There’s a lot at stake for the Albiceleste tonight. After reaching the semi-finals for the first time since 1990 (24 years is a long time!), the Argentine team is to face the fast and furious Dutch team in a clash that will take one team to the final and relegate the other to fight it out for a consolatory third place. With Argentina having to fight it out to score in nearly every match pitched against the Dutch team, the odds look formidable.
It’s time for Barcelona man Lionel Messi to put the bad words to rest once and for all and prove that he is as adept at his game on the world stage as he is for his club. He is lagging behind in his race for the Golden Boot what with Columbia’s Rodriguez and Germany’s Muller having scored 6 goals apiece this tournament. He is, however, been instrumental in getting his team to the semis and it can be said with some confidence that the absence of that one man could have had a hugely negative impact on the Argentina team. His goals against Bosnia, the extremely tough Iran and then the two beautifully executed shots against Nigeria allowed his team to emerge top of the group stage. He was the reason for di Maria’s goal against Switzerland as well. It would be better if Messi opened the match tonight as a right winger, a position he has shown to play best. This allows him to cut in from the right and shoot with his left, a tactic that has resulted in many a victory for him at Barcelona.
Sergio Aguero has returned to Argentina at a very crucial time. With di Maria out of the semi-final game for sure, the team definitely needs to pull all stops if they are to make it to the finals. It does not make sense to play the freshly-healed man full-time but it would be encouraging if he could open with the starting eleven. The Man City man has a good partnership with Messi and functions as an important playmaker for the team.
Messi and Aguero practice over a fence during Argentina team training.
Players such as Lavezzi and Palaccio could be used in place of Aguero as well, but they have proven more effective as short duration substitutes. What is very crucial for tonight’s match is for the Argentine defence to be on full throttle. Players like Zabaleta and Rojo have really shone this time and their contribution will be essential to stave off the Oranje’s thirst for revenge and enable the Albiceleste to perhaps play in the final against Germany.
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