Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni saved his playing cards near his chest when quizzed about his seemingly line-up as he prepares to face holders France within the World Cup closing on Sunday.
Scaloni was evasive on Saturday when requested if he would deploy a three-man defence as he did for the quarterfinal towards the Netherlands, to offer proper full-back Nahuel Molina help towards France’s lightning-fast star participant Kylian Mbappe.
“We already determined the technique and we’ll play in a approach wherein we expect we are able to harm our rivals probably the most and undergo the least,” Scaloni advised a information convention.
“We’ve our gameplan, we all know how one can play them and now we simply should execute, and I hope we are able to play the same sport as we did towards the Netherlands within the quarter-finals – however win the match with out having to undergo the ache of a penalty shootout.”
Scaloni made key adjustments after Argentina suffered a shock defeat to Saudi Arabia of their World Cup opener and introduced in kids Enzo Fernandez and Julian Alvarez – who’ve been good since.
He has additionally made adjustments to his system, utilizing three defenders towards the Netherlands and three holding-midfielders to neutralise Croatia nice Luka Modric.
If Scaloni decides he does not need Molina going through Mbappe on his personal might decide to return to the techniques he deployed towards the Dutch, which might imply Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Cristian Romero serving to to fend of the explosive French ahead.
“To cease Mbappe you want a collective effort. However France is extra than simply Mbappe. We have to concentrate on making a very good sport collectively,” Scaloni mentioned.
“Sunday’s sport is rather more than Lionel Messi towards Mbappe, it is Argentina towards France, it goes past that.
“We each have the mandatory weapons in order that the sport may be determined by different gamers and never essentially the 2 of them. Let’s hope it falls on our aspect, however there are many gamers who can resolve the sport.”
After Argentina booked their ticket to the ultimate with a 3-0 win towards Croatia, Messi confirmed Sunday could be his final sport for Argentina.
Scaloni mentioned that made it an excellent greater match for his group and his nation: “Let’s hope that if it is Leo’s (Messi) final sport, that we are able to win the title. It could be nice and the essential factor is to take pleasure in it… What higher situation than in a World Cup closing.”