In the 1990 World Cup an

[Lazie]

Argentina team reached the finals mainly down to the genius of Maradona. Many experts/pundits figured they were struggling and would be making an early exit. I recall when they came up against Brazil they were written off as we all figured stop Maradona and you stop Argentina.

Am I the only one who notice that the current Argentina team is functioning like that 1990 team? I will admit that this team is more attacking that the 1990 team, but his team is being carried by Messi just like how the 1990 team was being carried by Maradona. They won they the round of 16 game basically the same way. Maradona skipped by a few Brazilians and set up Canniga. Messi sliced throw the Swiss midfield like hot knife through swiss cheese and set up DiMaria.

I have sat up and started taking this team seriously.

[Karl]

Argentina team reached the finals mainly down to the genius of Maradona. Many experts/pundits figured they were struggling and would be making an early exit. I recall when they came up against Brazil they were written off as we all figured stop Maradona and you stop Argentina.

Am I the only one who notice that the current Argentina team is functioning like that 1990 team? I will admit that this team is more attacking that the 1990 team, but his team is being carried by Messi just like how the 1990 team was being carried by Maradona. They won they the round of 16 game basically the same way. Maradona skipped by a few Brazilians and set up Canniga. Messi sliced throw the Belgian midfield like hot knife through swiss cheese and set up DiMaria.

I have sat up and started taking this team seriously.

Did you mean the 1986 Argentina TEAM? I know you stated 1990... ...but please confirm you meant what you said?

...caved through the Belgian midfield?

[Willi]

Lawd man.

Brazil spurned 2 GLORIOUS chances to score in the first 5 minutes and throughly balled Argentina in that match. Careca dished the entire defence with just one chop and still managed not to score. If you dont take your chances...

[Lazie]

Did you mean the 1986 Argentina TEAM? I know you stated 1990... ...but please confirm you meant what you said?

...caved through the Belgian midfield?

No KArl, I'm talking 1990!

Correction, it should have been Swiss, or am I seeing the future?

[Lazie]

Lawd man.

Brazil spurned 2 GLORIOUS chances to score in the first 5 minutes and throughly balled Argentina in that match. Careca dished the entire defence with just one chop and still managed not to score. If you dont take your chances...

True dat .. but at the end of the day Argentina won the match.

[Willi]

Can we say riding their luck???

They simply did not play well and rode their luck for a long while. Ironically they played OK in the final.

[Willi]

86 side was far more talented. Only weakness was the Dracula goalie (fraid of crosses) and the aerially challenged centrebacks.

Booby Robson was an idiot tokeep Barnes on the bench until minute 75, as he made an immediate impact. 5 more minutes and Argie would have been sweating bricks.

[Lazie]

Can we say riding their luck???

They simply did not play well and rode their luck for a long while. Ironically they played OK in the final.

.. that's why I'm noticing this team. The Swiss could have beaten them yesterday, Nigeria and Iran could say they were unfortunate to lose to them and Bosnia as far as I'm concerned showed too much respect. So, this team is riding their luck ... and look where they are now?

[Karl]

No KArl, I'm talking 1990!

Correction, it should have been Swiss, or am I seeing the future?

OK!
They defended well and were lucky often...and very unlucky in the finals (No penalty?...but one given against ). Without that penalty they might have defeated a very, very good and clearly superior Germany.

Context quality of players and TEAMs in 1990: That 1990 TEAM was not dusty.
btw - They defended superbly and often were very 'dirty'...but how is it that is never said of the Italians? The Italians are superb at defending and often very, very 'dirty'...but it is always admiration for them
...say it again, that Argentina TEAM was good!!!

This is 2014! ...and in the context of players and TEAMs in 2014:
This Argentina TEAM is poor!

I expect this TEAM to be dumped in the next match. There is an over reliance on the two players Angel di Maria and Javier Mascherano. ...and of the two the glue that keeps the TEAM in the hunt is Mascherano. So far Messi has been a bit player albeit an important bit player.

Messi's goal in the Group Round and his single pass to di Maria in the last match is being shouted as 'his coming'. The truth is over full games he has been poor....very poor. The tremendous work-rate he indulges in for Barcelona, his club passing and mobility is nowhere to be seen.

di Maria and Mascherano have been beasts!
It may be lost on the ordinary fan the non-stop/continuous disruptive and attacking flair of di Maria...his use of extreme pace and continuous movement...his rotation across the field (right to left - forward to midfield and vice versa).

...then there is Mascherano?
What performances? ...he does his usual outstanding 'strongman' role but he also manages defense and midfield and is from behind, the link-up man and the creator. ..but 3 players, in todays game...cannot carry a TEAM. Here-on out all other TEAMs are very, very, very...(You get what I mean?)...excellent TEAMs.

I think you are living your own fantasy!
...but then we shall see if I am 'bline'?! (...living in my own fantasy?) ...that of course translates into one of us being 'bline'!

...but that is the fun of making predictions! Making the calculations and running up against the reality!

[Willi]

Not the same...they got a bug group and a Swiss team lacking a clinical finishing. In 1990 they absorbed the best of Brazil and saw them off in one clinical stroke.

This team has faced no "Brazil" yet.

[Mosiah]

Brazil use to ball every team back in those days, even when they lost. Opponents had to fight like hell to prevent being totally overrun by them, including Argentina.

[Mosiah]

So far Messi has been a bit player albeit an important bit player.

Depends on one's definition of "bit", I guess!