La Selección Argentina

Di Maria is the argentine cronaldo.

The team so tired no one is even running for Palacio's help anymore

We need new legs Sabella.

Guy on twitter saying Messi is struggling to breath ?

Everyone is.

Wow, what's going on? I don't think I've ever seen Mascherano so pissed. Ever.

What the hell is happening, I keep seeing slowmotions of people moving 10 cm, but all hell is breaking in the pitch.

Good god...

So as I understand it right now, Mascherano was being taken away somewhere he didn't want to go, he complained to the people taking them away and they didn't listen, so he gave one a kick while on the bed, and he saw the red card for that. After which all hell broke loose.

Awfull game. Midfield was horrible by Argentina. Messi didnt even want to play, I think he didnt felt fit enough, he was pretty pissed at Sabella at one point, not talking back at him. Went off the pitch the moment the game ended.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:So as I understand it right now, Mascherano was being taken away somewhere he didn't want to go, he complained to the people taking them away and they didn't listen, so he gave one a kick while on the bed, and he saw the red card for that. After which all hell broke loose.

The guy with the car drove it too far off the pitch. Its the same rule in Europe league when 'injured', you have to get out off the pitch and wait. Here they take you with this idiotic car and the guy wanted to bring Masch to the parking lot I think.

1-1 FT.

I'll take the point and keeping the undefeated streak going. Not much else. Our so called "solid" defense as the media has been calling it was awful, Ecuador could have easily won this game. We are nothing without Messi, and even with him. Banega is no replacement for Gago, the player I think we missed the most in the last 2 matches (even more so than Lio). Di Maria is a really mixed bag. On one hand a very hard worker with obvious talent, on the other he's so wasteful it hurts to watch. The fact that he was our only creative outlet today speaks volumes.

I didnt watch the full game, but what the hell was up with the 5 man defense!? Where was the midfield?

Di Maria was god awful. Also what the hell amount of corners did Ecuador have? Must have been at least 30.

Collblanc wrote:I didnt watch the full game, but what the hell was up with the 5 man defense!? Where was the midfield?

The midfield was the same as always: Masche, Di Maria + CM. We play two formations predominantly, a 4-3-1-2 and 5-3-2. The key difference between the two of them being Messi, who usually helps out the midfield significantly, and Gago, who is the best midfielder we have, is currently injured. I would rather our FBs play a little farther up as WBs but I can't blame Sabella for not trusting Rojo with that job. I can blame him for playing Rojo, though, one of the worst players on the pitch both last games.

That was the first time Ecuador dropped points at home in this WCQ.

Problem wasn't Banega, problem was our chemistry, from back to front. I can't see how Gago would have done better if he had a few counter attacking options up front with everyone else completely out of his reach? Or a bunch of full backs you don't really want to trust with the ball...

Our defence was shit to be honest, people get excited about the countless numbers of 'heroic' last ditch tackles we made and put it down to great defending. No, if we were good at defending we didn't have to make those tackles in the first place. Honestly how many corners did Rojo give away (same with Peruzzi)? We couldn't clear simple balls and we made Caicedo look like Drogba.

I hate to say it but if we make to World Cup semi-finals I'll donate one of my kidneys. I really can't see it with this non-existent midfield. Perhaps we should convince Riquelme to come back.

Any info on today's lineup?

Colo bossing.

Apparently the camera man from the last game got himself in this game also. Been watching crowd a minute now when the game is on.

what a goal by Messi

Messi golazo.

Fernandez heads 0-2 from Messi cross.

Messi penalty goal. statpadding for argentina

2 Goals and an assist before the half. Yeah, I think he's about ready to put those "Messi doesn't perform for his National Team" haters to bed. So why is Argentina playing this game and Brazil is in the Confederations Cup (FIFA got it wrong)

That was the all time worse miss.

When it happened my wife covered her mouth and said "oh no", she was genuinely upset for the guy.

Yeah, even the players slowed the play down in amazement.