Cybereagles

Listened to Sabella's press conference.

His 1st priority is to stop Germany, and everything else will progress from that.

Never underestimate Argentina's will to play from the bunker; its part of their DNA.

This however is a different German team from 1980.

I think for me the key is Di Maria's fitness. Limped out of last training, which may or may not mean anything...

If he plays, then Argentina can play from the bunker and retain an attacking threat. If he doesn't it becomes a lot more challenging...

But there is space behind whatever wide area Ozil lines up in, and he has Lavezzi to exploit it, if not Di Maria

Germany has the superior squad, but I think the qualities of this Argentina team are being underestimated a little. They have Messi afterall...

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Form is temporary; Class is Permanent!
Liverpool, European Champions 2005.

We watched this very boring video, 500 times, of Sacchi doing defensive drills, using sticks and without the ball, with Maldini, Baresi and Albertini. We used to think before then that if the other players are better, you have to lose. After that we learned anything is possible – you can beat better teams by using tactics." Jurgen Klopp

According to reports, Di Maria struggled during training yesterday - I think he'll definitely start on the bench and perhaps be brought on if Argentina is down a goal. Otherwise I dont think he'll be counted on today.

I wonder if Sabella will use the flanks to try to neutralize the Germans or if he is content with just sitting back and absorbing pressure. Lavezzi pushing up would force Lahm to drop back but its easier said than done if Lavezzi spends most of the match providing defensive cover on the left. However Argentina's tactical advantage is likely on the right side of the pitch as Ozil does not drop back and Argentina could theoretically overload Howedes with Messi, Perez and Zabaletta.

It's really difficult to gauge the tactical acumen of Sabella given the relative ease of opposition Argentina has faced. Even against tactically astute coaches such as Hitzfield and LVG, Sabella did not have to do much since his counterparts were content with the status quo. I fear Sabella is a one-trick pony who will employ a highly cautious approach and hope things work out favourably.

I don't know about one trick pony thing....He has constantly adapted from game to game...

I think listening to a lot of the pundits or reading them, you get the sense too much of the Brazil result is being factored into this game, and especially the superior German squad. This is not a league championship; its one game!

Tactically, especially if Di Maria is able to play, Argentina has more options it can execute at a high level, than Germany does. But for this to happen, it must retain the threat on the counter or its a long night for Messi...

There is a Eurocentric skew to the commentary that tends to underplay the qualities of Argentina, even though, yes, the Germans start out as favorites...

_________________

Form is temporary; Class is Permanent!
Liverpool, European Champions 2005.

We watched this very boring video, 500 times, of Sacchi doing defensive drills, using sticks and without the ball, with Maldini, Baresi and Albertini. We used to think before then that if the other players are better, you have to lose. After that we learned anything is possible – you can beat better teams by using tactics." Jurgen Klopp

Sabella illustrated his incompetence once again yesterday.

Argentina came out strong playing the same 4-4-2 that got them this far. The difference was that due to Germany's high line, Argentina had the most space its enjoyed in an opponent's final third of the pitch since the group stage. The left side of the German pitch was predictably weak and Argentina had some good chances from there. At half time, Argentina looked poised to succeed as they had created most of the chances in the first 45 while the Germans were effectively stiffled in open play, and only managed 1 good scoring opportunity through a corner kick before the end of the half.

For some inexplainable reason, Sabella decided to change all this in the locker-room. He decided to take off Lavezzi who just had his best half of the tournament and was causing chaos and panic for the Germany defence. He caused 1-2 German players to be booked as they had trouble keeping up with his speed and shiftiness. This was a ridiculous substitution, made all the more ridiculous by the fact that the man he brought on, Aguero, had an awful tournament coming into the final, looked unfit and was atrocious vs the Netherlands. The other silly thing about this sub is that Higuain was Argentina's worst player in the 1st half as he missed chances, mis-timed his runs and slowed down Argentina's counter.

The Lavezzi for Aguero sub led to a chance in formation: 4-3-1-2. This change unbalanced Argentina as they now had 3 guys with little defensive responsibilities and the 3 central midfielders had to work even harder. Higuain and Messi alternated positions which was laughable considering Germany's left side was slow and weak and Argentina could have and should have used speed and over loaded the Germans to create more chances. Higuain did not have the speed or ability to do anything from a right wing forward position.

Higuain was eventually subbed off but for an equally incompetent striker. If Higuain was Argentina's Fred then Palacio was our Jo. Both bumbling fools who could not dribble, pass, shoot, think...no surprise that Palacio completely bottled his chance later in the match.

Finally, the Gago for Perez sub when the match looked destined for extra time? Pointless. Useless. A sub for the sake of making a sub. What was the purpose? What could Gago possibly have offered Argentina in this match?

At the end of the day, the formation change destabilized Argentina as they grew noticeably fatigued in extra time and had no legs left in the end. Aguero and Palacio had nothing to offer Argentina and were effectively two short players.

What irks me the most is Germany was there for the taking. Yes they were the best team in the tournament but were exposed on atleast 5 good occasions and a team with better finishers would've converted atleast 2 of those chances. Unfortunately Sabella not only brought the wrong players to the tournament but also introduced the wrong players to the match. Good riddance to Sabella who can now fade into irrelevance. Hopefully we replace him with Pekerman.

Absolutely correct. As had been argued all tournament, Sabella was the worst of the worst and proved it within 15 minutes. There was no need for Aguero at that point in time, if anything, Messi should'be been moved wide with Lavezzi up top doubling up in the channels. The overload was there, Howedes was asking to be bludgeoned, instead Sabella showed all the acumen of a drunk ostrich. If anyone was to be yanked, Higuain for Rodriguez perhaps, to offer the diagonal run out wide and Lavezzi up top. Germany's coming into ascendancy as the game wore on was more tactical than physical. Till the change, Argentina had matched them stride for stride. Sabella will stand down, there's good reason to argue such a liberty should be beyond his capacity. He should've been shot.

Its testimony to his game management that not a single one of his three subs had anything resembling an impact on the game!

The Lavezzi sub was a real head scratcher. I thought he picked a knock; no?

_________________

Form is temporary; Class is Permanent!
Liverpool, European Champions 2005.

We watched this very boring video, 500 times, of Sacchi doing defensive drills, using sticks and without the ball, with Maldini, Baresi and Albertini. We used to think before then that if the other players are better, you have to lose. After that we learned anything is possible – you can beat better teams by using tactics." Jurgen Klopp

Nope, Alejandro Einstein Sabella said after the match he brought on Aguero to add more to Argentina's attack

People keep praising Germany for being such a dominant team but Argentina breached Germany's defence atleast a handful of times in regulation time and should've won the match. Poor finishing and Sabella's idiocy did them in.