved European glory –– the former once, while the latter has claimed three –– and despite not replicating their imperious form on an international stage, both men have produced sensational performances on numerous occasions. If they continue to maintain the consistency that’s elevated them into elite players, there’s no question that the duo will be put in the same conversation as Diego Maradona and Pele, regardless of their international shortcomings.

Perhaps the World Cup may be the largest sporting event in the world, but it is no longer soccer’s most prestigious tournament.

The Champions League provides a platform for the best players and managers to showcase their talents on a yearly basis to a global audience. The level of play is higher, the best players feature on a consistent basis, and the competition is stiff.

The days of defining a player’s career based on their international success are over.

 

Eden Hazard has developed into Chelsea’s most valuable player

Courtesy of Flickr/sbo9

 

Of the many issues that transpire throughout modern-day football, the inflated transfer market may top the list. Whether they’ve overpaid for established talent, promising youth, or a player on his last limb, Chelsea Football Club has been heavily scrutinized over their transfer activity since Roman Abramovich’s arrival in 2003.

Through the Andre Villas-Boas and Roberto Di Matteo era, Abramovich realized the squad required an overhaul to rebuild the dynasty he initially created. Change was imminent, and Abramovich invested in promising young talent across the world. Juan Mata was signed during the Villas-Boas era, and was the key creative cog throughout Chelsea’s 2011/2012 dismal campaign, which surprisingly led to a Champions League triumph.

The following summer showcased the progression of Chelsea’s evolution in which they acquired the unknown, frail, Oscar, and a Belgian talent that was too good to pass up. Once hailed as the ‘new Messi’, Eden Hazard’s sleek movement, diminutive figure, and prolific skill were the main reasons why both Manchester clubs sought after the young starlet – but his heart was elsewhere.

It’s a bit surreal to know that an unproven 21-year-old soccer player kept an entire continent in suspense. But this was not a rarity to any human being that has followed sports over the past decade. It was only two years prior when LeBron James – the best basketball player of our generation – took to primetime to state “he’s taking his talents to South Beach.”

This situation was different – Eden Hazard was not a world-class player, nor was he being sold for a world-record transfer fee, yet the young Belgian’s future was placed on a pedestal. He didn’t jump in front of cameras, or have his announcement constantly advertised on national television. Instead, the Belgian took to social media and declared that he would be joining the “2012 Champions League winners” – West London would be his new home.

Football has always played a relevant role in the Hazard household. Eden, and his three brothers followed in his parents – Thierry and Carine’s – footsteps. Thierry played at the amateur level in Belgium, whereas his mother was a striker in Belgium’s women’s league. Shockingly, Hazard was playing football before he stepped foot on earth, as Carine extended her career with representative side Manage, during the first three months of Eden’s pregnancy.

Hazard expressed the desire to play the sport his parents enjoyed at a very young age, and it didn’t take long for coaches around Europe to identify his natural talent. Royal Stade Brainois football club general manager, Pascal Delmoitiez, was the first to see a knee-high, scrawny, bare footed Hazard. The Belgian’s talent was undeniable – he took advantage of the football pitch minutes away from his house, and Brainois president Alain Pauly was full of praise for the young wizard.

“You could tell straight away that Eden was special. He was a superhero for his team from the start and he has been a superhero ever since,” Pauly said.

“The teams Eden played for at our club would win 5-0, 6-0 or 7-0 and Eden would always score four or five of the goals. It was not fair really because he was too good.”

Hazard was always the main man, but a move to Chelsea presented a new challenge for the Belgian. No longer was he a “big fish in a small pond,” the Belgian was irrationally expected to make an immediate impact in the Premier League, and he was presented the eyes of millions to do so. But, despite the quick intricate passing, flashy skill, and the jaw dropping runs down the left flank, Hazard endured a streaky first season in England.

The Belgian lacked a cutting edge in the final third, while his defensive work was exposed against the likes of Manchester United and Shakhtar Donetsk, thus leading to Di Matteo’s sacking. At 22-years-old, Hazard consistently faded out of matches, and he dominated headlines worldwide for kicking a ball boy at Swansea; the Belgian’s road to stardom hit a rough patch.

Nonetheless, Hazard was still in the process of finding himself – while Rafa Benitez’s short-term tenure saw positive improvements towards the end of last season, it was Jose Mourinho’s return that brought the Belgian to the next level.

“He’s spoken to us all and told us all what he wants from us. He told me to be ambitious with my game, to try things and that I can do something special this year,” Hazard said during pre-season.

Mourinho is known for enhancing the performances of his players, ultimately turning them into world-beaters, and with so many young promising talent at his disposal, the chances of the Portuguese manager replicating this feat was high. Yet, Chelsea’s mediocre performances at the early half of the season had many questioning  Mourinho’s ability to succeed at the highest level, following his diabolical final season at Real Madrid.

In particular, Hazard’s performances began to elevate after being dropped in Chelsea’s 3-0 win against Schalke in the Champions League. The Belgian reportedly failed to return back to England for training – as he missed his scheduled train – after watching his former side Lille battle Monaco, which infuriated Mourinho. “That’s the end of story. He’s a kid. Kids make mistakes and fathers have to be clever in the way they educate their sons. He didn’t play. He wanted to play. He was sad because he didn’t play. We won without him. On Saturday, he is back. So, end of story,” Mourinho said.

Since being omitted from the first team, Hazard scored a sensational goal against Liverpool, a penalty at the final whistle against West Brom to preserve Mourinho’s home streak, and produced magnificent performances at Sunderland and Hull City. The Belgian is slowly developing the efficiency and consistency required to be a top-class European player, and on the defensive end he tirelessly protects his fullback, displaying the tactical discipline he lacked last season.

The abundance of attacking players at Stamford Bridge hasn’t bothered Hazard, as he’s slowly coming into is own. The confidence oozes out of his veins with every touch, fear is quickly shown when he glides across the final third, and the Belgian has slowly made a functional Chelsea side his platform to silence the cynics.

Statistically, Hazard’s game has elevated as he’s transformed into one of the best players in the league. He’s created the most chances in the league (52), and is currently Chelsea’s leading goalscorer, matching the tally he recorded last season (9). David Silva, Mesut Ozil, Luis Suarez and Robert Snodgrass only better Hazard’s 2.4 key passes per game, and the Belgian averages 3.5 successful dribbles.

“Eden can become one of the best players in the world. Now he sees his football and profession with different eyes,” Mourinho said. “Everyone knows he is a talented player, that he was that when he arrived here. But now he is trying to go to a different level, we are helping him and he is doing it step by step. Hopefully, the big talent can transform himself into the big player.”

Perhaps, Chelsea’s league position can be stemmed to Hazard, who’s been the Blues’ most consistent performer this season. With every attack Mourinho’s side aim to get the ball onto the Belgian’s feet – more so, he’s transformed into Chelsea’s go-to-guy.

Hazard moved to England to establish himself as a top player, and at the age of 23 he’s in contention to win the Premier League, Champions League, and play an integral role in Belgium’s World Cup campaign this summer. The sky is the limit for Hazard, and under Mourinho’s guidance he has the potential to become one of the best players in the world.

 

2 Guys and a MIKE – World Cup Draw Vodcast December 8th

Courtesy of: Christophe Badoux

On the debut of the 2 Guys and a Mike vodcast, Tyrrell Meertins and Mike the Mod breakdown the World Cup Draw that took place Friday afternoon.

 

Three Things: Basel 1 – 0 Chelsea

Stamford Bridge rang out in jeers. Chelsea had lost their second consecutive match, this time in front of their home supporters, as animosity drifted around the stadium. It was only September, and the West London side looked to be heading down a familiar cycle. The pressure was rising, as a club of Chelsea’s stature couldn’t afford to crash out of the group stage under their newly-appointed manager.

Subsequently, Chelsea went on a fantastic run, losing only once over the last two months, and climbing to the top of their Champions League group. The results displayed a gradual improvement under Mourinho, who is desperate to win silverware and a trip to Basel was the ideal occasion to make that statement.

A win for the West London club would secure qualification, but the Swiss side also required maximum points to keep their European campaign alive. Here are three observations on Basel’s historic victory against Chelsea.

Basel attack wide areas

It was an unexpected onslaught.  Basel was on the attack from the first minute and Chelsea couldn’t cope. They pegged Mourinho’s men into their own half, searching for an opening in the final third. The Swiss side was unfortunate not to take the lead on several occasions, as Petr Cech made numerous top-class saves to keep his side in the match.

Yet, Chelsea were the opposite – they were sloppy in possession, and their slow buildup didn’t help the cause. Their main outlet in the first half was right back Branislav Ivanovic, who earned his side a corner, and provided a scintillating cross for Samuel Eto’o, but he was unable to connect with the Serbian’s cross.

Apart from that chance, Chelsea were lethargic. Eto’o was practically an isolated figure upfront, Willian provided glimpses of brilliance – barring his final ball – and Oscar also failed to have an impact on the matches. Eto’o ‘s quiet night came to a halt in the 42^nd minute, when the Cameroonian striker was stretchered off the pitch due to injury, thus leading to Fernando Torres’ appearance.

While Chelsea struggled to push forward as a unit, Basel found openings to exploit. Despite Willian and Oscar adequately tracking back to protect their fullbacks, Mohamed Salah and Valentin Stocker enjoyed space in wide areas. Chelsea’s fullbacks sat narrow when defending, and they were forced to come of position to close the wingers down.

Basel’s wide men made runs behind the Chelsea fullbacks when possible – particularly they were dangerous on the break, as Ivanovic and Azpilicueta were caught out in narrow positions, which invited Basel’s wide players to push forward.

 

Coincidentally, a mixture of pushing too many men in advanced areas, and their narrow positioning led to Salah’s winner. Fabian Schar played an exceptional cross-field pass behind Ivanovic, and Salah ran onto it, brushed off the Serbian and beat Cech at the far post. The warning signs were evident, and it was shocking to see Mourinho ignore this feat, considering the joy Basel were having down both flanks.

Similar to the first meeting at Stamford Bridge, Basel’s wide men played a pivotal role in their well-deserved victory, as Salah and Stocker terrorized Chelsea’s defence.

Hazard and Torres impact

There was no significant improvement from the Blues at the start of the second half, which forced Mourinho to introduce Eden Hazard for the unimpressive Oscar. Chelsea was dismal in the final third – they didn’t test Yann Sommer, as the Blues only recorded one shot over the course of 90 minutes.

 

From an attacking perspective, Hazard and Torres’ introduction led to a gradual improvement in Chelsea’s activity around the final third. The Chelsea duo provided a direct element of attack that away side lacked in the first half – as Willian’s tracking forced him to start from deeper positions, and Chelsea’s passing was dire.

Hazard and Torres combined well around the 18-yard box, and their will to take defenders on from deep positions, opened up space for Chelsea’s midfielders to attack. Mourinho’s men got into a great position in the 60^th minute, when Hazard and Torres combined, thus opening up a shooting lane for the Belgian, but he opted to played a well-weighed pass out wide to Ramires, but the Brazilian’s first touch was abysmal.

Both men have been scrutinized in the past for uninspiring performances in a blue shirt, but they drove Chelsea into dangerous positions in the final third. Chelsea’s display was dire, but Torres and Hazard provided glimpses of brilliance that gave Blues supporters a glimmer of hope.

Chelsea need more than a striker

There’s been a constant shout for Chelsea to add a world-class striker to their squad in January, but the West London side shouldn’t overlook the other issues they possess. Mourinho opted to stick with the same three-man midfield that was successful at West Ham over the weekend.

“We go through because Schalke didn’t get a result, and that is not the same. I can only find one reason for the performance, and I saw signs of it from the first minute: my team were tired. We paid the price today of the international week, and from the game against West Ham where we had put in an outstanding performance,” Mourinho said.

“We paid the price today of the international week, and from the game against West Ham where we had put in an outstanding performance. But we made a big mistake in the first second of this game, immediately, and after that we made mistakes defensively, with the ball, lost easy passes, lost the ball, and we finished with a ridiculous goal,” he added. 

Chelsea’s midfield trio was constantly being overrun in midfield – Basel’s attacking three effortlessly skipped past Mourinho’s men in midfield and found it considerably easy to receive the ball between the lines. Lampard was out of breath chasing shadows, as he struggled to complete the full 90 – seemingly, the Englishman can no longer handle two games in a week. Ramires has failed to reach the heights of the past two seasons, as he wandered around midfield bewildered, conceding possession easily, and albeit finding good positions in the final third, his poor touches let his side down.

Mourinho’s limited midfield trio withholds individual duties – Mikel protects the back four and ensures Chelsea sustain possession, while Lampard and Ramires push forward, but this leaves Chelsea vulnerable to counter-attacks, as their midfield often lacked structure. Frankly, besides making runs into the box – which is slowly becoming ineffective – Lampard doesn’t offer much going forward.

Chelsea’s weak area is in midfield – they lack a player that can dictate the tempo of the match, and provide positive forward passes. Likewise, in the double-pivot, Mourinho’s reluctance to play Mikel and Ramires together often leads to the Brazilian playing in a deeper role – which hinders his strengths.

Chelsea’s intent to sign a world-class striker is vindicated, but as the season wears on, the Blues will continue to suffer if quality personnel aren’t added to a feeble midfield.

Conclusion

Basel were worthy winners on the night – the Swiss side exposed Chelsea’s weaknesses in midfield and down the flanks, and they were organized when the away side held possession.

In particular, Fabian Schar was exceptional – exceeding expectation on the defensive end, and providing a winner for Salah to win the match.

“After our great display in the first half we realized we could get a result. It obviously helped us that Chelsea wanted to play football themselves and not just sit deep. This allowed us to find gaps. To beat Chelsea twice is historic for this club,” Yakin said. 

“We had situations to score but had bad control, no sharpness. The team was tired. When the team is tired, defensive and attacking mistakes can happen, and you concede goals that you never normally concede. But Basel deserved the bonus. They were the better team,” Mourinho said.

Chelsea qualified for the round of 16 in an uninspiring manner, as Mourinho blamed the poor display down to fatigue and lack of squad rotation. Ultimately, the result, along with the performance was inexcusable – his men were poor on the night, they lacked invention, guile, structure and a proper game plan. Simply, Mourinho’s tactics were dire, and life at Chelsea won’t get easier until he improves the midfield, and provides another offensive dimension.

 

2 Guys and a MIKE – Weekly Roundup Podcast November 20th

Courtesy of Fanny Schertzer

This week on 2 Guys and a Mike, Tyrrell Meertins and Hugo V breakdown World Cup qualifying playoffs, Ballon d’Or and they touch on Southampton and David Moyes.

 

Croatia 1-2 Belgium

Belgium booked a spot in the 2014 World Cup, courtesy of a Romelu Lukaku first half brace.

Igor Stimac was bold with his team selection, opting to align his side in a 3-4-2-1. Mario Mandzukic led the line ahead of Ivan Rakitic and Ivan Perisic. Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic played in midfield, while Sime Vrsaljko and Ivan Strinic operated as wingbacks.

Marc Wilmots preferred to assemble his side in a 4-2-3-1 with Romelu Lukaku leading the line. Marouane Fellaini, Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne played behind the Everton striker, while Axel Witsel and Steven Defour played in the double pivot.

This was a mature Belgian performance that nearly backfired – Wilmot’s men were exceptional on the break in the first half, whereas they sat deeper in the second, allowing Croatia to grow into the match.

Belgium without the ball

Croatia trailed the Belgians for 83 minutes, despite finishing the match with 58% possession, and their shape without the ball was integral towards their success. Wilmots’ men dropped into a 4-5-1 in their own half aiming to maintain a compact shape.

Although Stimac’s men can be held accountable for their lack of productivity in the final third, the Belgians were organized, and deprived the Croatians space near their goal. Specifically, the work from Defour and Fellaini was admirable. Both men – with occasional help from Witsel – stayed close to Kovacic and Modric, preventing them from influencing the match. The Croatian midfield duo were marked well and forced to operate in deeper positions spreading sideways passes, and that was down to the tactical discipline of Fellaini and Defour.

Belgium was content with Croatia maintaining possession of the ball, because they nullified their two creators, and Stimac’s men struggled to push forward without them.

0-1

Lukaku stole the headlines scoring both of Belgium’s goals, and although both finishes were class, the Everton striker didn’t produce a great performance. In fairness, Lukaku’s presence alone was a threat to a slow Croatian back three.

Nevertheless, both goals displayed Belgium’s ability to transition from defence to attack in seconds. In the 15th minute, Defour intercepted a poor pass from Perisic at the halfway line, and quickly played a defence-splitting pass to set Lukaku clear on goal. The Belgian striker’s pace saw him run past the Croatian defence and round Stipe Pletikosa, to hand Wilmots’ men the lead.

Croatia wingbacks push forward

An interesting feat in Croatia’s attack was their success in wide areas. Strinic and Vrsaljko often ventured forward attacking the space behind Hazard and De Bruyne. Besides Strinic and Vrsaljko’s forward runs, Croatia lacked penetration, along with any significant threat in the final third.

Strinic surged forward driving at the Belgian midfield and backline, but the Croatian wingback lacked support from his teammates, a final ball, and his decision making was poor. The Croatian wingback did create Croatia’s best chance in the final moments of the first half when he drove forward and delivered a cross to Mandzukic, but Courtois made a good save to maintain his clean sheet.

Opposed to making penetrating runs, Vrsaljko opted to provide crosses into the box. Unfortunately for Croatia, Vrsaljko completed one of a total 12 crosses throughout the match. It was a poor first half performance from Stimac’s men, and they failed to capitalize on their freedom in wide areas.

0-2

A main concern Croatia encountered was the pace of their back three – and in the 38^th minute Lukaku added to his tally. It must be said that it was a strange decision by Stimac, based on the type of attackers the Belgian’s possess – pacy players that thrive on the counter attack.

More so, there was no surprise to see Lukaku run past the Croatian defence – specifically Kovacic – to beat Pletikosa. This time Croatia failed to make the most of a quick set-piece, and De Bruyne and Witsel cleverly worked the ball up to Lukaku. The Belgian striker dodged a challenge and was on a clear breakaway from half, and he confidently slotted his shot past Pletikosa.

Both goals highlighted Croatia’s lack of pace in defence – many will question Stimac’s decision to play a sluggish back three against a pacy Belgium side, but also praise Wilmots’ men for turning defence into attack so efficiently.

Substitutions

Croatia was down two goals at home and changes were imminent, so it was interesting to see how Stimac would attempt to alter the match.

The Croatian manager kept his initial shape, but sacrificed Rakitic and Perisic for Nikola Kalinic and Niko Kranjcar – Stimac also replaced the ineffective Kovacic for Ognjen Vukojevic. These changes were logical because they provided a scoring threat in the final third, but also presented the link between midfield and attack that Stimac’s men severely lacked in the first half. To be fair, Stimac’s changes should’ve come earlier because Croatia improved in the second half.

Wilmots was more conservative with his changes, as he knew Croatia needed to score three times to prevent automatic qualification. Nacer Chadli and Kevin Mirallas freshened up the attack, while Dembele came on in the final minutes to help maintain possession and secure the three points.

In particular, Stimac’s substitutions had an impact on the match, but the changes both managers made displayed their approach towards the second half.

Croatia grow into the match

As stated earlier, Croatia significantly improved in the second half, but it was slightly down to Belgium’s complacent approach. Wilmots’ men dropped deeper towards their goal in the second half, and pushed fewer men forward.

A key feat in Stimac’s second half approach was Kalinic – who played his role better than Perisic. Again, tired legs could have affected the Belgians, but Kalinic began to drift between the lines and receive the ball in key areas throughout the final third. Also, the pressing on Modric decreased, and he had brief spells were he drove forward. It’s key to point out that Domagoj Vida began to facilitate play as an extra ball provider, along with making brave runs forward to help push his side forward.

For all their hard work in the second half, Stimac’s men were awarded in the 83^rd minute when Vida pushed forward and delivered a good cross – unlike Vrsaljko – into the box. Kalinic met the delivery and was denied by Thibaut Courtois, but the Belgians failed to clear their lines and Kranjcar lashed a venomous shot into the left corner. The goal highlighted the positive feats in Croatia’s second half performance – a quality cross from the flank, and forward runs made into the box from the two attackers behind Mandzukic.

Croatia progressively improved in the second half – despite Belgium’s complacent second half approach – but it’s shocking that Stimac waited so long to make the required changes needed to claw back into the match.

Conclusion

Belgium stuck to Wilmots’ approach and survived a late Croatian resurgence – organized defending and quick transitions gave the visitors an early two-goal advantage and they intended on protecting their lead in the second half.

On the other hand, Croatia looks destined for a two-legged playoff tie in a few months, but they face a few issues going forward. As of late, they’ve lacked cohesion going forward, the distance between the double-pivot and attackers has been too large, and Mandzukic has been left isolated.

It’s an issue that Stimac needs to address going forward, because Croatia isn’t scoring enough goals or creating enough chances to win matches – which could prevent them from featuring in next summer’s World Cup.

 

Paraguay 2-5 Argentina

Argentina secured a spot in the 2014 World Cup with a convincing victory against Paraguay.

Alejandro Sabella aligned his side in a 4-3-3 with Lionel Messi, Rodrigo Palacio and Sergio Aguero leading the line. Fernando Gago, Angel Di Maria and Lucas Biglia formed a midfield trio, while Fabricio Coloccini formed a centre back partnership with Hugo Campagnaro.

Victor Genes opted to play in a risky 3-4-1-2 that saw Roque Santa Cruz and Jose Nunez form an attacking duo ahead of Jonathan Fabbro. Miguel Samudio and Victor Ayala played as wingbacks, while Cristian Riveros and Richard Ortiz were instructed to play deeper roles in midfield.

Argentina capitalized on Paraguay’s poor shape without the ball – blitzing the hosts on quick counter attacks – which gifted them a spot in next year’s World Cup, albeit producing a mediocre performance.

Shape

The general football fan often overlooks the importance of one’s defensive shape without the ball. Matches are usually blamed on a sole defensive error, or the vast gulf in class of the opposition. But as the modern game continues to evolve, the significance of a team’s shape without the ball becomes vital.

An interesting feat in this match was the naïve approach both sides maintained when they dropped into their shape. Sabella’s men often dropped deep, with the front three roaming higher up the pitch waiting to break on the counter – but despite it being successful, it was an odd decision for Sabella to make. Di Maria and Gago often drifted into wide areas to support the full backs, but it left the centre of the pitch vulnerable. Argentina’s attacking three were instructed to press the three centre backs when they tried to play from the back, but there was still loads of space to penetrate, and if this approach is replicated, a stronger side will do so.

Despite Argentina’s questionable shape, Sabella’s men possessed a competent threat on the counter attack . But Paraguay didn’t have the same luxury in their attack, which meant any attempt to replicate Argentina’s risky approach could open up gaps of space in their third. Paraguay failed to press the Argentinian’s when they were in possession, and they failed to keep a compact shape. The gaps between defence and midfield, along with midfield and attack were large, thus benefitting Sabella’s men on the attack – in particular Messi. Messi constantly dropped into midfield to pull defenders out of position, stamp his authority in central areas and provide Aguero and Palacio with service going forward.

In fairness, neither side looked phenomenal without the ball – the difference being Argentina’s shape had some sort of structure – but Paraguay looked disorganized an unbalanced when Argentina was in possession.

Paraguay’s front three

Although Paraguay’s shape was woeful, their front three did manage to trouble the Argentina backline. Each player was given distinct roles to play, and the balance in the attack was excellent. Santa Cruz drifted into wide areas to combine with the wingbacks, and he also made runs into the channels that offered Paraguay a substantial direct option.

Along with running the channels, Nunez operated around the edge of the box, but he preferred to stay near Coloccini and make runs off his shoulder. It was a compelling battle, and although Coloccini often got the better of the Paraguayan striker, Nunez did beat the Argentinian defender to Samudio’s cross to level the match, early in the first half. Of the three, Fabbro looked threatening in the final third. As the first half continued, the Paraguayan midfielder located pockets of space in midfield to drift into, played several incisive passes in the final third, and was determined to find gaps in the Argentinian defence to play penetrating balls.

Paraguay’s attack was lively in the first half – although they could’ve created more chances – but the midfield’s inability to take control of the match, limited the threat they’re capable of imposing.

Samudio’s width

Another interesting feat regarding Paraguay’s attack was the importance of Samudio. The Paraguayan wingback was eager to get into advanced positions, prior to the front three having an impact on the match. With Pablo Zabaleta also interested in pushing forward, along with his narrow positioning throughout the match, it was a logical for Samudio to attack the space.

Samudio provided assists for both goals, which highlighted his significance in Paraguay’s attack. Santa Cruz drifted wide and held up the ball, for the advancing wingback, who played in a lovely cross to Nunez for the first goal. Towards the end of the match, Samudio contributed to the second goal by attacking the space behind Zabaleta, to provide a cross for Santa Cruz to nod into the back of the net.

Samudio had a significant impact on the match, and could’ve given Argentina more problems down the left flank, but Paraguay’s inability to sustain possession led to their downfall.

Argentina exploit space

Sabella’s men failed to dictate the match in terms of possession – despite not being pressured, their midfield had trouble retaining possession, playing several misplaced passes. This was the main reason why Messi dropped so deep throughout the match, and when he did, Argentina always made positive moves forward. Their three attackers sat higher up the pitch and the gap between midfield was enormous, which explains why they heavily relied on quick breaks to threaten the Paraguayan back line.

But with Paraguay pushing numbers forward, this left Aguero, Palacio, Messi and Di Maria – who pushed forward swiftly – free to attack the Paraguayan centrebacks. Three of Argentina’s goals stemmed from Paraguay being stretched on the counter attack. Simple balls over the top led to the two penalty calls, whereas Messi combined well with Gago who played a delightful ball to the onrushing Di Maria, for Argentina’s third goal.

Argentina didn’t need to dictate possession – although Sabella and many supporters expected them too – because of Genes’ naïve tactical approach.

Conclusion

Argentina’s performance was far from spectacular, but the threat they posed on the counter attack merited a victory. Paraguay’s reluctance to keep a compact shape and attack cautiously led to their downfall, adding to another disappointing loss in their qualifying campaign.

Genes’ front three were efficient, but they rarely received service, despite having a fair share of possession. With Messi dropping into midfield, Paraguay relied on Samudio’s width – which created two goals – as it was their only source of creativity once Fabbro departed at half time.

Sabella’s approach shouldn’t be overlooked as they took advantage of Paraguay’s deficiencies, but their defensive approach was inexcusable – especially from a team of their calibre. Argentina will head into next year’s World Cup as potential favourites, but performances of this nature will diminish their hopes of rising to the occasion for the third time.