Lusail Stadium, 12.30 pm (Saturday)
Van Dijk must brace Messi
Dutch must push Argentina on the flanks to negate attacking risk
Average Age: Netherlands: 27.4; Argentina: 27.8
common top: Netherlands: 6’8″; Argentina: 5’8″ Weight
prone to begin at 11
Netherlands: 3-5-2
Nopper; Timber, Van Dijk, AK; Dumfries, Roon, de Jong, Blind, Klaasen; gakpo, depe
Argentina: 4-3-3
Martinez; Acuna, Otamendi, Romero, Molina; Alister, Fernandez, De Paul; Gomez, Messi, Alvarez
Defined Area: Lateral
As they did towards Poland, Mexico in addition to Australia, Argentina will purpose to regulate proceedings, whereas the Netherlands – as they did towards the USA – might be completely satisfied to sit down again and search for alternatives to assault on counter.
This meant the Dutch would as soon as once more play a 5-3-2 system in defence, which would depart no area for the Argentines in the course of the pitch, forcing them to maneuver into large areas. This might be essential for 2 key causes: Overcrowding in central areas will imply Messi could also be pressured to play in a special function to assist with the build-up. For Virgil van Dijk and Co., it’ll imply not having to take care of Messi’s menacing presence in assault for the third time in a row.
Secondly, they are going to drive Argentina to do one thing they aren’t comfy with – assault from the flanks. While they’ve high quality wingers and use large areas by overloading the flanks, that is finished with the intention of drawing opposition midfielders in the direction of them in an effort to open up area within the middle from which they launch assaults.
The Dutch, however, rely closely on their wingers and wing-backs to create scoring possibilities. So whereas they are going to hope to press Argentina within the centre, the Netherlands will purpose to make use of the width to their benefit.
Main Fight: Van Dijk vs. Messi
Quite merely, will probably be a battle between arguably the most effective centre-back on this planet towards the most effective striker of this technology.
Messi has turned again time with some stellar performances within the event. And he hasn’t finished it simply by scoring targets. Messi has been used as a decoy by Lionel Scaloni, a ploy wherein he attracts opponents in to make room for his teammates within the centre, the place Julián Álvarez has additionally been a continuing risk.
For Van Dijk, the problem won’t solely be holding a detailed eye on Messi, but additionally monitoring his strike companions and fast actions contained in the field.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
