MESSI PROVIDES MAGIC MOMENT
AS BOSNIA PUTS OUT A BRAVE SHOW!
Before the
kick-off most fans would have been forgiven for having discounted
Bosnia-Herzegovina as also runs and with reason.
With Rio Di Janeiro’s iconic Maracana stadium providing the stage for arguably the best Argentine team since Mexico ’86, Argentina vs Bosnia-Herzegovina promised to be a goal fest in the former's favour.
With Rio Di Janeiro’s iconic Maracana stadium providing the stage for arguably the best Argentine team since Mexico ’86, Argentina vs Bosnia-Herzegovina promised to be a goal fest in the former's favour.
Boasting of
four time World player of the Year, Lionel Messi among others, this was tipped
to be a practice session to say the least. It was therefore not a matter of whether
the Argentines would win,but presumably by a resoundingly huge margin and laced with a
display of skills for all to savor.
What a World
cup!
This was not to be as Bosnia put up such a brave fight, asking many a question of their more illustrious opponents throughout the game, which went unanswered!
This was not to be as Bosnia put up such a brave fight, asking many a question of their more illustrious opponents throughout the game, which went unanswered!
Argentina
were even lucky to have taken the lead at half time courtesy of an own goal by
Bosnian defender, Sead Kolasinac' in the 3rd minute, whose shin the ball grazed and dropped into the net beyond the flailing hands of Asmir Begovic'.
After a
lackluster first half, where his team looked largely disjointed, Argentina’s
coach Alejandro Sabella switched his formation at half time, discarding the
3-5-2 he’d started with, lining up a 4-3-3 instead and making two impact
substituitions in the process at the advent of the second half.
The
introduction of Fernando Gago and Gonzalo Higuain gave the Argentines more
impetus going forward giving Messi the extra support he’d been lacking in the
first half and is the reason why they went 2-0 up on the 63rd
minute.
After a
dizzying run and series of one twos between Higuain and Messi, Messi run into
space with two defenders to beat. He then teased them, feigning a shot causing
them to tumble over each other, affording him the opportunity to spin and
volley into the far post beyond the finger tips of a diving Begovic'.
Vintage Messi!
However, it
is the Bosnian team’s reaction that confounded many. Most managers would
have been content with simply sitting back and keeping the score line decent avoiding an
embarrassing defeat.
Instead of collapsing and
rolling over in submission, Bosnian coach Safet Susic’ decided to fight fire with fire!
He reinforced
his forward line with more attacking players and changed from a more defensive
4-2-3-1 to a ultra offensive 4-2-4 formation. What courage!
What was even
more impressive about the the Bosnians was their tactical discipline as they took the fight to
their opponents’ half, quickly tracking back to prevent the Argentines from
overwhelming their thinned midfield.
Most
importantly, was how they calmly kept possession with crisp one touch passes and made foray after foray of
attacks into the Argentine half, unnerving their opponents.
By the time
VFB Stuttgart striker Vedad Ibisevic’ was being introduced; the Argentines
seemed in a panic.
A defense splitting pass from Senad Lulic’ found Ibisevic' in the box with only the advancing Sergio Romero in goal to beat. He cleverly slid the ball between Romero's legs for Bosnia’s consolation goal in the 83rd minute.
This
seemingly took the sting out of the “Albiceleste” giving them several
uncomfortable minutes as they fought off the Bosnians, desperately hanging
on to their slim lead, making the sound of the final whistle a welcome respite.
(Comments and opinions are most welcome!)
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