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So where does this Argentina team sit?
Think it might honestly be the worst I've seen (starting at 94). It's Messi with 10 dudes who mostly kick people in the shins.So where does this Argentina team sit?
It's a very decent team. They controlled France for the first 78 mins.So where does this Argentina team sit?
Nah that’s your bias after a bitter QF defeat. This is a well balanced Argentinian squad. Doesn’t have the flair of France or Brazil but their mental fortitude is something to be admired and respected. Lose the opening game, blow two 2 goal leads in the knockout stages but still manage to win both games. Just imagine if the Dutch and English had half of that mental strength, might be a few more world cups between the two.Think it might honestly be the worst I've seen (starting at 94). It's Messi with 10 dudes who mostly kick people in the shins.
Though Di Maria was very good in the final.
Shame Zidane was injured in 2002, that France side was packed with talent.Don't think there's much between them. Both teams were very hard to break down, but France 1998 had arguably the second best international defence of all time behind Italy in 1990. Each of the back four were among the greatest (top 10-15) in their position of all time, whereas I don't think the 2018 team's defence hits the same heights. For what it's worth France 1998 also scored more goals than France 2018, despite not having a functioning striker for the knockout stage.
The Euro 2000 team shits on both of them though.
No it's definitely their lack of quality. They barely managed to beat the worst Dutch world cup side of all time. They have mental fortitude, but that's really all they have (aside from Messi who, lets face it, is not the 28 year old version).Nah that’s your bias after a bitter QF defeat. This is a well balanced Argentinian squad. Doesn’t have the flair of France or Brazil but their mental fortitude is something to be admired and respected. Lose the opening game, blow two 2 goal leads in the knockout stages but still manage to win both games. Just imagine if the Dutch and English had half of that mental strength, might be a few more world cups between the two.
Then why did they lose to Switzerland?Spain 2010 are the best international team of the last 50 years. Nobody was close to them at that World Cup. Every team, including great teams like the Dutch, just focused on trying to stop them as everyone knew they were head and shoulders above.
What? They lost from Switzerland in a group, managed to beat Chile thanks to red card and the rest were 1-0 wins were they just kept possession, had no penetration and presented no danger besides David Villa being in brilliant form and bailing them out regularly. IMHO it was one of the most terrible WC winners.Spain 2010 are the best international team of the last 50 years. Nobody was close to them at that World Cup. Every team, including great teams like the Dutch, just focused on trying to stop them as everyone knew they were head and shoulders above.
What you are stating is on paper true. But during the tournament itself France weren't great.Yeah Varane is the only player in 2018 France that is in the calibre of the 1998 defence. But I’d rather Giroud as a non goal scoring striker than Guivarc’h, and Mbappe was far more dangerous than Djorkaeff. In midfield, Pogba and Kanté together were an all-time partnership and Matuidi was also as good if not better than the likes of Karembeau. Pogba in particular at that World Cup was absolutely top class, and maybe better than any French midfielder in the 1998 tournament, but his United spell no doubt sours the opinion of many unfortunately.