How Argentina should play
Argentina in Copa America
Argentina’s recent “success” in Copa America inspired me to write this article. Many of you probably have watched some of Argentina’s games from TV, and have noticed that even fans of Albicelestes have been very disappointed with their performance. And of course, the Messiah, Lionel Messi hasn’t been himself, and has founded himself in middle of critics in news all over the world.
Two of the first games were simply bad, Sergio Batista trying to replicate Barcelona to build his team around Messi, while Argentina has 3 world class number 9 strikers, Tevez, Aguero and Higuain. They have also Lavezzi, who had great season it Italy, but he moves more freely, often playing as a winger, both scoring and creating. So having top strikers left out of the starting 11 and use Messi as a striker in a false nine role and using Tevez as a winger, doesn’t sound that good. Other problem is midfield, Cambiasso, Gago, Banega or Mascherano being anywhere near of Iniesta’s or Xavi’s quality, not using the space left by Messi’s movement. Batista was forced to try some other approaches, which weren’t successful either.
Of course, this isn’t the whole truth. Last game of group stage against Costa Rica was another story. Messi was moving behind the strikers and on the right hand side of the pitch, looking for space and made several through balls to forwards. Higuain was in a traditional striker role, while Aguero and Di Maria made a good partnership on the left side, both moving into channels when Higuain made space with his movement, Aguero starting his runs from wider position, and Di Maria involved more to the build up play. Batista realized same thing that I knew even before the Copa America had started; their midfield isn’t good enough to set up Messi, so he should set up others. This lead to 2 assists by Messi, and third one wasn’t far away, when Lavezzi missed the net, hitting the post from a similar chance where Aguero and Di Maria scored.
My idea for Argentina
I decided to make my own tactic suited for Argentina. Keys to this tactic are how to play Messi to get the best out of him and how to use the quality strikers. Also the midfield is something to think about. This is what I got:
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As you can see, it uses 4-2-3-1 formation, with another midfielder playing deeper, covering the defensive line. I like it to be attacking, as Argentina has lots of attacking players, but their midfield isn't very capaple for creating and keeping the ball for a long time, at least in real life, in FM that is actually quite easy to do, but I don't want to use the flaws of the ME to build up this tactic, otherwise I would have used 3 strikers. Messi is used as the playmaker, no target man assinged, I have just heard that ticking it will get the ball forward more quicker. Not pressing the whole pitch, as it will tire players, and forces to use high defensive line, which I don't want to use because of lack of space at the back.
Player roles
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Messi is played as a winger, because I want him to create the chances, as Banega and Cambiasso doesn't have the quality to create most of the chances. Pastore has potential, but he has played only few minutes so far in Copa America. Also Messi has lots of space to run with ball as a winger. He should both score and create, altough you can get more out of him when playing him in another position, but this way I can use also other attacking players. No wide play, he already cuts inside because of his PPM and move into channels drag him out of position.
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Agüero, Di Maria or Lavezzi on the other side of the pitch. Searches for space behind the defence, supporting the striker and tries to get into scoring chances. Trying to act like Agüero and Lavezzi against Costa Rica when Messi made 2 über passes, Agüero scoring but Lavezzi hitting the post.
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Milito, Higuain or Agüero. Only thing he has to do is score, anything else you get is a bonus. Trying to break the defensive line with direct running. Move into channels sometimes makes him to drift into wider position, but it is covered by Tevez.
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Tevez, acting like a second striker, role made by iNickStuff, you can find that role from the OP of this thread. Only little tweaks to make it suit the tactic. Only player with man marking and closing down at maximum, because his stamina and workrate allows him to act like a headless chicken when defending. Also good mental skills allows him to tackle hard. Trying to read Higuain's movement and fill the space he leaves.
Defensive players were ordered to play simple game, short passing and no running, fullbacks supporting attacks, but not taking any risks. Pastore/Banega in MCL acting quite advanced though, even little too advanced, as you can see soon.
Striker partnership
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This simple picture shows how strikers read each others game. Higuain has gone to wide position, and has recieved the ball. Tevez then goes forward to fill the position left by Higuain. Messi also has a small involvement, going to more central position. This leads to Higuain making a cross, intercepted by Alex, #3
Semi-final against Brazil
Game against Brazil was a good chance to test how my team plays. Brazil used a very defensive 5-1-2-2 formation with wingbacks. So at least 3 CBs and DM defending all the time, allowing wingbacks, centre midfielders and strikers to act in a more attacking manner. This was very difficult to break, and I won 2-3 after extra time. Brazil scored from a penalty, which was given way too easily, and Marcelo scored the other one with a amazing long shot hitting the bar. I am going to show my first 2 goals in that match, 3rd one was an own goal from a corner so not much to show.
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Ansaldi has recieved the ball from Mascherano after he intercepted Brazil's clearance. Ansaldi has lots of space to run with ball, but only passing option being Agüero. Brazil has marked my players very tightly.
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As instructed, Ansaldi doesn't run with ball but passes it to Agüero, who has some space to dribble, as marked with a red box. Now Tevez makes a wrong decision, running towards Milito when he should run to position of the other arrow, to make more options for cross. Here you can also see how many defensive players Brazil has.
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Agüero cuts inside as a right footed player. Pastore acting little too advance now, taking away the space of Agüero. Tevez and Milito waiting for a proper ball or rebound.
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Even though lots of players aroung him, Agüero sends a pass in targeting for Milito. Black box indicates the space where the ball goes. Going too close to keeper would mean easy interception for him, too far away from goal meaning that defenders could intercept the pass or giving Milito too little time.
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Milito finishes well after 1 touch. Immediately after Milito's strike there is 7 Brazilians inside their own box and 1 more just outside the box marking Pastore.
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Mascherano made another interception and played the ball to Messi. Pastore is recieving treatment, but there is still 3 players waiting for a cross. Messi has also possibilities to play the ball back to Mascherano or to Zanetti, who is supporting the attack.
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Again there is a small space where the ball could be delivered. Messi cuts inside, and after a few steps sends a ball towards Milito.
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Milito finishes with a diving header. Again, lots of Brazilians near their own goal, leaving only Robinho and Luis Fabiano upfront.
Match stats
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I had more shots, and most of them being from short range, while most of Brazil's attemps where long shots. Their only clear cut chance being the penalty. I also controlled possession, altough it wasn't something I tried to achieve. I also ran less than Brazil, which can sometimes give the difference needed to win the game.
In final game against Uruguay (sorry, no screenshots) I controlled the game, them having only few chances while I had several chances. Finally I scored a winner with a counter attack, Messi making a superb assist over the defenders, sendind Higuain to 1-on-1 with a keeper. He doesn't miss, and Argentina win the Copa America. Messi had a half time rating of 6,5 but full time rating of 8,1 picking the man of the match award.
Conclusions
Some keys to make a succesful tactic to Argentina: Use Messi as a creator, as they lack quality in midfield. Use attacking approach, quick with counter attacking. Make sure that the world-class attacking players offer through ball options for Messi, and also to other players.
Also I want to point out that this wasn't meant to be a tactic tweaked to win everything, but more of a roughly made system where Argentina should build on.
I had some very good time writing this article. First it was ready 3 days ago, but then some problems occured and I had to write this all over again, getting it ready just 20 minutes before next match of Argentina. Anyway I hope this encouragages more people to write their own article. Good idea if you are stuck in your long term save and need some changing. It can also give you some tactical ideas to improve your tactics. Also, I'm sorry that this is quite short, I finished it with a hurry, but I also hope that it contains everything worth of mentioning. I'm delighted to answer any questions, or even edit later to make improvements if necessary.
Hope you enjoy it, greetings from Finland!
