Whereas the highlight firmly stays on the Kylian Mbappe-Lionel Messi showdown within the World Cup ultimate, it’s the capability of each groups to counter the attacking threats of the opposition that can probably resolve the place the trophy goes.
Each groups have reached the ultimate on the again of performances which may not be world-class however simply sufficient to get them over the road, in opposition to opposition that have been both by no means as much as their ranges at key moments or just didn’t flip up their finest performances on the large event. It has resulted in each groups reaching the ultimate, however carrying apparent flaws that may be exploited by the opposite.
France concede possession
France’s performances in opposition to England and Morocco gave extra away than they might have preferred. When they’re main a recreation, frailties begin to seem of their play, particularly, their capability to carry onto possession. The French midfield trio of Aurelien Tchouameni, Adrien Rabiot and Antoine Griezmann have discovered a method to be efficient in offering sufficient creativity to create possibilities, however as a unit, are sometimes unable to maintain the ball and transfer it round, particularly when groups are pressuring them.
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PremiumThe dearth of possession places great stress on their backline – stress that they’ve managed untill now. In opposition to Morocco, French defenders have been throwing in goal-line tackles left and proper. Ibrahim Konate presently has 22 tackles and interventions for the French whereas solely showing for 90 minutes thrice this match. Morocco got here far on this match but it surely was a scarcity of high quality attacking choices that was finally their downfall in opposition to France.
Argentina doesn’t present that very same cushion of consolation. Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez, with 9 objectives between them, are respectfully, not Youssef en-Neysri.
Sluggish Argentine backline
If France’s backline has by some means survived the stress that its midfield lets onto them, the Argentine backline has problems with its personal. For this World Cup, coach Lionel Scaloni has adopted a three-man backline with Nicolas Otamendi, Christian Romero and Lisandro Martinez. He has additionally gone with two on the again with Otamendi and Romero.
The difficulty although is that none of his combos have the means to maintain up with the acceleration of Mbappe, ought to the French winger discover area forward of him to run.
Scaloni’s options have continued to evolve because the match has gone on. He matched Louis van Gaal’s formation when groups have been struggling to interrupt it. He then overloaded the center of the pitch with 4 midfielders in opposition to Croatia. In opposition to the French, Scaloni is prone to go together with the four-midfielder mixture once more. Argentina’s midfield may make the distinction as Nahuel Molina may now get help from Rodrigo de Paul on the precise. Mbappe may also be uncovered as a weak spot by the Argentine defence if Molina routinely bombs ahead and is efficient in his wing-play. Achraf Hakimi compelled France to play Mbappe within the center and put Marcus Thuram on the wings and whereas dangerous, Argentina may play that recreation as properly.
Griezmann vs Fernandes
An intriguing defensive battle in the course of the pitch between two offensive creators may very properly be the spotlight of this match. On one hand, you will have Enzo Fernandes, a key determine within the revival of Argentina following the 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia within the group stage. Adept at managing possession, and linking play from midfield to the offensive line, Fernandes will most certainly be tasked to be on Antoine Griezmann.
Griezmann has been the offensive revelation of this match. A transfer to midfield has not dimmed his creativity with the French playmaker bagging three assists at this World Cup and creating 3.5 possibilities per recreation, probably the most amongst all gamers at this version. What’s been refreshing to see has been his defensive work.
Six ball recoveries in opposition to England and 9 in opposition to Morocco – that is the Griezmann that Argentina will fear about most after Mbappe. Placing Griezmann on Fernandes may very well be a French plan in opposition to Argentina.
Countering Messi
Numbers is perhaps France’s finest buddy in countering Messi. By this match, Messi has chosen to be a peripheral determine on the wings and has joined play at key moments. It’s essential in these key moments to not let him go up in opposition to French left-back Theo Hernandez alone.
The left-sided midfielder closest to Messi – both Rabiot or Youssouf Fofana – has to consistently assist Fernandez in marking Messi and never let it change into a ‘Gvardiol v Messi to the objective’ scenario. Placing a number of our bodies in entrance of the Argentine most important man is essential to stopping him from advancing into the center of the pitch – or in case, he nonetheless manages to, unbalancing his run whereas reaching these key areas.
Based on Opta Analyst, Messi has confronted 259 excessive pressures at this World Cup. Count on that quantity to go greater because the trio of Hernandez, Rabiot and Tchouameni put together to counter his menace.