Argentina Revert to Form vs. Switzerland, but Lionel Messi Still the Trump Card

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: July 1, 2014

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ARENA CORINTHIANS, SAO PAULO — After what looked like a marked improvement against Nigeria in their final group game, Argentina seemed to go back to their predictable, old ways against Switzerland on Tuesday in the round of 16.

Too slow in their distribution of the ball and too static off it, Argentina certainly weren't helped by a hard, bone-dry pitch—or the fact that everybody involved was coming off a long club season.

But enough excuses—what is becoming clearer by the game is that this Argentina side seems to be made just for vital moments. They will never play good football and are resigned not to be able to.

On this occasion, it was Angel di Maria’s moment, albeit yet again thanks to a fantastic assist from you-know-who. Di Maria credited the goal to Lionel Messi, which is a bit too much, but you know where he was coming from.



Messi was once again man of the match—as he has been in every game so far—and on this occasion, he took on the role of provider rather than scorer. With the lottery of penalties looking inevitable, the Albiceleste sent their fans into rapture when Rodrigo Palacio robbed Stephan Lichtsteiner to find Messi, who danced past Fabian Schaer before finding Di Maria to smash the ball home.



Di Maria’s moment for the winner is certainly worthy of praise, but although he never stopped battling and was one of Argentina’s brighter lights, this was not by any means his greatest performance. The Real Madrid man made too many wrong decisions, often shooting when he should have crossed, and vice versa.

It could, of course, have turned out completely different. Switzerland could have scored first, playing a good counter-attacking game and nearly scoring. Unfortunately, when you give the initiative to Argentina, as every team has, then sooner or later, be it in the first, 12th or 118th minute—as it was here...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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