Argentina and the quarter-final-syndrome (Kicker)

The Argentinian team arrives to the stadium where today will have to play one of their matches of the first round of the World Cup, but the reporters of the whole world, many of them who follows the team for their tradition, their players, and particularly for having Lionel Messi, left without understanding very well.

The starting team isn't there. Their coach, Alejandro Sabella, does not explain it. It is, perhaps, the only team of the thirty two of the tournament that hides absolutely everything. As if it were a key to take out a centimetre of advantage, as if the times and the technology have not changed or if there would be an enormous mystery to hide.

Before their first match versus Bosnia, Sabella gave an idea that he had thought about the eleven names and that he will use the same system he used many times, the 4-3-3 system, so the people thought that he will start that way, but he did not. He used a 5-3-2 system because seven months ago he won a friendly match against the Balkans with that system, but in the first period of the world cup match the system did not result and he had to change.

There are two elements to take into account: first, that Sabella does not think a World Cup as match by match, but as a large path in which he could select even four different tactical systems according to the opponent and the circumstances (4-3-3, 5-3-2, 4-4-2 and even 4-4-1-1 if it is necessary), and, in second place, that there are key players (Gonzalo Higuaín and Sergio Agüero) who did not arrive in their best conditions to the World Cup.

Sabella is much more nervous than during the whole cycle, where he was satisfied in the measure that the team was winning matches and showed loose to define, something that does not occur now. “There are players that need more minutes” he says now, and accepts that “we have to improve”.

However, this self criticism is not repeated by most of the players, who say one thing in the intimacy but they use a different speech for the microphones, where they repeat that “they played well” versus a limited rival as Iran (1-0 at the final  with the goal of Messi), and they remit  that they arrived several times to the near of the area but the Asiatics were much behind. Though the best occasions of goal have been for the rivals, that collided against a very solid goalkeeper, Sergio Romero

Angel Di María had a misfortune with an Argentinian reporter who was saying that the team had not played well, but the player of Real Madrid continued denying it, recalling a play of two touches with Sergio Agüero.

“I'm not worried and we have both matches won. It is necessary to continue in the Cup and not to watch only what is bad, and there are critics that may be made public and other that should not”, say Sabella, explaining why he does not say to the press what he considers error in the performance.

Besides, the players, are happy because they are sure that they will not face a defensive rival like Iran and the coach and his team shield themselves with the case of Germany. “They won easily in their first match and then the drew, we won both” they sustain, basing themselves on the numbers.

Not having too much information of the team, the reporters entertain themselves with the supposed polemic between Sabella and Messi, formed by the local press for matters more related with the national politics than with the football (The coach had some sentences in favour for the Government and the media that confronted the superb star with him belongs to the more fierce opposition)

The only thing Messi said was that he would prefer to play with the 4-3-3 system “because in that way I feel more at ease and better surrounded” as he explained. This system was used in the second time of the match against Bosnia. Sabella has already decided to continue with 4-3-3 while he is able to do so but he does not deny to do tactical changes.

Some insist that Messi is in charge. Sabella does not need to shout: “This is a free and democratic team and the relationship among them is kind and respectful and if you want, you can ask them”.

When Sabella gave the definitive list of 23 players, one of the excluded was Ever Banega, a close friend of Messi...would the coach dare and take him out if the star of Barcelona FC was really in charge?

The coach explains it again: “when Messi declared that he prefers 4-3-3, it was I who told him to speak with the press, because I have nothing to hide”.

The football continues absent. Not much is said, not much is informed, but there is time for Sabella to breath relieved in the Mineirao of Belo Horizonte: “Luckily I will seat down on the left bench, that was the one I sat in 2009 when with Estudiantes we won” referring to the Libertadores Cup final when Sabella's Estudiantes defeated Cruzeiro. Thank goodness.