Thread by @pythaginboots

Argentina 3-3 France - Analysis [Thread]

➡️ Scaloni springs another surprise with Di Maria down the left!
➡️ Enzo proving what a top DLP/CDM talent is meant to do ... pockets Griezmann and controls the build up phase
➡️ Why Kounde had a mare..

#Messi𓃵 #Argentina #WorldCup2022

A stunning tactical decision to bring back Di Maria into the fold and then stick him up against Kounde rather than Theo. On paper Kounde should be a 'defensive' right back but he's someone who we have described as a 'right-centre-back'...

These types of defenders prefer marking space and wing-forwards who try to score goals using movement off ball.

Di Maria is more of a traditional wide man and kept engaging Kounde in 1 v 1's closer to the flank... he struggled to keep him quiet and Dembele didn't help out well.

We spoke Pre-Game of Tchouameni not really being tested by an elite 10 and this game exposed France's lack of top top level CDM protection, as Messi kept finding space and leaving Rabiot and Tchouameni chasing shadows.

With Di Maria down the left, this meant Messi was also able to exploit the spaces left by Theo Hernandez on the opposite flank. Literally every player in this diamond around Messi, lacks the calibre to handle him... a far cry from likes of Lucas Hernandez/Kante type figures.

As I said before the Morocco game, Konate for me is an integral player who Deschamps doesn't seem to fully appreciate. He is a great covering defender and he has such a calm presence in big games.

Deschamps decision to bring back Upamecano backfired and apart from his big block, he never gave that defence the same sense of calm and Argentina always looked threatening with Alvarez in particular an absolute nuisance.

For one so young, Enzo Fernandez was given the responsibility of taking Griezmann out of the game as well as running the play for the Argentina team from a deeper area.

Yes there was a collective sense of winning the ball aggressively and preventing the ball from going into the likes of Griezmann, but compare how Tchouameni wilted under the pressure versus how Enzo completely dominated this area of the pitch... a well deserving winner of YPOTT.

Deschamps has to be given some credit for how he was so ruthless with his substitutions. There was no room for sentiment and by surrounding Mbappe with pace and power, it made the Argentina backline crap their pants. There was now a lot of 1 v 1 situations and unlike Dembele...

The subs were successfully beating their men in dribbling duels and finding Mbappe in space.

Suddenly the likes of Romero and Otamendi and the rather average full backs began to look more like their human selves rather than roided Argentine superstars.

The save Emi Martinez made at the end of the game was breathtaking. He then followed it up with a tremendous display in the shootout... yes he displays gamesmanship but he is so good at predicting where the shot is going to go, has immense reflexes and so damn charismatic.

He reminds me a tad of Canizarez but he was the reason why even though the game ticked away to penalties, many Argentinian's still had faith that despite constantly throwing away the lead... they would come good.

To score a hat trick in a World Cup Final and lose must be devastating but with this performance Mbappe has confirmed that this is a GOAT level talent - the closest we have seen to the R9 in terms of a scary blend of fast feet, pace, power and clutch finishing under pressure.

All sportsman need to suffer disappointment in order to continue to grow and enhance their game and winning two world cups at 23 may have ended up stagnating him as an individual as well as a footballer. Lets hope he uses this as fuel and continues to oustound us going forwards!

Messi will get all the plaudits as he rightfully should but for me the hero of this tournament has been another Lionel... Lionel Scaloni. I think his management of this team and the tactical acumen he has demonstrated - pushes his performance into the upper echelon's...

The best international management performance bearing in mind the resources at his disposal I have seen in my lifetime.

Rarely have I seen a side so complete in terms of fight, cohesiveness, digging in but also being flamboyant when it needed to. Magical, truly magical.