Scaloni's Argentina in Copa America '24

[magicomonta]

Introduction

If we were talking about cycling we could match it with Eddy Merckx or, speaking of the current days, with  Tadej Pogačar, in short a cannibal. This has been Argentina in  recent years, world champion in Qatar in 2022 and of the last two editions of the America's Cup under the guidance of Lionel Scaloni . The team is made up of established players, with experience and knowledge of international football, all playing in the most important championships in Europe.

Scaloni tries to dominate the opponent through good ball possession and good construction from the back. At the same time equipped with great grit and great spirit of self-denial in the non-possession phase.

Leading Argentina is obviously Lionel Messi , even if they now seem to be able to do without their most representative player. With consolidated synchronisms and clear principles alongside their characteristic grit , they are one of the strongest national teams in the world. Let's discover the tactical analysis and recreate the tactical emulation for Football Manager 24.

Tactical analysis

Qualitative analysis

• Game system: 1-4-4-2 / 4-3-3

• Team Attitude: Aggressive and Proactive

• Type of game construction: From the bottom with short and dominant passes

• Attack type: mixed

• Positive transition: counterattack

• Negative transition: counterpressing

• Defensive position in possession: high

• Defensive position when not in possession: medium

• Pressing: intense

• Center of gravity: high

Ball possession phase

Construction:

Argentina's game construction is mainly low and carried out by five players. The two central defenders, the two full-backs and a midfielder who takes turns in the light zone beyond the opponent's line, plus the help of the goalkeeper. The midfielder who makes himself available is not static and if he does not receive the ball at the right time he gets up, taking his marker away and thus rotating with a teammate of his who also offers himself.

 

When Argentina manages to attract their opponents, often those positioned in the attacking line, once they have made sure that the teammate in possession has the ball open , dive into space and dictate the pass behind the opponents, managing to be very dangerous with a direct build-up.

Scaloni is good at alternating the two plays and understanding whether it is best to play in the space created between the lines in front of the opposing defence or whether it is best to play behind it.

Development 

Once the first line of pressure has been overcome, Argentina 's objective is to go and communicate with the offensively positioned players, whether they are forwards, midfielders or full-backs who usually stay very wide and high.

Finalization 

Once Scaloni 's boys have reached the last 20 meters, they have different types of solutions:

- they look for the cross for an insertion.

 

- They reach the byline and then look for the low ball in the area and the conclusion.

 

- They look for low and fast combinations to get to the conclusion.

 

- They rely on the great technical individuality of individuals.

Non-possession phase

Low non-possession phase : Argentina 's defense line is very high, aggressive and attentive to preventive marking. It is not too afraid of possible numerical parity.

 

Medium non-possession phase : By choosing not to press high, Argentina manages to never stretch out too much and therefore suffer as little space as possible between the departments. Consequently, the midfield benefits very positively from this and once the pressing begins, they can each go to their own reference area in an aggressive manner.

High non-possession phase : Argentina generally waits for the opponent in the midfield, directing the play towards a wing and that's when the pressure starts. Initially they adopt an apparently wait-and-see attitude, then they vary with their typical aggressive attitude.

Scaloni's Argentina tactical emulation in Copa America 24 for Football Manager '24

Scaloni's tactical emulation of Argentina in the America's Cup '24 for Football Manager 24 It features a 4-3-3 with a tactical style based on controlling possession with a positive mentality. The attack width is quite narrow. We start with the ball on the ground of the defense, concentrating the game in the center and looking for overlaps on the wings. The passing style is slightly shorter with a slightly higher pace of play, the crosses are low, we face the defense with the ball at our feet and leave more creativity.

In the transaction screen we find the pressing on the field in the negative one and a counterattack in the positive one. The goalkeeper serves the central defenders.

In the non-possession screen, the recovery line is very high and the pressing line is medium. The pressing intensity is high and we do not disturb the opponent's construction but we direct the opponent to the sides and make aggressive tackles. We do not insert anything in the offside entry since the team alternates between implementing it and running backwards.

The roles of Argentina 's 4-3-3 include a free support goalkeeper, a defender who sets up and a classic one. The full-backs are both fluidifiers with a stay wide and move forward as soon as possible setting but the left one is on attack and the right one on support. The man in front of the defense is a classic director and the two midfielders are a mobile director and a classic midfielder in support and stay wide with freedom of movement. The two tall wingers are an outside attacker on the left with a stay narrow setting and freedom of movement while on the left there is an inverted support winger with stay narrow settings, freedom of movement and you take more risks. The attacker is a second striker attack with freedom of movement.

The roles of 4-4-2 instead see the differences with 4-3-3 in the midfield and attack. In fact the two wingers are inverted wings with the same settings as the previous one but on the right it is on attack. Up front together with the usual second striker there is a centre forward.

The results of Scaloni's Argentina tactical emulation in Copa America 24 for Football Manager '24

As always I test my tactical emulations for you, and  also in this case I played the America's Cup '24 with Argentina but leaving the call-ups to the AI. In this case I brought you two tactics. He knows the 4-4-2 and the 4-3-3.

 

Argentina, in the test with the 4-3-3, will win the Copa America '24  without losing a single match. Beating Panama , Colombia and Canada in the group , scoring 11 goals and conceding only one. In the knockout phase, they will eliminate the United States,  Brazil on penalties in the semi-final and Ecuador 2-0 in the final.

The goals scored at the end will be 19. The ball possession will be 57%. The Xg  in favor will be 14.87 with 37 chances created. The total passes will be 2735 with 87% completed. In each match, 103 were made in the opponent's half, demonstrating Argentina 's proactivity .

As for defensive statistics, Argentina will have conceded 5 goals with 3 clean sheets. The Xg conceded will be 9.39 in 6 games. The fouls will be 82, more than anyone else, demonstrating the systematic fouling during pressure.

The blocked shots will also be 29, more than all, demonstrating the compactness and closeness between the departments. The recovered balls will be 533. Another important statistic for this characteristic, are the only 54 passes conceded per game in their defensive third.

The test of the 4-4-2 of Lionel  Scaloni 's Argentina  always sees the victory of the Copa America for the Albiceleste but with different results. In the group they beat Uruguay , Ecuador and Jamaica scoring 10 goals and conceding 2. In the knockout phase they thrash Peru 8-1 and in the semi-final they eliminate Brazil in extra time by 3-2. In the final, again in extra time they beat Colombia 5-2.

The total goals will be 26 so 4.33 per game on average, with a ball possession of 55%. The Xg are 17.49, for an average of 2.78 per game. The occasions created are 40. Interestingly, similar passes in the attacking third of the 4-3-3 i.e. 101.

As for the defensive phase, here too there are many fouls, 103, but many fewer blocked shots, 19. This is because the 4-4-2 gives you less density between the lines. The balls recovered are also similar, 601. Another important statistic for this characteristic and similar to the 4-3-3, are the only 46 passes allowed per game in your own defensive midfield.

 

 

Video explanation

 

Argentina magicomonta.rar