Tough one to call imo, France have been underwhelming and so have Argentina but they have Messi.

Rumours that Pavon and Di Maria are going to flank Messi as a false 9. Higgy and Aguero on the bench.

Irish gunner wrote:

Rumours that Pavon and Di Maria are going to flank Messi as a false 9. Higgy and Aguero on the bench.

Honestly surprised Argentina never tried that before. The last time Messi played as a false 9, he score over 90 goals in the space of 12 months

I can't believe they refuse to play Dybala.

France will win - that Argie defence is something Wenger would be proud of

What position has Messi been playing? Basically, they are just going to go without a striker? Which, incidentally, is their strongest position with the most depth? Stupid.

Messi should be starting on the right wing, with Aguero/Higuain fighting it out up top. Dybala should play in the hole, Mascherano on the f-ing bench. With some even half-decent work ethic without the ball, they should be crushing it.

Argentina are being mismanaged. Sampaoli is a dufus.

The False 9 thing will only work if Pavon and Di Maria offer a genuine goal threat, which there is very little chance of these days. I mean, if they do, Messi will tear it up. If they don't, it'll be another congested space between the circle and the D. Kante will make Messi's life hell, put him against that Hernandez kid and pull the defense out of shape.

Have a weird feeling the Argies will win this one.

Coombs wrote:

What position has Messi been playing? Basically, they are just going to go without a striker? Which, incidentally, is their strongest position with the most depth? Stupid.

Messi should be starting on the right wing, with Aguero/Higuain fighting it out up top. Dybala should play in the hole, Mascherano on the f-ing bench. With some even half-decent work ethic without the ball, they should be crushing it.

Argentina are being mismanaged. Sampaoli is a dufus.

The False 9 thing will only work if Pavon and Di Maria offer a genuine goal threat, which there is very little chance of these days. I mean, if they do, Messi will tear it up. If they don't, it'll be another congested space between the circle and the D. Kante will make Messi's life hell, put him against that Hernandez kid and pull the defense out of shape.

Argentina having depth upfront is only something that's borne out on paper though as we've said that for around 10 years now and it's never been apparent when you watch them play. Between Aguero and Higuain they only managed a single goal during the qualification stage of the WC and the majority of their goals in recent years have been padded out in friendlies. Successive managers have tried to get them to gel upfront but it's not worked and I think it's reasonable to try something radically different. It's a bit like saying England had fantastic depth in midfield during the 2000s but when you watched them play they had the cohesion of a mid table Premier league side.

Agree that it'll be a congested space but that's likely the case anyway since France are excellent at defending and Argentina are a mess whoever they play. It'll come down to a half chance so you'd rather Messi was on the end of that than anyone else. I guess what I'm saying is it's too late for them to work on a new system since it'll be shoddy whoever is available, hopefully if they get their best player close to goal and defend for their lives it could work despite France being overwhelming favourites. Basically copy Portugal and hope for the best

Argentina will probably start with Mascherano and Enzo Perez in midfield so the ball will struggle to cross the half way line anyway.

Klaus wrote:

I can't believe they refuse to  play Dybala.

He just barely got into their WC squad. His problem is that he's too similar to Messi. 

Hasn't stopped Agüero from stinking it up.

I think the poor form of Argentinian forwards in internationals has been because of the totally dysfunctional midfield. Obviously, Higuain's ridiculous misses are on him, but it can't be a coincidence that they all look shit when the CMs are standing 40 yards back and Messi is in there on his own surrounded by 4 opposition players, while the wingers don't know whether to come inside or run in behind.

Look what just playing Banega did. One player in there that can pass the ball changes everything.

Mirth is right, it's way too late to change systems now (if you can call what they have a system), but the idea that the solution is to play through the little midget in every part of the pitch is totally amateur and a little pathetic. I thought Sampaoli would be better than that.

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

France will win - that Argie defence is something Wenger would be proud of

Mercado-Otamendi-Mascherano-Rojo
Dybala-Biglia-Banega-Di Maria
———Messi—Aguero

Somehow Sampaoli will find a way to play Perez and Meza though.

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

France will win - that Argie defence is something Wenger would be proud of

That's what I'm going with as well. France to take advantage of that poor defence and go on and win.

Argentina should just stick Messi up front, and focus on getting him the ball in decent positions. Then let Messi do the rest himself.

Olly G starts! Messi is playing centrally! Honestly that Argentina lineup looks far more coherent.

Pavon and Perez don't look up to much to me. At least Meza isn't there.

Looking forward to seeing Giorgio keep out the French goals.

Shady wrote:

Pavon and Perez don't look up to much to me. At least Meza isn't there.

Meza looked like he won a prize to play at the World Cup. Worst performance by anyone in the tournament.