Argentina vs Brazil reaction: Five things we learnt from World Cup qualifier

Argentina 1 Brazil 1

(AP)

1) Both sides face a battle for qualification

The prospect of a World Cup without either Argentina or Brazil is virtually unthinkable to most but on the evidence of the opening three rounds of qualification for Russia 2018, neither can take this for granted.

Brazil will be the far happier with their current position given that the rather fortunate point that Dunga’s side earned in the Monumental leaves them in fourth, the last automatic qualifying position. However, the performances have done little to silence the critics against their current style and so far their sole victory has come against Venezuela at home.

It is however, a victory, and that is something that Gerardo Martino and Argentina are in desperate need of. The display against Brazil was a marked improvement on the disjointed and lackadaisical performance that Ecuador took advantage of a month earlier and, finally, there were at least hints that Martino’s ‘idea’ was being assimilated but a first three points still eludes La Albiceleste. That leaves Argentina in ninth place with only Venezuela below them and they must now travel to the energy-sapping afternoon heat of Barranquilla for a clash with Colombia on Tuesday. An improved team performance is one thing but as Martino said in the press conference: “We don’t need to look at the table to know we’ve got to win [against Colombia]”.

2) Argentina need Messi (obviously) but Martino’s ‘idea’ showed signs of promise

Since his appointment Gerardo Martino has been unrelenting in the assertion that his ‘idea’ has not yet been absorbed by Argentina and that the process is still ongoing. Speaking last month after the defeat to Ecuador, Tata told reporters: “During the Copa America I thought that the ideas had been understood but [against Ecuador] we regressed, and demonstrated that the ideas are not yet firm.”

The draw with Brazil represented another step in the right direction and at least in the opening 45 minutes, Argentina pressed and harried as a unit, nullified any threat and attacked with purpose. It is needless to say that almost any team in world football would miss the outrageous talents of Lionel Messi and certainly Argentina looked hopelessly lost without their talismanic captain in previous matches. However, on Friday evening, Martino did manage to construct a side that still possessed some attacking menace and importantly bridged the gap between midfield and attack that had looked severed against Ecuador and Paraguay.

Messi should return for the trip to Chile in March giving Argentina a huge boost but the mood surrounding this will depend on Tuesday’s result. Another defeat and the weight is heaped onto the shoulders of the four-time Ballon d’or winner; victory and suddenly La Albiceleste will have some momentum.


 Lucas Lima celebrates after scoring the equaliser for Brazil
 (AP)

3) Dunga must harness Brazil’s attacking power

A decent point away in the Monumental may well have granted Brazil coach Dunga a stay of execution but for large swathes of the match his team selection and tactics will have had even his staunchest supporters questioning his position.

Five world cups and a globally renowned reputation as purveyors of beautiful football put a pressure on the Brazil manager that is almost incomparable. The 7-1 humbling to Germany on home soil during last year’s World Cup should have served as a wake-up call but the Selecao opted to go back to Dunga and predicatably that has seen a Brazil side built more on the principles of practicality and attrition rather than the idea of jogo bonito.

Dunga welcomed captain Neymar back into the side after his four-match suspension on Friday and although the 23-year-old arrived in dazzling club form, he cut a frustrated figure in the Monumental; isolated out on the left and unable to make any meaningful contribution.

It wasn’t until the second half, when trailing by a goal to nil that Dunga decided to introduce Bayern Munich’s Douglas Costa. His first contribution was to crash a header against the crossbar from which Lucas Lima smashed in the equaliser but the tactical switch also allowed Neymar to operate more centrally and suddenly the triumvirate of Douglas Costa, Neymar and Willian began probing and testing the Argentina defence. Although it goes completely against his principles, Dunga must harness this and build a team around its obvious strength.

4) Di Maria and Banega pushed for future places

The Argentina number 10 shirt normally occupied by Lionel Messi but recently by Sergio Aguero was handed to Angel Di Maria on Friday in the absence of both stars and understandably it raised a few eyebrows.

The 10 is not just an iconic shirt number but is also a role in the side that is normally reserved to those players who get on the ball and make a millisecond look like an eternity and an inch like an acre and who think their way through a match looking for moments of weakness in the opponent. Angel Di Maria is many things but he is not that. Lightning quick, tricky and virtually indefatigable but lacking critical decision making makes him a dangerous wide man but not a number 10.

However, the Paris St Germain midfielder responded to his critics with an excellent performance in tandem with Ever Banega and in the first half both were central in tormenting the Selecao. The two combined to start the move with which Argentina scored and although Di Maria’s place in the side was never really in doubt, Banega may have done enough for Martino to think about the Seville man in his midfield three when Messi returns.

5) Argentina’s ‘suspect’ defence dealt with Neymar firmly but admirably

Neymar’s starting position out wide on Brazil’s left was no coincidence as Dunga, like anyone who had watched Argentina’s mauling at the hands of Ecuador, must have been relishing the thought of unleashing the in-form Barcelona forward against Facundo Roncaglia.

It took just seconds for Neymar to be left heaped on the turf but it set the tone for a first half where the Brazil captain was virtually anonymous. Any sniff of danger was quickly extinguished either by Roncaglia or the disciplined performances of Lucas Biglia and Angel Di Maria and the result saw Brazil’s attacking strategy in tatters.

Marcos Rojo’s return at left-back proved to be a huge boost after the nightmarish cameo from Emanuel Mas but the new central defensive pairing of Nicolas Otamendi and Ramiro Funes Mori showed real potential. Everton’s Funes Mori has at times in his club career looked a little too error prone to flourish at the top level but the 24-year-old produced an assured display and superbly played the ball out of defence. Ezequiel Garay is assumed to have been Argentina’s number one central defender for sometime but he might just struggle to win his place back if Otamendi and Funes Mori continue to impress.