Qatar 2022 World Cup: the keys to Argentina’s triumph in the awkward first half against Australia, for the round of 16

The Argentina national team beat Australia 1-0 at the end of an awkward first half for the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The Albiceleste team led by Lionel Scaloni tries to advance to the quarterfinals, where the Netherlands awaits, who previously beat the United States 3-1.

The keys of the first time:

– Australia handed over the initiative to the Argentine national team but he pressed with order and physical rigour as soon as the albiceleste team has reached the middle of the field.

– The game of patience: Running out of space due to Australia’s orderly defence, the team tried to find space by picking up passes and trying to pair up midfielders.

– Australia it did not deviate in any way from the initial script. The recipe is clear: give the ball to the Argentine, make them advance in the center and defend with short blocks and with the midfielders hoping to launch as soon as they recover the ball.

– Only when In the 25th minute of the first half Australia managed to take the ball away from him to Argentina. Without lucidity, but inserting players in front of the ball line, the oceanic team made Scaloni’s men uncomfortable, reduced the intensity of the game and generated a couple of corner kicks which, due to the build of their players, worried the Defense Albicelestial.

– When the match was going through a very uncomfortable area for the Argentine team, who could not find space in forward midfield, Messi took the ball on the way out of a free kick which the Australian defense rejected, Mac Allister enabled , which he found in the area at Otamendi. The defender handed it to the Argentine captain, who with a soft shot and between rival legs he made it 1-0.

– Messi’s goal gave serenity to an Argentine team that was demonstrating awkward game without spaceswithout being able to find their midfielders ahead and, above all, without the possibility of enabling Messi behind the Australian midfielders.

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