10 Points to Ponder from the Group Stage
- 4-3-3 does not work at international level.
With both lineups designed to maximize their attacking stars and bring their awe-inspiring offensive artillery to bear, Brazil and Argentina each needed a couple of games to get going. It wasn't a lack of inertia, lethargy or their players needing time to gel. Their formations just did not work. With only three midfielders, both teams needed an extra body in midfield while one of their three forwards were constantly isolated.
With Brazil, Pato and Neymar do not drop back or play as deep as say David Villa, Pedro or Messi do at Barcelona, they are out and out forwards. Robinho is the only one who drifts back, and that too only sporadically. And given that Ganso was the only pass master Brazil could muster, the other two midfielders were a destroyer and a water carrier respectively. With a fourth midfielder, the Selecao could have spread the game to the flanks or simply had more options to pass the ball around to before unleashing one of their strikers. Options include playing only one of Lucas or Ramires, or adding Dani Alves to the right flank so he can bomb forward or cut in. Or simply adding Jadson and Lucas Moura to the lineup to give the midfield are more all round field. Or ... (Ed's note - he could go on).
With Argentina the theory is similar but harder to justify. They have more and better midfielders and even with the need to start both Ever Banega and Javier Mascherano, there was plenty of reason to include both Esteban Cambiasso and Angel Di Maria. Even with both a destroyer (Masch) and a water carrier (Banega) in the lineup, they could have deployed one of Ezequiel Lavezzi or Pastore slightly out wide or even played Fernando Gago as a sheet anchor in place of Mascherano, given that Gago can actually pass the ball. Perhaps even ... (Ed's note - seriously, we get the point).
However Batista wanted to accommodate as many of his star strikers are he could, so he opted for Lionel Messi, Lavezzi and Carlos Tevez, giving his team a front heavy look with a soft middle.
So, Brazil fielded three in the middle on account of a lightweight midfield corps, Argentina did so to give star their attacking trident as much game time as possible.
Both teams constantly found themselves a man short in the middle and a man spare up front.
- Argentine Bench Attacking Strength (Repeat from World Cup 2010).
How bad is it that Argentina can afford to leave the clinical Diego Milito and potent Gonzalo Higuain on the bench ? While not world class superstars, both strikers would walk into most teams starting XIs with the exception of Brazil, Holland and Spain.
- Fred.
Initially I was flabbergasted that the out of touch, washed up, overweight ex Lyon striker was picked ahead of Nilmar, but then he scored a typically Nilmar goal - quick and deadly with barely a touch. While Brazil lacked the clinical poaching that Nilmar brings in their first two games, his direct replacement was the one who rescued a point against Paraguay. 'WTF inclusion' to 'point well made'.
- Garay.
Just what does Ezequiel Garay need to do to get a game for either club or country ? One of the world's best centre-halves, when fit, and lethal with set pieces (20+ goals over two seasons from dead ball situations at Racing Santander when he was 21), Garay just cannot buy a game for either Real or Argentina. I rate the lad ahead of Gaby Milito, who in any case is getting back to form after injury himself, still Garay hasn't played any significant part of the proceedings.
- The Red Mark.
After starting the friendly games against Albania and Poland, I doubted young Marco Rojo was anything more than an experimental makeweight. However, he started the opening game against Bolivia and impressed before making way for the more experienced Pablo Zabaleta in the following games. Should command a spot in defence for Argentina for a while.
- Rusty Chile.
Although they still played their usual smooth passing, fluid game, Chile didn't impress as much as this hack had hoped. They still won their group with ease though and with almost the entire squad bar the substitute goalies making an appearance, have rotated their squad quite well. Claudio Borghi's side play with the same flair, formation and finesse as his predecessor, however with less potency and are somewhat less convincing. Still, even as Bielsa-lite, Chile have progressed nicely, and with a quarterfinal matchup against Venezuela later today, should fancy their chances of getting to the final four.
- Ageless Elizaga
At the age of 39 the Ecuadorian goalkeeper put on a clinic in his country's opening 0-0 draw with Paraguay, where he single-handedly kept his side in the game and the Paraguayan forwards at bay. Only a flurry of goals against Brazil in the last game spoiled Marcelo Elizaga's stats who had conceded only one goal in two games prior to that. Yes, he's 39.
- Costa Rica beats Mexico to the wooden spoon ?
So both teams were expected to struggle, especially since Mexico, who would normally have a good chance of progressing deep into the draw, decided to send a U-23 team. However, Costa Rica, unfancied late replacements for Japan, the original invitees, actually beat Bolivia 2-0 in a comfortable, assured performance.
- Colombia and Falcao wins group A
Not only did they beat Bolivia and Costa Rica either side of holding hosts, favourites and predicted Group A winner Argentina to a draw, Colombia impressed in all three games. If it had not been for some deplorable finishing by Adrian Ramos in their second game, Colombia would have been nursing a 2-0 lead for much of the game. Radamel Falcao, after a slow start came alive and ensured that he ran the show against Costa Rica and Argentina before putting Bolivia to the sword.
- Fairly flat.
With only Colombia consistently impressing during the group stages, this must have been one of the dullest tournament group stages ever. Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Chile and Venezuela impressed only in spurts, with the former two heavyweights only coming alive against the minnows of their respective groups. Paraguay played two relatively high scoring draws while Chile and Uruguay got the job done without setting any pulses racing. Peru did nothing altogether and still found themselves in the final eight. So, despite all the heavy firepower, what exactly went wrong?
Players were stiff, numb, tepid and took far too long to get going, Colombia aside. Till the last day, when the four teams in Group B scored 12 times in two games, the previous 16 matches saw only 25 goals scored. The first week of eight games yielded only 10.
One can only hope things get more interesting in the knockout stages.
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