World Cup 2018: 3 things Argentina needs to do against Nigeria

#1 Improve defensive transitions

Sampaoli needs to pull off some trick to get out of this pickle.

Jorge Sampaoli's teams are often constituted with a high pressing system along with a very high defensive line. Also, his teams were quick enough to get back in shape as soon as opposition hit them on the counter-attack.

But this aging Argentine side clearly lacks in this regard, which has been the main cause for team's abysmal defensive performance in this World Cup.

Against Croatia, the team was guilty of ball watching when the 3rd goal was conceded. Even during the 2nd goal which Luka Modric scored, he was marked only by Nicolas Otamendi while it is a known fact that Modric is good at losing his marker quite easily.

With Mascherano being 34, it is quite difficult for him to track back when the team is hit on the counter, which results in the team being out of shape once the team lose possession higher up the pitch.

Sampaoli needs to set up his team in such a way that it remains compact defensively without being compromised on the attacking front.