With Di Maria feeding Messi, few can stop Argentina

451207262

It almost seems churlish, or perhaps unforgivably contrary, to write about Argentina's win over Nigeria and progression to the second round of the World Cup, without mentioning Leo Messi.

The little guy did it again on Wednesday, scoring two brilliant goals as his side sashayed through to the knockout phase, almost visibly shrugging at the notion that anyone might be questioning his place among football's greats. Messi, it seems, is indifferent to your scepticism.

Of course, having a micro genius in your ranks certainly boosts a team's prospects of winning the World Cup, and Argentina's chance of lifting the big one in a few weeks time will depend largely on Messi continuing the brilliant form that he has shown so far, but perhaps the second-biggest factor in their success is the midfield.

[MATCH REPORT: ARGENTINA 3-2 NIGERIA]

Alejandro Sabella's decision to play a back three in Argentina's opening game against Bosnia-Herzegovina was a curious one, largely because it perhaps wasn't the ideal way to get the best from Messi, but equally it seemed in that system that there was too much emphasis on the midfield to provide additional attacking threat. Maxi Rodriguez was selected with Angel di Maria and Javier Mascherano, presumably to provide said attacking threat, but this meant they could not control the middle of the park in the most effective manner.

Sabella seemed to realise pretty quickly that it wasn't the best use of his resources, switching back to a more standard 4-3-3 at half-time of that game, with Fernando Gago replacing Maxi in that midfield three.

Argentina certainly seem more balanced in the current set-up, as it not only gets the best out of Messi, but also Mascherano, Gago and Di Maria.

In those three they appear to have a perfect combination of basically everything you might want in a midfield. Mascherano is there to break the play up and generally put the fear of god into any opponents impudent enough to keep the ball for longer than a few seconds, Gago is a deepish playmaker who can recycle the ball quickly and set off counter-attacks for the attacking trio, and then there's Di Maria.

[STAT ATTACK: WHY ARGENTINA NEED MESSI SO MUCH]

When Real Madrid spent a world record fee on Gareth Bale last summer and another pretty penny on Isco, it looked like Di Maria's days were numbered. Almost exclusively a winger at that stage, Di Maria would often flatter to deceive, providing sporadic attacking threat from the wings but frequently being a frustration. However, Bale's arrival has not pushed him towards the exit door, but rather inspired him to improve, to adapt and he is now a key part of Carlo Ancelotti's team.

And it's the same with Argentina. He usually plays more in the centre than out wide for Real, and is now perhaps the second most important player in Sabella's side, given the dynamism that he provides from the left of that midfield three.

With license to get forward, Di Maria's energy is such that he can perform the role of an auxiliary wideman, drifting to the left to play crosses into the middle when required, while also effectively becoming a fourth forward when Argentina attack.

Against Nigeria he had five shots, all of them on target, and created four chances for his teammates, more than anyone else in blue and white – even Messi.

[ALL THE KEY STATS FROM THE WORLD CUP]

Before the game, Di Maria commented on the difficulties Argentina would have in breaking Nigeria down. “We need to keep doing what we have been doing up to now,” he said. “And that means being patient in the final third and finding the spaces we need to score goals.

“To do that we have to move the ball around and pick out team-mates who are in space, so we have be on the move the whole time.”

Di Maria clearly takes that advice himself, constantly on the move and constantly looking for room to create another opportunity, in theory to be finished off by Messi.

As theories go it's a pretty strong one, and if it comes off then it's difficult to see many teams that will be able to stop Argentina in this World Cup.

Nick Miller - follow him on Twitter

Open all references in tabs: [1 - 7]

Leave a Reply Cancel reply