Falcioni’s advice: the national team has reason to dream but the first step is to beat Saudi Arabia

start over world and as always expectations are high. But this time, like so many others, those illusions have a foundation.

Argentina is one of the candidates to keep the title in Qatar, much more after obtaining the Copa América. There is a weight already forgotten for the guys and that’s good. I believe that Brazil it is also strong and that Germany in these types of tournaments it always becomes very powerful. Next, there is no need to rule out any surprise such as Belgium, Denmark or Spain.

The national team has several strengths. The first and fundamental thing is the conformation of the group and there the greatest credit goes to the technical staff. Secondly, the team was able to make their own game idea, pressing in most of the duels, risking with the ball. This made him believe and grow. It is no coincidence that it has been achieving good results for so long.

It should be strongly highlighted by Lionel Scaloni: He managed to compact a group and from there he instilled his idea in them. Managers have several ways to reach the player. It can be, for example, from day-to-day work or tactical conviction. And Scaloni did it judiciously, certainly repeating his thoughts and offering solutions to the various alternatives that present themselves in the matches. Technicians we grow internally when we offer positive feedback to footballers because they start believing it.

I have for me that the teams that win the World Cup are the balanced ones. Scaloni spoke about one of these at a press conference. You have to know when to take risks and when not to. Sounds simple, but it’s not. Argentina has a strong identity, but it will be difficult for them to maintain the same intensity throughout the World Cup because the rivals you are facing are different. Here, too, the heat will also come into play. The team will thus have moments of good management and breaking between the lines, and other passes to counter the rival. Efforts will have to be balanced.

I met coaches who told me that the matches were divided into three phases: 30 minutes in your favor, 30 in your opponent’s and 30 in neutral. I don’t know if you have to know how to suffer, but you have to know how to handle the times in which they dominate you. You have to slow down, pause, don’t freak out. And Argentina has shown that, when they made the difference, they knew how to team up to reduce the spaces and find a way to continue to hurt. This is what I call solidity..

Balanced teams during a tournament make the difference. Individual imbalance breaks any tactic and defensive solidity is what underpins the results.

For the debut, I think Saudi Arabia It can be a similar rival to UAE in a friendly. I assume they will plant a line of 4 defenders, 5 midfielders and a definite striker. They will try to have a bigger outlet on the sides, which the Emirates didn’t have. There must be the Cautionput emphasis on speed with which they can go out on wings.

Putting myself in Scaloni’s shoes a bit, I think he’ll lean towards a 4-back line that includes Nahuel Molina on the right side. The presence of Molina can help have more control and to offer support for the outside of that sector, which will certainly be Di María. Ángel likes to have the variant of going in the center to make contact with the midfielders in the short game or being deep with the forwards, both with clearances and with individual plays.

Paredes and De Paul are the heart of the team. They understand and complement each other: when one comes out the other closes and vice versa. They have circulation and cover spaces well and that gives away Equilibrium.

The absence of Giovani Lo Celso will be felt because he was an excellent complement. But there are variations. I liked the way Mac Allister played in a friendly and Papu Gómez can also move in that sector. There is also the possibility of inserting another striker and playing with two references. Scaloni will analyze and make the best decision.