Sergio Aguero will garner the headlines but there was much to admire in Argentina’s overall performance and their 3-1 win over Poland. With the second half only seconds old Aguero flicked to ball up and over the Polish defender, pivoted and deposited the ball past Bialkowski.
Aguero’s second of the game, with only five minutes remaining, was another for the highlight reel as he took the ball past the keeper in Romario-style (around the 400 goal mark not the thousand) and rolled the ball over the line.
The first goal from Argentina that pegged the Poles back to 1-1 was simply spectacular. Banega who was the source of such much creative play in the Argentine midfield started the play ten yards inside his own half. The ball eventually reached little Moralez the other side of the halfway line and he proceeded to skin four Polish defenders. Given the outcome the last defender must have regretted pulling out of a tackle which would have stopped the Argentine number 17 but would have likely led to a yellow card.
On Moralez went playing a one-two that he then picked up in the penalty box before squaring to Di Maria who scored. Moralez operated just behind the front two and his pace and dribbling skills were a constant menace to Poland.
Eight minutes before Dawid Janczyk had put the Poles into the lead after the Argentine defense was caught ball watching. Was it offside? Perhaps, but it was an extremely close call and Argentina did not appeal the decision.
Poland was a worthy opponent and tackled ferociously but fairly most of time and Janczyk’s sending off in the last seconds of the game was more due to frustration than any malicious intent.
Argentina moves on and awaits Mexico or Congo in the quarter final.
As a post-script fifteen minutes after the game the Argentina fans are holding an impromptu celebration in the north end of BMO Field that looks as if it is going to continue for a good while.
This looks like Spain's tournament to lose after watching the round of 16 unfold. However, if any team is to be dubbed as an underacheiver, the Spanish side wins that award by leaps and bounds. DUMBSWEDE, I think the Argentines have 5 U-20 World Cups. Correct me if I am wrong but it seems to me they lack nothing. My prediction: Argentina 3, Spain 2.
Oh yeah, as for Copa América - Argentina wins by two goals. They are clicking on all cylinders and have too much firepower for this Brazilian side not featuring their mega-stars. Argentina 3, Brazil 1.
I would rank the two most underachieving countries (in terms of talent and lack of results) as (1) Spain and (2) Argentina. And I am refering predoinantly to the full national team, not U-20 cups.
I guess because the senior side has two (albiet over 20 years ago), I would not put them in that category. However, if we are talking only about recent history you should consider the following squads: Holland, Portugal, and England. All of these squads have spectacular talent and no world cup trophy. Although, Holland and Portugal have had deep runs in the tournament in the last 10 years (semifinal appearances). In reality, one team gets the trophy out 32 freak'n teams, so the lynchpin cannot (or shouldn't) be obtaining a trophy. Argentina did lose in the group stages in Korea but their performance hasn't been so dismal in recent memory that they merit such a dubious distinction. Spain, on the other hand, regularly gets beat early on and for no other apparent reason than underacheivement. Remember, Argentina played Nigeria, Sweden (a very talented Sweden side), and I believe France in what was recognized by most pundits as the group of death; probably one of the worse groupings I have seen in awhile. In their last cup they lost to the host nation in the quarters. Frankly, I don't think there is any criteria in which you could possibly identify Argentina as underacheivers.
I guess I compare them to Brazil. If we are talking about talented players I would pick Argentina over Brazil a majority of the time. However, Brazil wins. Brazil wins even when they don't play well or are not the best team. Argentina is virtually always the best team when they step on the pitch. So maybe this is an unfair comparison, but they certainly underachieve in comparison to Brazil.
You are right. Holland, England and Portugal are all very talented and have not won very many titles. However, I tend to view these teams in a different category because they are not as large as Argentina or Brazil and certianly do not have equivalent talent pools.
And what more can be said about Spain? An entire league of excellent quality, but no trophies.
I don't know if they have a more talented squad most of the time they step on the field together. However, I would agree this time at Copa América. If they don't take this title, it will be a disappointment.
You truly are a dumb Swede. Comparing ARGENTINA to Spain? Jesus Christ. Look at the trophy-cases, my friend.
ARGENTINA is one of the most successful national teams in the world. Two-time winners of the World Cup and 14-time Copa America winners. They have made it to 4 World Cup finals. They have won 6 of the 14 Pan American Games. They've won the Confederations and Kirin Cup in 1992. AND they won the gold medal in the 1994 Olympics.
Spain are known as underachievers. Their accomplishments? 1964 EURO and a gold medal in the 1992 Summer Olympics.
I seriously hope you're joking in your comparison.
I've always considered the Spain national team very much like the England national team. Two countries with the greatest leagues in the world, yet national teams that are largely disappointments.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by that above statement.
If you mean in terms of national teams, Spain have two players currently playing in England: Reina and Xabi Alonso. David Beckham is the only-non England based player on the England national team.
No, no. How many domestic players are playing in their respective leagues (Englishmen in England; Spaniards in Spain). The analysis of having a strong league, and therefore a strong national team, only works if the citizens of a national team are playing domestically in their strong league.
Swede completely disagree, I think a national team that has players playing a diverse group of leagues are the most successful. With the exception of Italy, Brazil, and France are the last two to win in 94, 98, and 02, those teams had players spread all over from Italy to England. I mean look at how England and Spain, and Mexico have done internationally, all are under performers. Only now we have seen Spanish and Mexican players start to venture outside their home countries.
Whoa, who said Argentina was larger than those other countries ... england, portugal and whoever. Territy wise yes but the population there is under 40mil ... certainly the u.k. has more than that, no?
Anyways, me thinks this was a conspiracy to have the copa america and U21 WC at the same time ... since Messi is 19 he would have ensured a victory up in Moose country.
As for the Argentine seniors, me predicts there will be 2 wc final appearances in the next 10 years ... Tevez is 23 and Messi at 19 will ensure that. And more specifically, Tevez is a winner whereever he's been and the biggest mistake they made in the last wc was to keep him on the bench most of the time. They gots to let him play and lead the team to victory.
[quote]Poland was a worthy opponent and tackled ferociously but fairly most of time and Janczyk’s sending off in the last seconds of the game was more due to frustration than any malicious intent.[/quote]
Polish players, as expected, played a very physical game. I wouldn't call them dirty, but they certainly deserved more cards in first half than the single yellow given to Marciniak at 26th minute. Danch for example, displayed poor tackling techniques on several occasions. Starosta only received a caution for pulling down Moralez in their box?! If the slav ref wasn't biased, then he clearly had a soft hand.
The Argentine CBs played kinda sloppy at the begining. Although Fazio and Banega did pretty well covering back from the defensive midfield screen. The first polish goal was a diagonal cross that apparently defeated an offside trap(not even sure if it really wasn't offside), nothing spetacular IMO.
I really don't think Poland played that well today. They seemed clueless when the ball is at their rear midfield. Their captain wasn't playing and that might of affected their composure. but basically they looked for 1 target person, and send bunch of throw balls to him. Some reached janczyk, most didn't...
Janczyk also turned to furstration a lot earlier than 90th minute. He should of been thrown out of the game earlier. We shouldn't have to make substitution to protect our starters, that's the ref's job.
The best part of the Argentina-Poland U-20 game occurred about midway in the first half after a partcularly strong exchange of tackles from both teams near midfield that didn't produce a whistle, let alone a card.
The ref sent a message, as he had earlier and did later, that play-acting wasn't going to produce calls or free kicks.
The result was a simply cracking game where both teams found the limit of allowably strong physical play while letting their skill show through frequently.
For me, a wonderful game to follow the dreary, negative match played the night before when USA-Uruguay played an awful, chippy match that had little flow or sustained energy.
Great fan support, superior reffing and unbelievable talent from Sergio Aguero, Maxi Moralez and Ever Banega.
And if the Argentine fans looked like a fun bunch from the press box, they were even more fun to be with during the game. Ole Ole, Ole Ola, O Argentina, Rah-Rah-Rah!
Settle down. He didn't say anything about the US. He said the Uraguay match was ugly and had no flow, and he was right. It was largely due to a ref unable to take control like the ref for the Argentine match apparently did.
I know Mexico's flopping didn't work. I laughed when I saw them draw a yellow for diving 10 minutes in. If we'd had the same official for the Uraguay match, they would've run out of players before halftime, which would've at least kept them fresh for their post-match brawl.
Buffalo: I don't hate the US. I cheer for them because if they do well it will only reflect well on MLS, making my investment in four season tickets with Toronto FC look that much better.
I'll be at Saturday's game and I think it should be a good game but one the US should find easier to win than the Uruguay game. I hope Edu finds his form a little earlier and I hope Altidore recovers from his injury and I hope Michael Bradley continues his bright, opportunistic play and sets up a great soccer story being the son of the national team head coach.
So say you're sorry and I won't make any cliche Buffalo wisecracks like: 'Tonight! On Eyewitness News! Buffalo Blaze Busters Battle Tonawanda's Towering Inferno!' (tool shed burns down)
Riostrioff - Are you talking about Joel Aguilar the "Slav" referee from El Salvador? SLV is the abbreviation for El Salvador.
Generally I think the refereeing has been very good in tournament - better than at the World Cup last summer. But there again an easier assignment also.
ya bobby. I saw it on TV, thought SLV stand for slav :D
but yes, that guy IMO was way too soft. especially for youth competition. Refs' gotta do better job protecting these players. They might looked mature because their experience, but they're still young.
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