World Cup 2018: 5 issues Argentina needs to fix for glory in Russia

Before the World Cup started, there were a lot of doubts about the Albiceleste side, the game against Iceland has only increased these doubts.

For a nation with a history as storied as the Argentine's, the 23 man squad chosen by manager Jorge Sampaoli to prosecute the World Cup campaign was disgracefully short of quality and it is showing.

Against a rugged and well organized Icelandic team, Argentina came across as dull, uninspiring and totally lacking in ideas, effort or even basic skill.

Lionel Messi had one of his worst games for his nation, aside from his penalty miss, his passing, free-kick taking and decision making was abysmal.

Interestingly he was still one of the better players on the pitch, as a lot of his teammates were worse than he was (take a bow Angel di Maria, Marcos Rojo, Willy Caballero).

Coach Jorge Sampaoli has much to ponder and will need to make large-scale changes if this team is to do anything of note in Russia. Here are 5 of those changes he may need to effect.

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#5 Change the midfield setup

Biglia has no business starting for a team like Argentina

Only Sampaoli can explain why in a game against a team that was always going to be compact and organized, he needed to start both Javier Mascherano and Lucas Biglia.

Mascherano has been a fantastic servant for Albiceleste, unfortunately, his legs are gone (hence his move to China). Biglia was an even more absurd choice, as the AC Milan player has lost the passing and ball carrying ability of his younger days and is now a glorified defensive midfielder.

This meant that Messi had to drop deep into the midfield to pick up and distribute the ball, a tactic which suited the Icelandic defensive deep block perfectly, as it meant he was farther away from goal and unable to threaten.

Ever Banega is the only player in the squad with the ball carrying abilities and passing range needed to initiate attacks, and it was until the 54th minute before he was introduced.

Against a Croatian side with a midfield far superior to theirs, Banega has to start as he is the only player in the team that is of a similar quality to the Croatian midfield comprising of Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Mateo Kovacic.

#4 Drop all unfit players

Once again, di Maria was disappointing

It is amazing to note that for all the quality and stardust the team possesses, a large number of players who started the game against Iceland are actually not first team regulars at their clubs.

The very poor di Maria whose only contributions were constant complaints has been a bench warmer at PSG. Biglia and Marcus Rojo spent much of last season outside their clubs’ first teams as well.

Mascherano had to move to China as his legs are gone, and Eduardo Salvio plays as a winger for his club Benfica but started as a right-back against Iceland.

This lack of competitive game time showed as these players could not match their teammates’ intensity and efforts. Two of them (Di Maria and Biglia) were justifiably substituted.

Sampaoli must show bravery in the must-win game against the Croatia and subsequently in the tournament by playing the fit and in-form players who have the energy to compete for the duration of the match. Boca Juniors’ Cristian Pavon did more in 15 minutes than Di Maria did all game.

Players like Pavon, Federico Fazio, and Gabriel Mercado among others should be starting ahead of the unfit ones, the manager will need all the energy he can muster if the team is to survive the Group of Death.

#3 Keep Willy Caballero away from the first eleven

Caballero is a disaster waiting to happen for the Argies

It is difficult to remember the last time Argentina had a very good goalie manning the sticks;,this is something that has tasked various managers of the Albiceleste for a while now.

The team’s numero uno, Sergio Romero was injured before the World Cup began but even he is by no means a world-class goalie (he has a permanent seat on Manchester United’s bench after all).

How Real Sociedad’s Geronimo Rulli has been overlooked for the national team is something that only coach Sampaoli can explain. However, if he wants his team to do anything of note in Russia 2018, starting Willy Caballero in goal is a no-no.

The veteran goalie was a good player for Malaga but ever since he made the move to English football (first Manchester City and now Chelsea), he has been the second choice to the likes of Joe Hart, Claudio Bravo and Thibaut Courtois.

His decision making is poor, he flaps at crosses and corners, even his saves cause unnecessary tension more often than not in the defense. Against Iceland, he kept adding to the anxiety of an already shaky defence and if the Vikings had been a bit more adventurous, they might have found joy attacking the 36-year-old.

Nahuel Guzman (Tigres) and Franco Armani (River Plate) are the other goalies in the squad. None of them are spring chickens (both are aged 32) but given that they have played more games for their club sides than Caballero, Sampaoli may have to make the decision and get one of them in if the team are to progress.

#2 Make bold decisions

Pavon was a delight when he came on and needs to start

The dropping of Mauro Icardi from the World Cup squad is one that left a lot of people dumbfounded but the reasons behind it were plausible.

This showed that the manager was willing to make bold and tough decisions, he will have to do something similar again and soon.

The formation and personnel deployed against Iceland clearly did not work as too many players were unaware of what was required and were disappointing in application and endeavor.

Sampaoli made his name playing a high-risk, energetic style as manager of Chile’s national team and he will need to get his team to play the same way.

The safety-first option that players like Biglia, Mascherano and di Maria symbolize should be discarded with and bold selections made.

Pavon, Banega, Paulo Dybala and even Giovani Lo Celso are dynamic players who have the skill-set to make things happen for the team, they should be trusted with starting berths.

Going top heavy (starting both Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain) is another option as with these two world-class marksmen (more for their clubs than for the Albiceleste) will put pressure on the opposition’s defence and allow Argentina play on the front foot more often than not.

#1 Keep Messi away from the midfield

Messi needs to stay as close to the opponent's goal as possible

Messi is the sole reason why Argentina creaked into the World Cup finals and he will play a big part in determining how far the team will go.

The problem with being Messi however is that every team prepares detailed plans to contain him and when these plans work out, Argentina’s attack usually suffers for it.

The Icelandic midfield and defence did a great job of marking and anticipating his every move as whenever he got the ball (or even when he wasn’t with the ball), there was always an Icelandic player dogging his heels and giving him no breathing space or time to work his magic.

He wasn’t helped by the poor midfield deployed by Sampaoli. He dropped deep too often to get the ball and orchestrate attacks, a move which gave the Icelandic midfield/defence time to re-adjust and get into position.

Sampaoli will need to talk to his captain and get him to stay as close to the opposition’s 18-yard box as much as he can. This would ensure that the opposing defenses would be constantly pinned back, as they would be scared to commit too much for fear of leaving the La Pulga unmarked.

However, for this to work, the Albiceleste midfield would have to pass the ball quicker and transition faster. This is a job that only Banega and Lo Celso could do to a certain extent in the team, either or both of these players would have to be trusted with a starting berth.