Argentina — well, let’s be honest, Lionel Messi — booked their place to the World Cup quarterfinals in a late win against Switzerland.
Despite a star-studded attacking lineup, it hasn’t exactly been champagne football from Alejandro Sabella’s men. There is one main reason for Argentina’s disjointed and lackluster play, and the proverbial elephant in the room has been a big issue… well not that big in fact, only just about 5’7’’ (1.69 m) tall.
Argentina are in the quarterfinals thanks to Messi. That is an undeniable fact. Messi is a world-class player who can decide games on his own. The YouTube highlights speak for themselves. Messi can drag even this poor Argentina team to win the World Cup? It really isn’t that farfetched a prognosis. So once we have established all that, it is imperative to critically observe Messi’s role and status in this Argentina team.
Messi’s apport to Argentina’s four victories so far has been the following: one sprint and a wonder-strike against Bosnia-Herzegovina, another against Iran, a magnificent free-kick against Nigeria, and one final sprint to create the opening for Angel Di Maria’s finish. For all intents and purposes, that is diabolical efficacy. Is that enough however? Should we not expect more?
The answer is a simple and resounding “YES!” Some of the reasons for Argentina being so poor however reside solely on Messi’s shoulder.
Messi has this vampirism effect, both on the pitch and off of it, to focus all attention. Against his rivals, it is a fantastic ability. He draws people in to open spaces for others. However, it also leads everyone on the team to systematically look for him. Best player in the world, right? So what’s the problem, you might ask? It becomes an issue when the player in question plays for himself.
This year has always been about Messi’s moment to shine and inch nearer to his country’s great idol, Diego Maradona. However, Messi seems to have taken these expectations far too much to heart.
Statistically Messi has attempted about 10 take-ons on average over Argentina’s four games, with a success average of six. In other words, just a little less than half of his attempts to carry the ball result in him losing possession. With so many of his teammates looking for him on the pitch, that kind of stubbornness is rather wasteful.
His pass combinations with his teammates of the forward line are quite revealing as well. After allegedly convincing Sabella to switch to a 4-3-3 with both Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain in attack, it is baffling how little Messi passes to them. He, on average, combined three times with Aguero over the three games the Manchester City striker started. With Higuain, Messi combined an average of four times over Argentina’s four games so far.
Messi did decide to rely a bit more on his partners in the first knockout game against Switzerland however. He created six chances, that is to say just one less than he had in all three previous games combined.
There is an obvious Messi dependence about Sabella’s side right now. So far, it has helped Argentina get through and qualify for the quarterfinals. There is some danger of Messi being such a focus though, when the team meets a more challenging opponent. This is Messi’s team. Every pass is for Messi. All runs are for Messi. The formation is for Messi. Consequently, Messi makes the team predictable and one-dimensional.
Before, Messi was accused of not doing enough for Argentina. His recent effectiveness could in fact have become a double-edged sword of sorts. Sabella, with a dislocated formation and an incoherent team, has boiled down Argentina’s game plan to “leave it to Messi, and he will save us.” Sometimes the sun rises high to shine on the rest who bask in its invigorating rays. But this sun, Messi, has eclipsed all and might just cause those to wither under his oppressive shadow.
Follow Ogo Sylla on Twitter at: @RossonerOgo_3
