Thread by @pythaginboots

Argentina v France • Tactical Preview [THREAD]

➡️ Scaloni go 3-5-2/4-3-3/4-4-2?
➡️ Target Theo or protect against Mbappe?
➡️ Can Alvarez hurt Varane or will Kounde/Konate help
➡️ Paredes could help Enzo against Griezmann...

#WorldCupFinal #WorldCup #ArgentinaVsFrance #Messi𓃵

The formation is any ones guess, Scaloni has not repeated his formation or lineup since the start of the tournament. He is the Tinkerman of the World Cup but more often than not, he gets the big calls right...

Can Tchouameni mark Messi?

Tchouameni took Bellingham out of the game in their titanic battle in the quarter finals but patrolling the area Messi operates in is a different level of tactical understanding.

Whilst I did not think he could be a sole cdm, he has shown accelerated progress at Real Madrid and this would be the perfect game to prove he has what it takes to be this generation's leading CDM talent... Messi will be thinking otherwise.

Against Morocco, Theo Hernandez proved he can be a world class threat going forwards - that was never in dispute, but defensively he is a liability. Unfortunately Ziyech did not really have the pace to punish the Frenchman but there were a number of occasions...

Where Ounahi, Hakimi and Ziyech played triangles and exploited his lack of positional play.

Do Argentina bring on Di Maria as a sub, or look to punish Theo from the off? He has the two way game to nullify and hurt Theo.

The alternative option is to stick with the lineup used against Croatia and use the likes of De Paul and Mac Allister to protect against the dual threat of Dembele and Mbappe.

Argentina's full backs are just as vulnerable as Theo and ideally they need protection. But would this approach leave Messi isolated in attack? Will France be as naive defending the counter against Alvarez?

Alvarez destroyed Lovren in their semi final encounter. He comes up against another ageing full back in Varane.

However Varane has protection in the form of Kounde down one side and Konate - who has superior big match credentials to Gvardiol.

This makes this a much tougher defence to break down and poses a question... can Scaloni really drop deep and just rely on his deadly duo to wreak havoc?

Another positive to having 4 midfielders rather than putting in Angel Di Maria is the fact that Enzo Fernandez will have that extra bit of support in stopping Antoine Griezmann...

Putting in an ultimately inexperienced holding midfielder who is arguably better on the ball than off it could be too much of a risk in a game of this magnitude.

In these titanic tussles it is the quiet man, the overlooked player who ends up being the hero.

Giroud against Otamendi seems like a battle he could win, but Otamendi has more heart and desire than a Maguire... he can't afford to lose this match and he will go out on his sword.

This battle will be a key factor in deciding the match. Two much maligned older warriors who keep proving people wrong and perform better in an international shirt than club.

Concluding Thoughts...