Enzo Fernandes has been coached by Hernan Crespo at Defensa y Justicia, was given the long-lasting No 13 jersey of Eusebio at Benfica and final evening scored the second purpose for Argentina of their 2-0 win over Mexico on the Lusail Stadium – all whereas being 21 years outdated.
If Lionel Messi’s purpose launched a stress cooker of stress that had slowly simmered itself as much as tipping level on the 80,000-seater stadium, Fernandes’ strike calmed the Argentines down. At a purpose up, the Mexicans have been harmful, however the scenario they have been in, much more so. A defeat would imply Argentina would be a part of hosts Qatar in making an early, early exit from the event. A draw would go away them on the mercy of others. A win must be conjured – the magician at hand had already executed his bit.
” id=”yt-wrapper-box” >
After which got here a nook within the 86th minute – a brief move to Messi from Rodrigo de Paul. Who then handed to Fernandes. Fernandes’ first contact immediately introduced him right into a battle zone with two of Mexico’s field border police. His subsequent transfer elicited a squeal of shock after which a roar of enjoyment from commentator Peter Drury. “Oh, candy feint… fantastic purpose!”
That was how fast it occurred. Fernandes bumped into Erick Gutierrez – who stood immediately in entrance of the Argentine midfielder and the purpose. Gutierrez then obtained shifted to his proper and away from purpose within the slickest of shoulder drops a footballer might summon on a pitch. Defender unceremoniously shunted out of the best way, Fernandes curled a shot into Guillermo Ochoa’s proper. Earlier than Gutierrez or Ochoa might even realise that their hopes of a comeback have been swindled away, the Benfica midfielder was already kissing his badge and being mobbed by Messi in entrance of a swathe of screaming Argentines. It was over.
Fernandes’ affect on the sport, although, began lots earlier. A toothless Argentine midfield, led in chief by De Paul, was unable to string collectively a constant interval of stress on the Mexicans – stress that may solely be borne by way of a passing clinic that started when Fernandes was substituted in, within the second half.
#Qatar2022
¡InmENZO! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/QpHdR4uqaY
— Selección Argentina 🇦🇷 (@Argentina) November 26, 2022
This was solely his fifth look for Argentina however his affect was felt instantly. Argentina for the primary time on this event, gained within the midfield division. They’d a participant who might circle the ball throughout the pitch, understood the perils of being wasteful with it and constantly created stress on the Mexicans together with his supply of the ball. Why would they relegate this participant to the bench?
Not figuring out concerning the expertise of Fernandes has been a side that has adopted his younger profession. After 13 years on the River Plate youth system, he broke into the senior workforce however was rapidly shipped out on mortgage to Defensa y Justicia. It was over there that the legendary Crespo gave him match after match – and that religion culminated within the workforce profitable the Copa Sudamericana within the 2020 season.
#Qatar2022 🎙 Lionel Messi en conferencia: “No me sorprende lo de Enzo (Fernández), lo conozco y lo veo entrenar todos los días. Se lo merece porque es un jugador espectacular”. pic.twitter.com/uidvnGjI4a
— Selección Argentina 🇦🇷 (@Argentina) November 26, 2022
“When Marcelo (Gallardo, River Plate coach) informed me about Defensa, I took it properly as a result of it was an opportunity to indicate myself, get some video games, compete in opposition to first-rate gamers,” Fernandez informed Ole. “I used to be fortunate to be coached by two nice trainers like Crespo and Sebastian Beccacece, share a squad with large gamers and even higher individuals and choose up two titles which can go down in historical past.
River Plate then instantly referred to as Fernandez again. Initially of the 2022 season, Fernandes was on type, scoring eight targets and making six assists in 19 appearances – a feat that caught the attention of European scouts. Just a few months later Benfica managed to win the race to signal the midfielder, giving him the prized jersey of Portuguese attacker Eusebio. And since becoming a member of the workforce, they’ve performed 13 league video games, received twelve of them and are but to lose.
He ranks within the 99th percentile for passes tried and makes near 10 progressive passes per sport – all of the whereas averaging 2.5 tackles a sport. The statistics show what the eyes see – Fernandez is usually a combative midfielder who has glorious passing abilities, particularly within the third part.
At this World Cup, discovering the proper midfield mixture for the South Individuals was the important thing. Whereas Lionel Scaloni continues to be some methods away from that chance, that second-half midfield efficiency from his workforce, particularly the Gundogan-esque show from Fernandez in the course of the Lusail Stadium, is beginning to put some extra items of the Argentine puzzle in the proper spot.