Despite Argentina’s continued title defense and another victory against Cape Verde, their performance has raised questions amongst analysts about their ability to secure wins without difficulty.
In an analysis published by The Athletic – a sports website affiliated with The New York Times – British writer Michael Cox said that Argentina’s main problem lies in their inability to finish matches early.
The team consistently repeats the same scenario: taking the lead, then retreating and allowing their opponents a chance to come back, before finally managing to regain control with difficulty.
The analysis recalled the 2022 Qatar World Cup, when Argentina squandered a lead against Saudi Arabia and lost 2-1.
They then nearly exited the tournament against the Netherlands after throwing away a two-goal advantage and were forced to win on penalties.
They experienced a similar scenario in the final against France, twice losing their lead before narrowly clinching the title.
Furthermore, they struggled against Australia in the round of 16.
Cox pointed out that the recent match against Cape Verde mirrored the previous scenario; Argentina took the lead three times, only to allow their opponents to equalize twice.
In the final minutes, they were forced to rely on the skill of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to prevent a third goal that would have taken the game to extra time.
Reasons for Argentina’s struggles
The analysis explained that one reason for this struggle is the Argentinian team’s attempt to conserve their physical energy in preparation for the upcoming rounds, especially since this World Cup includes five knockout matches.
This leads the players to slow down at certain times, but this approach often results in a loss of focus, allowing the opponent to get back into the game, thus doubling the effort required instead of conserving it.
Cox adds that Argentina’s attacking style lacks the necessary speed on counter-attacks to punish opponents when they push forward, and that Lionel Messi’s advancing age makes him less capable of leading quick counter-attacks, while striker Lautaro Martinez is forced to perform significant defensive duties instead of staying forward to exploit spaces.
After the match, coach Lionel Scaloni admitted that his team suffered painful blows.
He emphasized that the coaching staff did not expect an easy match, despite many believing that Cape Verde’s game would have be within Argentina’s grasp.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
