Argentina qualified in third place in the CONMEBOL round robin, but their 19 goals scored
was lower than all but one team of the ten, Bolivia.
Only Brazil conceded fewer, though.
The world’s best, Lionel Messi, scored seven of Argentina’s 19.
Argentina, appearing in their 17th World Cup and twice winners in ’78 and ’86, are
managed by Jorge Sampaoli, and he’s been as unpredictable as ever.
Argentina have played 4-3-3, 4-4-2, and, most recently, 3-3-3-1 in a friendly defeat to
Nigeria and 4-2-3-1 in a thumping by Spain and a win against Italy.
The question of how Argentina will play is therefore more complex than style or selection:
Sampaoli’s constant tinkering means that possibly even the players have no idea.
Looking at the squad, a 4-2-3-1 or even the unusual 3-3-3-1 look like sensible choices.
In the former, Lucas Biglia and Ever Banega can take the pivot roles, as Banega has also
played the deeper role in the 3-3-3-1.
Angel Di Maria or Giovanni lo Celso can play left wing, or the wide role in the 3-3-3-1,
with Boca’s Christian Pavon on the right.
That assumes Lionel Messi will play as a 10, behind Sergio Aguero, but Messi could play
on the right, with Dybala behind Aguero.
Argentina will play quick, possession-based football, getting it wide quickly, stretching
the pitch, and looking to get their star men into space.
Everything will depend on Sampaoli ‘s choices and how a defence that only really counts
Nicolas Otamendi as outstanding will play.
Argentina: they could genuinely be tournament challengers, or they could fail to progress
from a tough group.
Nothing would be a surprise with this side.
Croatia qualified as runners-up in Group I, which also featured their World Cup Group
D opponents Iceland, who topped the group.
Croatia then saw off Greece 4-1 on aggerate in the play-offs, with five goals in the process
for Mario Mandzukic of Juventus; Fiorentina’s Nikola Kalinic and Hoffenheim’s Andrej Kramaric
scored three each.
Croatia have been unsettled in the dug-out, and coach Zlatko Dalic was brought in to replace
Ante Cacic to secure a win that got Croatia to the play-offs, which he then safely navigated.
He sets Croatia up in a 4-3-3-cum-4-2-3-1, with one central midfielder, either Luka Modric
or Ivan Rakitic, pushing up to support attacks from the defensive 4-3-3.
Croatia press high, with the central midfield roaming forwards, and the full backs getting
high.
Mandzukic plays as a wide left target man for Juventus but can play through the middle
or right.
Ivan Perisic is also a superb option on the left, and Kalinic and Kramaric are predatory
strikers who work hard in the channels.
This allows Croatia to make their 4-3-3 lopsided, should Mandzukic play on the right to accommodate
Perisic, as seems likely.
Croatia are not without issues, for all their quality.
Mateo Kovacic has not impressed as a holder for Real Madrid, as he’s better going forwards,
as is Inter’s Marcelo Brozovic.
Milan Badelj is the squad’s only natural defensive midfielder, while Croatia’s most
naturally talented centre back, Tin Jedvaj, is young and unlikely to get the nod over
more experienced, but less talented, colleagues.
Croatia could go far in this tournament, but an early set back against Nigeria, which is
perfectly possible, could see them bow out in frustration.
Iceland will be hoping that their UEFA qualification set the tone for this group, as they topped
Group I which also featured Croatia.
They beat their Group D opponents 1-0 at home, lost away, but four goals from Gylfi Sigurdsson
and three from Alfred Finnbogason saw the 2016 Euro’s surprise package safely through
to Russia.
Heimar Hallgrimsson, former dentist and joint manager with the now departed Lars Lagerback,
sets Iceland up as a 4-4-2 – they’re compact, superbly drilled, and attack astutely from
a strong defensive pose.
Think Burnley, but everyone’s surname ends in ‘son’.
Iceland can also play a 4-4-1-1, which simply means pushing Gylfi Sigurdsson, the teams
creative outlet, higher, while the two flanking midfielders still provide width but try to
support the lone striker more assertively.
Cardiff City’s Aron Gunnarsson, will drop in and offer an out ball to the back four,
while Sigurdsson pushes higher up the pitch.
The attacks will come mostly from out wide, with Burnely’s Johann Berg Gudmundsson and
Villa’s Birkir Bjarnason getting forwards to deliver long crosses in.
Sigurdsson will lurk around the edge of the box, or drop to facilitate players moving
out wide.
Iceland do not have a top class striker, so goals may be an issue, but Sigurdsson’s
set pieces will always pose a threat.
Iceland will not be easy to break down, either, and skipper Gunnarsson leads a hard-working
side.
Watch out for young PSV striker or winger Albert Gudmundsson, who has three goals in
four Iceland starts, a good predatory instinct, and can score with both feet.
Iceland will be a very tough nut to crack in what might be the hardest group to call.
Nigeria comfortably topped a very tough CAF Group B, seeing off Zambia, Cameroon, and
Algeria to progress to Russia.
Chelsea’s Victor Moses top-scored with three, while Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi and Leicester
City’s Kelechi Iheanacho netted twice.
Under Gernot Rohr, another well-travelled manager in Africa, Nigeria play a 4-3-3 full
of pace and direct attacking ability.
The central midfield of Ogenyi Onazi, Wilfred Ndidi, and former Chelsea stalwart John Obi
Mikel, who skippers the side, is rock solid but all are capable of springing long passes
from deep and Mikel especially will push up.
Nigeria will play direct football, looking to exploit the pace and trickery of their
wide players Victor Moses, who plays a more advanced role than he does for Chelsea, Ahmed
Musa, and Alex Iwobi.
Up front, either Iheanacho or Changchun Yatai’s Odion Ighalo, who had one exceptional season
for Watford in the Premier League, will act as a focal point, looking to burst beyond
the line and profit from crosses.
There’s a lot to like about this Nigerian side going forwards, but their defence and
goalkeeper are unconvincing at the highest level.
Nigeria will have to rely on their midfield doing a lot of protecting, then rapid transitions
forwards.
But their approach works well with the players they have, and it’s tried and tested.
Young Gent winger Moses Simon should get the chance to impress from the bench, while Alex
Iwobi could cement a lead role for club and country on the big stage.
Nigeria do have enough to progress from this group – an upset against either Argentina
or Croatia is not off the cards.