The group stage of the World Cup is complete! Two of South America’s sides are advancing to the knockout rounds, while two have been eliminated. Here’s what went right for the two are moving on (Argentina and Brazil) and what was wanting for the two going home (Uruguay and Ecuador).
WHAT WENT RIGHT?
Group C finish: 1st place, 6 points (2W-1L-0D) Knockout round opponent: vs. Australia
Probably the biggest thing that went right for Argentina was the opportunity to play Poland in order to win Group C. Too slow to support centre-forward Robert Lewandowski and, even more importantly, too slow to block Argentina’s midfield interplay, Poland were the perfect opponent for a team seeking to confirm that it had regained its mojo.
Just as had happened against Colombia four years ago, Poland were thoroughly out of their depth against a South American side proficient at moving the ball. Argentina ended up being rewarded for retaining faith in their own idea. They had been thrown off course by the extraordinary boldness of Saudi Arabia‘s high defensive line in the first group stage game, denying them the room to play their passing game.
And under pressure against Mexico in the second game, coach Lionel Scaloni did his team no favours by introducing Guido Rodriguez in the midfield holding role, a player without the passing skills to start the moves with the required rhythm. From the moment he was replaced by Enzo Fernandez, Argentina started looking like the side that came into the tournament on a 36-game unbeaten run.
