The Argentine National Team returned to training this Tuesday at the University of Qatar with the outstanding novelty that Ángel Di María worked in a differentiated way and coach Lionel Scaloni began to diagram the tactical aspects for Friday’s match against the Netherlands and tested two teams, with some surprises.
After the 2-1 victory against Australia, the Argentine squad had a day off (Sunday), trained on Monday and today added a new day of work thinking about the crucial match against the Dutch that could put them among the top four of the contest.
A little bit of Di Maria
The main novelty was Di María who, after suffering a contracture in the thigh of her left leg, started training alongside the group but later continued the field work in a differentiated way.
His chance of being or not starting against the Netherlands will depend on his evolution in these practices, since, by not being able to continue at the same level as his teammates, his physical condition is unknown, although it is estimated that he could occupy at least one place in the substitute bench, something that did not happen against Australia.
bibs with surprises
When it was the turn to distribute bibs and separate teams, Scaloni surprised. In the first tactical work, the DT formed an alignment with Gonzalo Montiel, Cuti Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás Tagliafico; Rodrigo DePaul, Leandro Paredes, Alexis MacAllister; Ángel Correa, Lionel Messi and Julián Álvarez.
Although it is difficult for the coach to already have the starting eleven that will play on Friday and -above all- show it, there could be several surprises: the departures of the full-backs that played against Australia -Nahuel Molina and Marcos Acuña- and the entry of two of a more defensive nature -Montiel and Tagliafico- and that Correa replace the sprained Alejandro Gómez, Di María’s replacement against the Oceanics.
Meanwhile, the departure of Enzo Fernández from the starting team, one of the highest points of the National Team so far in the World Cup, is unlikely.
In the second part of training, Scaloni tried out with another team: Montiel, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; DePaul, Paredes, Fernandez, MacAllister; Messi and Alvarez. That is to say, he took out Correa, raised Mac Allister and entered the Benfica player in a more crowded midfield.
Although it is too soon to define the cast, the truth is that the Argentine coach will have to make at least one change regarding the match against Australia since Gómez will not be able to give the present due to his injury and, if Di María is not in condition, Once again, a range of possibilities opens up.
They all imply a change of scheme: Lisandro Martínez to defend with three central defenders, Leandro Paredes to put together a midfield with a double five and even Lautaro Martínez, to make a double nine with Julián Álvarez.
The 5-3-2 of the Netherlands
It is worth remembering that the Netherlands is playing the Cup with a 5-3-2 formation (or 3-5-2, as you prefer to see it) that remained unscathed throughout the tournament despite the fact that names changed.
For example, the defender Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich), one of the best-known faces of the team, lost his position after his debut due to what is difficult for him to play with three center-backs (his place was taken by Jurrien Timber, a 21-year-old defender of the Ajax).
The other four in the background are as key as they are immovable: the central defenders van Dijk (Liverpool) and Aké (Manchester City) and the wingers Dumfries (Inter) and Blind (Ajax), who have just scored one goal each in the round of 16 against the United States . As if that were not enough, the Inter player, a tireless runner, also provided two assists.
In the middle, an area with good footing, wear and tear and not so much branding, the insacable is from Ligt (Barcelona). His teammates, meanwhile, were changing: for now, as the games went by, Roon (Atalanta) and the bare Klaasen (Ajax) settled.
Above, the famous Memphis Depay (Barcelona) started as a substitute in the first two games but got ready and is now the undisputed starter. His colleague is the surprising Gakpo (PSV), author of three goals already in the World Cup, and who started the tournament playing as a midfielder.
