BASIL SYLVESTER PINTO
MARGAO
Their progress to the Round of 16 in the ongoing FIFA World Cup may have not been befitting of their credentials as heavyweights, but the first match-up of the knock-outs still promised to be a appetizer to the football connoisseur with big names on either side.
The anticipated classic clash between world-beaters - Euro Cup 2016 runners-up, France and World Cup 2014 runners-up, Argentina lived up to its billing as a needling contest for the initial two quarters of the match at least. This was until, Les Bleus’ Kylian Mbappe living up to a reputation of the generation next player to watch out for struck a brace in a space of five minutes to put his team firmly ahead at 4-2.
A team that may have played on Messi’s merit or the lack of it through its Group Stages if results were of any indication, were unable to find the magic of their Messi-ah to have a telling bearing on the game. With every touch of the ball on his feet, the partisan majority Argentina fans at The Football Dug Out (TFDO)-The Goan screening at BPS Sports Club, Margao on Saturday, fervently hoped that the Barca superstar could provide the impetus on a side heavily reliant on him. But unlike his predecessor, a certain Maradona, Divine intervention or the ‘Hand of God’ was not to be in messi’s destiny on a match which possibly could call time on his international career at 31.
The Goan met up with a few disappointed Argentina fans who came all the way from Ponda to elicit their thoughts on the performance of their side on the night.
For Vrishab Gaunekar, Messi played the ball well but did not find the support from his team-mates. He also was upset with the team’s tactics of trying to chase the ball as much as possible with the team ahead at 2-1 shortly upon resumption. “They should have had plans to defend,” Gaunekar stated.
Skiton Fernandes, while acknowledging that France played well, lamented that Argentina did not have an organized system. “Argentina went on an all-out attack, and came short in defense. They should have been defending when leading 2-1,” he critically put his thoughts forth.
Jorge Sampaoli, the Argentina team coach did his reputation no harm on the guillotine block. “I have hated Sampaoli’s tactics right from the start of the World Cup. He has never taken Dybala who has had a great season with Juventus this season. He keeps Aguero on the bench all the time. He took Higuain for the last match which was a mistake. I do not think he (Higuain) is even suitable to be in the team. I do not like him as a forward. In the last match, Aguero should have played instead in the starting line-up. In this game (v France), he played Messi as a false No. 9. What is the point in that? Messi should have played on one wing, with Dybala on the other with Aguero through the middle from the start,” stated the visibly disgruntled Ashley Rodrigues. “I liked it though when he brought Fazio in the defense, who is one of my favourite players in the department. He should have had him from the start instead of substituting him for Rojo somewhere around the 70th minute,” added Rodrigues. “Dybala could have provided attacking strength which they have been lacking all the while. I did not like Meza (midfielder) in the team,” he said.
