DHAKA: Brazil and Argentina are two teams whose fans only consider winning the cup their success. Anything short of that is considered failure.
Football world had seen how three other favorites Brazil, Germany and France struggled to overcome strong challenges from Chile, Algeria and Nigeria respectively in getting gate pas to quarter finals.
Argentina may encounter similar if not more challenge from a very strong and self-believing Switzerland tonight at EDT at Arena Corinthians, São Paulo.
Neutral analysts observed that Argentine boss must plot for a plan B if their super-duper maestro Lionel Messi suddenly has an off day in the office. So far the team relied almost exclusively on the little master. His magical left foot produced 4 of the 6 goals that otherwise not true to their elements so far Argentina scored in topping their group with three wins.
One of the other goals came through a suicide goal and Marcos Rojo scored the other. In the first match Argentina was perspiring against a very spirited debutant Bosnia & Herzegovina. The match could head to a 1-1 draw had not little man’s magic left foot presented a piece of magic at the dying minutes of the match made the difference.
A defensive Iran could almost hold Argentina had not Messi magic again worked to dispatch Iran also in the later stage of the match. Three others of the “Fabulous Four” Higuain, Aguero and di Maria performed well below their best.
Messi again sparkled in their very tight 3-2 match win against Nigeria. Messi scored an out of the world goal from free kick which can be a matter of research in terms of its parabolic projection, Aerodynamics, Swerve and Dipping.
Argentine Boss had to withdraw him for protection after Aguero got injured. Luckily for them di Maria appeared to come on his own during the match.
With Sergio Aguero missing the match against Switzerland because of a left thigh injury, the Group F winners are looking to Ezequiel Lavezzi to step in-a challenge that assistant coach Claudio Gugnali said the Paris Saint-Germain forward is ready for.
Lavezzi usually attacks down the wings, but also drops back to work in partnership with Argentina’s midfielders. The team will have to adapt its tactical formation a bit if Lavezzi starts.
Argentina has genuine concern with the underperforming suspect defence to soak the Switzerland’s attack. It will have to shore up its shaky defense to deal with threats that include winger Xherdan Shaqiri, who scored a hat trick against Honduras in the final Group E match.
Switzerland works very well on the flanks and attacks down the wings. It is going to be a very intense match.
Switzerland beat Ecuador in the group stage, but was overrun by France in a 5-2 defeat. For Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, the team’s qualification for the second round meant postponing his possible retirement.
The German veteran, a two-time Champions League winner as a coach, has said this tournament will be his last.
“We must remain highly focused, very disciplined, maintain our compactness, act extremely carefully,” Benaglio said. “The defensive work doesn’t begin with the defenders. Our attacker will be the first defender.”
Argentina must not be taking anything for granted and won’t expect to roll over Switzerland in Sao Paulo.
“Everybody said we would score loads of goals in the group stage and it’s clear that didn’t happen,” midfielder Maxi Rodriguez said.
“Our mentality is always the same: at a World Cup you have to be focused 100 percent of the time. It’s true that big teams are still left on the way, but if you’re not concentrated any team can beat you.”
Argentina can take heart from the head to head encounter with Switzerland which heavily favors them.
Head-to-head:
2012 — Friendly match: Argentina 3, Switzerland 1
2007 — Friendly match: Argentina 1, Switzerland 1
1990 — Friendly match: Argentina 1, Switzerland 1
1966 — World Cup: Argentina 2, Switzerland 0
But the concern is if Messi has a rare off day what happens? Does the team have a plan B? Can anyone else can put up his hand and deliver? Can the team of billions adored fans produce their A game in this business session?
If not the World wide billions of Argentine diehard followers including my own sons and wife may have to absorb shock tonight I am afraid. For the continued interest of this World Cup and for the football world watching a Brazil Argentina twenty first century football cold war Argentina should keep their wining carriage rolling I hope.
Engr Khondkar A Saleque Sufi is a NRB Energy Professional and free lance sports Writer, has over four decades of sport writing experience starting from his BUET days in 1970s . He lives in Australia and spends his leisure in writing on Energy & Sports in different International magazines and Journals.
BDST: 1154 HRS, JUL 01, 2014
