Worldcup fever is back. Even though just 32 teams are playing in it, whole world is cheering vehemently for one or the other team(S). Football is such a global sport nowadays, thanks to EPL, La Liga and UCL. In India, FIFA Worldcup reached the mass before club football. Exactly a decade ago, people used to talk about Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Zinedine Zidane, but there were just handful of people who knew about various leagues. I started following football during 2002 WC, thanks to great Brazil team and started following club football years later. Even now, there is same atmosphere in our country. 

 FIFA Worldcup is the major sporting event in the world. How? 

  It is quite evident from the following incidents.

1)Suddenly everyone in the office talk about football who were oblivious before the major event.

2)Suddenly CNN-IBN and other channels are conducting prematch shows, talking tactics and what not?. 

3)Every celebrity is suddenly a football fan.

 The atmosphere is set for the major sporting event. I have digressed a bit, coming to the main point, I am supporting Argentina NT in this worldcup. My choice was very simple since our club legend plays for Argentina. Messi has won every piece of silverware that has to be won in club football. His contribution to  Argentina NT will only accrue accolades to his glistening career. 

 Argentina started their worldcup chase with a 2-1 win over Bosnia. Argentina has the weakest defense, unconvincing midfield and BIG strengths in the final third.Before the match, it was announced that Higuain and Gago will not be in the starting 11. Hence, Sabella started with a 5-3-2 formation(To bolster or rather fix their fragile defense).Argentina got lead early in the game(Own goal by Kolasinac). Even after leading 1-0, Argentina were quite clueless in the first half. Argentina were playing with 5 defenders plus Mascherano(CB at Barça). It means that Sabella gave up midfield to fix the defense. So, Messi, Di Maria were against the entire defense and midfield. Messi didn't have the support which Sabella was talking about.  Messi tried to dribble past entire Bosnia's team at times and lost the ball everytime. Bosnia were very proactive in the first half. They tried their best to convert their chances into goal, but weren't clinical enough, thanks to Sergio Romero. It was pretty boring for the neutrals as Argentina had plenty of possession in their own half and they couldn't convert their possession into chances. At the end of first half, Argentina were leading 1-0 with less shots than Bosnia. Argentina were far from  'CONVINCING'.

    In the second half, Sabella corrected his mistake and introduced Higuain and Gago.Maxi Rodriguez had very poor game and didn't support either Di Maria or Messi in the first half. Higuain's impact was brilliant. He created space for Messi. gago conencted well with Messi and Di Maria. There were some missed chances in the beginning of second half, so Argentina fans at the Maracana stadium were pissed off at their team, especially after Messi's failed freekick. Messi was eager to make impact, and he didn't had to wait long to create a piece of magic.I don't have words to express this splendid goal. Watch it for yourself. It was quite evident from his celebration that he was relieved(A little bit).

Boos, Boos, and then followed Messi's classic... by kishorefcb Since Argentina were playing 4-3-3 with plethora of attacking talent, they were always vulnerable at the back. Argentina were looking for the third goal and came very close to score. On the other hand, it would have been very harsh for Bosnia if they had failed to score.After eighty minutes, Bosnia scored a nice goal(which they very much deserved ). Argentina maintained their 2-1 lead till the final whistle to snatch all 3 points.

Key information from the match : Argentina are clueless with 5-3-2 formation. Sabella should insist on playing 4-3-3 in order to maximize their strengths(ATTACK, ATTACK). Gago should play instead of Maxi who has better coordination with Messi.


Moment of the day: Argentina fans singing MESSI, MESSI at the Maracana

can't hear, still LOUD please