Лионель Скалоний удирдсан Аргентины шигшээ баг 2026 оны Дэлхийн аваргын финалд хүрэх замдаа хүндхэн сорилтуудыг даван туулж, эцсийн мөчид хожил байгуулах чадвараа харуулсаар байна.
Аргентинчууд хасагдах шатанд Кабо-Вердег нэмэлт цагт, Швейцарыг маргаантай шүүгчийн шийдвэрийн дараа буулган авсан бол хагас шигшээд Английг хожлоо. Лионель Скалони Английн эсрэг Жулиано Симеонийг гараанд гаргаж, тоглолтын хэмнэлийг өөрчлөхийн зэрэгцээ стандартын байдлаас гоол оруулах тактикийг амжилттай хэрэгжүүлсэн юм. Лионель Мессигийн дамжуулалтаар Лаутаро Мартинезийн оруулсан гоол тэднийг финалд хөтөлсөн бөгөөд Аргентин нь энэ удаагийн Дэлхийн аваргад стандарт цохилтоос хамгийн олон гоол оруулсан багаар нэрлэгдэж байна.
Испанийн шигшээ баг Францыг хожсон гайхалтай тоглолтынхоо дараа финалд фаворитоор нэрлэгдэж байгаа ч Аргентины тоглолтын сүүлийн мөчид хүчээ сэлбэж, эргэн ирэлт хийдэг зан чанар нь томоохон аюул заналхийлэл юм. Испаничууд бөмбөг эзэмшилтээр давуу байдлыг үүсгэдэг бол Аргентин нь хамгаалалтын нягт бүтэц болон агаарын бөмбөгөнд тоглох давуу талдаа тулгуурлан МетЛайф цэнгэлдэх хүрээлэнд болох финалд өрсөлдөхөөр зэхэж байна.
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Argentina have reached another World Cup final, but is their method of winning truly sustainable?
Their run has hardly been smooth. Lionel Messi’s team had to fight back from behind twice in the knockout rounds and were taken to extra time by Cape Verde in the round of 32. Had it not been for an 111th minute own goal, their World Cup defence might have ended there.
Even against Switzerland in the quarter-finals, Argentina benefited from a contentious red card. Had Breel Embolo not been shown a second yellow card, following a case of “mistaken identity,” Switzerland might have made it through to the final four. They were the team on top at the time.
Against England in the semi-finals, though, Argentina demonstrated why they can never be counted out. Despite not playing an especially positive game for the majority of Wednesday’s semi-final, Lionel Scaloni’s team still found a way to win.
It is because of this that Spain must be wary of the defending champions in Sunday’s final. But is this pattern of winning a predictable pattern that can now be replicated in the biggest game in the sport?
Scaloni’s use of a midfield diamond at the World Cup hasn’t always been the most effective.
Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister and Leandro Paredes are all excellent players capable of combining through the middle, but their deployment together has robbed Argentina of some dynamism.
This is presumably why Scaloni dropped De Paul for Giuliano Simeone to face England. The Atlético Madrid winger was picked to disrupt England’s game through consistent fouling, but also to stretch the pitch and provide some verticality.
Simeone certainly succeeded in his first objective, committing five fouls in the first half alone.
Giuliano Simeone produced a battling display for Argentina against England in the semi-final. (Thomas Coex / AFP via Getty Images)
Argentina also succeeded in posing a threat from set pieces, scoring their equaliser against England from a well-worked corner kick routine. No team has scored more set piece goals at the 2026 World Cup than La Albiceleste. Not only this, three of their four corner kick goals have been decisive, changing the outcome of the matches they came in.
Crossing has been key for Argentina during their run to the final. England discovered that to their cost when Messi picked out Lautaro Martínez for a stoppage time winner. This was no fluke as the defending champions have the fourth-highest crossing average of any team and the highest of any team that made the knockout rounds.
No team has scored more headers at the 2026 World Cup than Argentina. This is something that could be an issue for Spain who aren’t known for their height in the backline. Their aerial ability could be tested at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
Of course, if Spain can control the final like they did the semi-final against France, Argentina might not have much of an answer.
They are ranked a lowly 22nd for possession won in the final third per 90 minutes at this World Cup, highlighting how ineffective they are at applying pressure high up the pitch.
World Cup Final Combined XI
Reuben Pinder and Joe Crisalli
Scaloni will set up his team in a low block for much of Sunday’s World Cup final. It will be on Nicolás Tagliafico at left back to stop Lamine Yamal from finding too much time and space while Argentina as a unit will have to make sure the lines between defence and midfield are tight. This is where Spain do much of their best work.
France never had the midfield balance to go toe-to-toe with Spain. There was a numerical advantage for La Roja.
Argentina, however, could return to the diamond midfield to flip the dynamic. Rodri and Fabián Ruiz might not have the same freedom as they did in their last match.
Spain have won every match they have taken the lead in at the World Cup so far, conceding just one goal in seven games. Argentina, however, have proven their comeback credentials, registering a goal difference of minus three before the 80th minute mark of matches and a goal difference of plus eight after it. They peak towards the end of matches.
At 4/6, Spain are odds-on favourites to lift the World Cup trophy for the second time in history, and add to the Euro 2024 title they won two years ago. Their performance against France in the semi-finals was a real statement. If Spain can reach that sort of standard again, Argentina might be powerless to stop them.
So much of Argentina’s success at this World Cup has defied explanation, and they are 5/4 to lift the trophy again. They have had to ride their luck at times, but grasped opportunities that have come their way.
Argentina might not be the best team at the World Cup, but they might yet prove to be the team that’s best-equipped to win the World Cup.
