WC-MOTD23-P1
Day 23:
Netherlands vs. Argentina: Part 1:-
A WC semi-final of which many people will not have fond memories as both teams cancelled each other out in almost all areas of the pitch.
Coach Louis van Gaal opted for a defensive 3-5-2 formation, with 2 DMs to further enhance the siege around Lionel Messi at the back.
On the other hand, Coach Alehjandro Sabella set-up his team with a 4-3-3/4-3-1-2 lay-out; choosing to deploy 3 central (defensive) midfielders, with Messi in a CF role behind 2 strikers (more like 1 true striker!).
The Dutch began the match by defending deeper than Argentina for the most part; looking to send long aerial balls (diagonal and vertical) over Argentina’s backline à la vs. Spain in the group-stage.
The Argentineans were playing a tad higher up the pitch, and were looking to slowly build their attacks from the back; as they were more in control of the ball. Messi, as expected, was being tightly marked by around 3 players (sometimes even 4!) wherever he went!
The Netherlands had a tough time taking their game into 2nd gear in terms of quick counter-attacking play for large parts of the first half; but they were doing a good job at the back by efficiently minimizing Argentina’s attacking threat.
Coach Sabella’s team were exposing Holland’s lack of width in defense, but they were unable to deliver the proper passes and crosses into the box from which Gonzalo Higuaín could benefit. To be fair, the Napoli forward was not getting into the right positions himself in the final third!
There weren’t many spaces opening up in either team’s half as both sides were playing with extreme caution and defensive tactical discipline.
Argentina were seen drifting play out wide more often than not, and were clearly in need of more support from their central players as Messi was being absolutely silenced in terms of his darting runs through the middle.
The Dutch seemed unable to launch any proper attack in between Argentina’s defensive lines and should have pulled the opposition CBs/DMs more towards the center, in an attempt to free some channels at the back.
All in all, it was a very tight tactical half from both teams, with Argentina enjoying more ball possession and able to create more chances than the Netherlands.
The Argentineans, however, shifted play out to the flanks way too many times, and their lack of a true 2nd striker (Lavezzi is no striker!), alongside Higuaín, limited the physical presence in the opposition’s box.
They defended well though, and did not make many mistakes in midfield either; but they needed an extra element of central play from their main CMs.
Holland weren’t able to create any real chances from open play as their strategy of sending long aerial balls over Argentina’s backline did not work as their coach might have hoped.
Moreover, the trio of Sneijder, Robben and Van Persie were largely subdued in attack due to an enhanced focus on defensive duties from their coaching staff. They were in dire need of more urgency going forward and an increased dose of creativity from the middle of the park.
Defensively, the Dutch played a very compact and organized game (Vlaar being especially excellent) and were doing an impressive job in nullifying and frustrating Messi!
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The second half saw Coach Van Gaal switch to a more attacking 4-3-3 formation as he replaced Martins Indi with Janmaat.
It may be that such a change was an obligatory one due to Indi’s yellow card late in the 1st half; as Coach Van Gaal might have feared losing a player due to Indi’s inexperience at such a big stage.
Janmaat was now playing in the LB role, Daley Blind switching back from RM/RWB to RB, Kuyt moving to LW and Robben playing opposite to him in the RW position.
It was a variation which was supposed to offer the Netherlands much more offensive width and cover up the lack of defensive width at the back.
Holland’s tactical changes didn't require too much time to come into effect as the Dutch started to attack more and press Argentina higher up the pitch.
The Dutch were clearly going for the win as they pushed play even further forward and committed more bodies in attack. They were, however, still lacking a cutting-edge pass or two in the final third, while also being not urgent enough in some areas of the pitch.
Argentina seemed totally subdued in attack and were having difficulties retaining possession for a long enough period of time.
For all the extra physical presence that the Netherlands added to their offensive game in the second half, they were still unable to impose themselves in attack; lacking clear urgency in their forward momentum and seemingly unable to get proper passes through...
Netherlands vs. Argentina: Part 1:-
A WC semi-final of which many people will not have fond memories as both teams cancelled each other out in almost all areas of the pitch.
Coach Louis van Gaal opted for a defensive 3-5-2 formation, with 2 DMs to further enhance the siege around Lionel Messi at the back.
On the other hand, Coach Alehjandro Sabella set-up his team with a 4-3-3/4-3-1-2 lay-out; choosing to deploy 3 central (defensive) midfielders, with Messi in a CF role behind 2 strikers (more like 1 true striker!).
The Dutch began the match by defending deeper than Argentina for the most part; looking to send long aerial balls (diagonal and vertical) over Argentina’s backline à la vs. Spain in the group-stage.
The Argentineans were playing a tad higher up the pitch, and were looking to slowly build their attacks from the back; as they were more in control of the ball. Messi, as expected, was being tightly marked by around 3 players (sometimes even 4!) wherever he went!
The Netherlands had a tough time taking their game into 2nd gear in terms of quick counter-attacking play for large parts of the first half; but they were doing a good job at the back by efficiently minimizing Argentina’s attacking threat.
Coach Sabella’s team were exposing Holland’s lack of width in defense, but they were unable to deliver the proper passes and crosses into the box from which Gonzalo Higuaín could benefit. To be fair, the Napoli forward was not getting into the right positions himself in the final third!
There weren’t many spaces opening up in either team’s half as both sides were playing with extreme caution and defensive tactical discipline.
Argentina were seen drifting play out wide more often than not, and were clearly in need of more support from their central players as Messi was being absolutely silenced in terms of his darting runs through the middle.
The Dutch seemed unable to launch any proper attack in between Argentina’s defensive lines and should have pulled the opposition CBs/DMs more towards the center, in an attempt to free some channels at the back.
All in all, it was a very tight tactical half from both teams, with Argentina enjoying more ball possession and able to create more chances than the Netherlands.
The Argentineans, however, shifted play out to the flanks way too many times, and their lack of a true 2nd striker (Lavezzi is no striker!), alongside Higuaín, limited the physical presence in the opposition’s box.
They defended well though, and did not make many mistakes in midfield either; but they needed an extra element of central play from their main CMs.
Holland weren’t able to create any real chances from open play as their strategy of sending long aerial balls over Argentina’s backline did not work as their coach might have hoped.
Moreover, the trio of Sneijder, Robben and Van Persie were largely subdued in attack due to an enhanced focus on defensive duties from their coaching staff. They were in dire need of more urgency going forward and an increased dose of creativity from the middle of the park.
Defensively, the Dutch played a very compact and organized game (Vlaar being especially excellent) and were doing an impressive job in nullifying and frustrating Messi!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The second half saw Coach Van Gaal switch to a more attacking 4-3-3 formation as he replaced Martins Indi with Janmaat.
It may be that such a change was an obligatory one due to Indi’s yellow card late in the 1st half; as Coach Van Gaal might have feared losing a player due to Indi’s inexperience at such a big stage.
Janmaat was now playing in the LB role, Daley Blind switching back from RM/RWB to RB, Kuyt moving to LW and Robben playing opposite to him in the RW position.
It was a variation which was supposed to offer the Netherlands much more offensive width and cover up the lack of defensive width at the back.
Holland’s tactical changes didn't require too much time to come into effect as the Dutch started to attack more and press Argentina higher up the pitch.
The Dutch were clearly going for the win as they pushed play even further forward and committed more bodies in attack. They were, however, still lacking a cutting-edge pass or two in the final third, while also being not urgent enough in some areas of the pitch.
Argentina seemed totally subdued in attack and were having difficulties retaining possession for a long enough period of time.
For all the extra physical presence that the Netherlands added to their offensive game in the second half, they were still unable to impose themselves in attack; lacking clear urgency in their forward momentum and seemingly unable to get proper passes through...
Ahmad Al-Omar - 10. Jul, 00:54
