Patient Pass Masters See Off School Yard Bullies

It wasn’t pretty, but then when Argentina beat England, to set up a mouth watering final tie to pit the South American champions verses Europe’s very best, those of us who knew ball, knew exactly what to expect, and the World Cup final played out just the way it was supposed to.

Spain were always going to be too strong for Argentina who decided their best form of attack, in defence of the trophy they won four years ago, was to defend, and in defending for so many long periods including extra time with ten men, they eventually caved in, and got what they deserved.

This was a rubbish final, but then Argentina have been for long periods in this World Cup rubbish, and whilst Spain are very good at what they do, they aren’t exactly enthralling to watch.

The Spaniards set out early on to dictate, to pass, to probe, against a resilient and organised opponent, who would ensure they made this game a scrap.

Like the first 45 minutes of the semi-final verses England, Argentina turned this into a dogfight, but Spain didn’t rise to the bait, the niggling Tagliafico kicking and grabbing young Lamine Yamal, was dusted off with maturity, eventually the cards would come out, Spain receiving none, Argentina totalling seven yellows including two for Enzo Fernandez, who’s discipline in the end proved costly for his country.

It took Argentina to go a goal behind and play over 115 minutes of football before they had an attempt on goal, even then Unai Simon’s gloves weren’t tested, Spain had 20 shots in total to Argentina’s two, zero on target verses the Spaniards 12, this was one way traffic, patiently slowed down by all be it very good defensive banking, 65% of play was passed between red and navy, 762 of 852 passes were made by Spain, 358 of 464 by Argentina, who had nearly half as little of the ball.

We expected more from Messi, who made just 27 of 34 passes, often on the games periphery, he had 54 touches in total, contrast that to Spanish star Lamine Yamal, who’s 44 of 51 passes were made successfully, who’s 87 touches, were mostly running at the opponents defence, the young nineteen year old becoming the youngest player to win the Euros and World Cup, although as competition’s go, he had his place in this team, but the team was certainly more important than he.

No player in the competition passed the ball more than Rodri, who rightly won the player of the tournament, orchestrating the Spanish style to his own tempo and liking, he made 101 successful passes of 106 attempted before being subbed in extra time, whilst behind him, Pau Cubarsi deservedly picked up the young player of the tournament trophy, at nineteen, he played with as much maturity and excellence as any elite star in the competition, 139 touches he made in the final game, 6 clearances, 5 recoveries, 11 progressive carries, this is a footballer who not only helped Unai Simon’s goal to be tested just 10 times in the whole competition (to put this into context, England had 11 shots on target v France who had 9 attempts at goal in the 3rd/4th playoff alone), but his forward thinking football brain often saw the Barcelona star begin attacking moves, he played every minute of all eight games in which Spain conceded just once.

Spain Are Good

For all of Spain’s slow tempo passing play they do seem to lack the world class level striker that would probably see them win games more comfortably. They control possession and are so quick to win it back, they have an embarrassment of riches in midfield, but goals are spread around, and heroes unlikely, Ferran Torres coming off the bench to score his first tournament goal, to win the final, after Nico Williams, who’s minutes were previously few and far between following a recovery from injury, nodded down to him.

Neither Williams or Yamal (who scored just once in a 4-0 win v Saudi Arabia) produced near the levels that they would have hoped prior to the competition kicking off over 5 weeks ago, but neither will care much, now that they are crowned champions of the world.

Spain’s strengths are in defence, where Cubarsi and Laporte forged a terrific partnership, where Porro and Cucarella got forward brilliantly from their full back positions, in midfield, where Rodri dictates, where Fabian Ruiz and Dani Olmo chip in with incredible work-rate, with intricate passes, where if in need, Zubimendi, Pedri, Merino, can all play their part too.

Argentina Are Bad

As final participating goes, this was as bad as it gets, from a team that were fancied could cause upset, who let’s not forget, were in defence of their own gold trophy.

I still remember a similarly bad defence in 1990 when two Argentina players were sent off against West Germany, who won with a late Andreas Brehme penalty, and this had similarities, in that Argentina didn’t come to play, they came to ‘stop’ and in doing so, they were second best in everything they did.

Lionel Messi had so little of the ball, so little could he do, hardly helped by anyone willing to get forward and make something happen, this was a sad sight of a player past his prime, strutting hopelessly around, whilst the ball got passed around him, and his team-mates.

Three of Argentina’s back four were substituted, for a second successive game both centre halves were booked, in midfield, the balance was wrong, Lionel Scaloni, commended for his tactical out-ploying of Tuchel in the semi, had out-tinkered himself, only Simeone off the bench actually improved their side, whilst he left the likes of Lautaro Martinez sitting with splinters, Julian Alvarez subbed in extra time for Marcos Senesi, was pretty much and act of giving up.

In the End…

Many of the purists will say football was the winner… I’m not so sure, as Spain all be it brilliant at what they do, are pretty boringly good, like a basketball team that doesn’t give the ball back, it can’t be that anyone other than the Spanish are entertained.

Argentina got what they deserved, for trying to destruct, rather than construct, they were largely second best in the final, and I wonder if they were very lucky still, to get this far.

A forgettable final, for a tacky tournament that I'm now happy is over. Yes we had some fun, and a few cracking games (between ad breaks) in the knock out stages especially, but the side show seemed to flatter the end result, Muppets, Madonna, R9 & Ronaldinho, Shakira dancing, Gianni Infantino wearing white trainers and a trophy in a tasteless Louis Vuitton case, all remembered more than the punches thrown by Parades after it all ended. America wanted this show piece to be memorable, and for the wrong reasons, it certainly was.

theHEADscout.

I’m a sports DATA Analyst and PFSA associate scout with level two qualifications in talent identification and level one certificates in technical scouting & opposition analysis.