Argentina's World Cup Disappointments
It is clear that a World Cup Championship cannot be made without any strange test without rehearsal, except for a couple of practices. Jorge Sampaoli decided to change the tactical aspect and the performers against Croatia compared to the debut against Iceland. That is called improvisation in every sense.
He played with a line of three defenders (Mercado and Tagliafico as stoppers and Otamendi as an extra defender in the back) where the players - who had never played a match together - were too exposed to Croatian attacks, as when it came to defending the wingers (Salvio and Acuña), they did not fall back to cover the backs, perhaps due to the fact that they do not have that defensive vocation.
Mascherano and Enzo Pérez formed the "double five" in midfield, while Maxi Meza positioned himself a few meters ahead, almost like another forward alongside Kun Agüero and Messi (who must have played his worst match with the Argentine national team).
Sampaoli assembled a team to attack (doing so without any ideas and fundamentals), never to defend, nor did he retreat properly, allowing Modric (a Real Madrid player, scorer of the second goal, a great goal) and Rakitic (a Barcelona midfielder, who scored the third goal for Croatia) to control the ball, distribute it, and also enter the opponent's box.
Later, Sampaoli, who yesterday completed his 13th match in charge of the Argentine national team (just the thirteenth!), tried with Higuaín (replacing Agüero, who seemed to not be one hundred percent physically fit and later in the mixed zone, when asked about what the coach said in the press conference about "the players not adapting. The project has failed", Kun casually responded with "let him say what he wants". It is clear that things are not going well within the group, which has been commented on even before the World Cup in Russia), but Pipita was sandwiched between two Croatian defenders.
Then it was Pavón's turn, who came on for Salvio. Question: Why didn't the Boca forward start as it was hinted at some point in the days leading up to the match? Of course, when the kid came on, the team was already behind on the scoreboard.
In the 67th minute, Sampaoli "remembered" that he had a certain Dybala on the bench, one of the best players in Serie A. The "Jewel" replaced Enzo Pérez (who missed an incredible chance in the first half), but the coach positioned him as a "right winger", when at Juventus he plays all across the attacking front.
Another blunder by Sampaoli. The choice of Caballero for the goalkeeper position was because he played "well with his feet". Evidently, during all the tours he made in Europe prior to the World Cup, he did not see the Chelsea goalkeeper.
The cards have been dealt. Argentina is on the verge of elimination and going back to Agüero's post-match comments, how much authority does the coach have in front of the squad? It's all very difficult for an Argentine national team that has been "bleeding out" for a long time.