Lionel Messi may have scored a scintillating winning goal for Argentina in their 2-1 triumph against Bosnia and Herzegovina, but coach Alejandro Sabella’s tactics and choice of formation have been the main talking point after an unconvincing performance.
The build-up to the opening Group F game at the World Cup 2014 may have been focused on the expectations placed on the captain, but an interesting side story developed in Sabella’s pre-match press conference when the 59-year-old tactician initially evaded questions about whether he would play with a 5-3-2 instead of a 4-3-3 formation before revealing that he was contemplating the change for reasons he did not want to talk about publicly.
Perhaps the reasons were out of respect for the attacking flair of the opposition, or even that he was suffering from an inner crisis of confidence, but Sabella’s decision to begin the match at the Maracana with a 5-3-2 backfired.
Sabella was a devotee of 5-3-2 when he led Estudiantes to the title and the 2009 Copa Libertadores, and has mainly used the system with Argentina for games at altitude during the qualifying campaign or when Messi was injured.
But the problem of using three central defenders against a lone centre-forward was clear in the first-half as Argentina were flattered to take a 1-0 lead through a fortuitous Sead Kolasinac own goal in the third minute, while Messi was also forced deep and became isolated from Sergio Aguero.
Sabella was quick to recognise his errors as Argentina went back to 4-3-3 after the interval with Fernando Gago and Gonzalo Higuain introduced for Hugo Campagnaro and Maxi Rodriguez.
The introduction of both players, and the tactical changes that they brought with them, was essential for turning the focus back to Messi and enabling his moment of magic at the Maracana in the second-half.
The switches brought out the best in the captain with Gago his constant supply line from midfield, the Boca Juniors player is statistically the man who passes the most to Messi, while Higuain compliments the Barcelona forward and Aguero acting as the most advanced reference point.
Messi was now harder to track as the presence of two strikers in front of him that were making runs wide stretched the Bosnian defence creating space to run at the opposition.
This was to culminate in the 65th minute as the 26-year-old spectacularly scored second his career goal at the World Cup finals cutting in-field on to his left foot and firing a shot in off the post from the edge of the box.
Speaking to media after the match, Messi made his preference for changes made in the second-half clear.
“In the first half we gave up possession to Bosnia, and so I was too deep: I was alone and Kun [Aguero] was alone. It was very difficult.”
“We like [the 4-3-3] better because when you go forward you have more possibilities of passing the ball and scoring.
“We strikers and forwards are favoured by this formation.”
The risks of Argentina’s current 4-3-3 formation were highlighted for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s goal when Vedad Ibisevic exploited the space between the full-back and the centre-back, but the bold approach is worth taking as La Albiceleste are likely to outscore their rivals with the attacking talent they have available.
