Cold, cold night in Berne, Switzerland this Wednesday. But what a place. The city is really vibrant, bustling and everything is in its place. Exactly what you would expect from Switzerland.
The stade de Suisse, a 35000 seater stadium is immaculate. It was only built in 2005 and it looks as if it was built yesterday.
The facilities are first class, and so is the hospitality.
As kick off was approaching the ground started to fill up, first there were little patches of people, later more and more groups, until the whole place looked full and with a great atmosphere.
Argentina were well represented in the crowd, with lots of flags, colourful wigs and a noisy gang of fans singing happily.
When the teams were announced we thought it could be more of a chess game than a friendly.
Sabella said yesterday at the press conference, that because this is the last game before the next qualifier in June, it was not about trying new things, but about finalising most of them.
The home side, aware of the visitors attacking threat, came out with two lines of 4 close to their own area, but also knowing of the difficulties Argentina has to defend, they had a different outlook when in possession. The second line of 4 moved forward and deep into the Albiceleste’s territory.
Up front though they still only had one player, and it was not enough to threaten the new look defence of Campagnaro, Fernandez, Garay and Zabaleta.
The back four for Argentina looked composed, gave me the impression that they were calm, knew what they needed to do, and would have responded well if they were attacked or put under pressure.
Surely that was already an improvement to what we were used to in the not distant past.
In midfield, Brana and Mascherano began well, complementing each other well and covering each other’s back. Maxi and Sosa kept interchanging sides looking to see where they can function better.
Maxi on the left was not comfortable, and on the right was ineffective. Sosa alternated good and bad in both sides.
Tweny minutes into the first half, Sosa from the right, found Messi the way Lio likes it, facing the opposition and already making his trademark diagonal run, la Pulga gained pace and passed it to Aguero, who held it incredibly well, waiting for Messi to get into position. Then Kun backheeled it to Lio, who finished it low to the impossible place. One- nil. Good combination, good move.
It was clear from the start that the orders from Sabella were to find Messi and let him carry the ball. Inler tried to man mark him, but that hurt the ability of the Swiss team to use him distributing the ball.
It is very important here to clarify that the Helvetic side are very tidy and neat, but too mechanical and unaggressive to hurt better quality teams.
They defended very well. Inler was very solid, but played too near his own area, so lost his forward bursts that are so dangerous.
Senderos was a Marshall on that defence while left back Rodriguez was tough marking and with good pace moving forward.
Half time arrived and the 1-0 to Argentina was fair. Xhaka had a good chance, but that was all Switzerland had to show for.
The second half was a different proposition.
Gago replaced Brana (who left with a knee injury) The home side made a few changes too and more importantly gave more freedom to Shaqiri, who really is a good player. He moved wide to the right, causing trouble for Zabaleta who did not feel comfortable on the left at all.
Switzerland put some pressure on searching for an equaliser, and they eventually got it.
A cross from the left, was looking for the number 9 who missed his attempt to kick the ball, that found Shaqiri unmarked to finish it into the top corner giving Romero no chance.
It was a lucky break in a way, but Zabaleta had come to the middle of the box, leaving the space for the home star player to establish the 1-1.
Switzerland had the ball for a while, but far from goal and was not hurting Argentina.
In the air you could feel that if Argentina had one more forward they could complicate the Swiss defence more. Aguero and Messi had to come too deep to get the ball and could not create any danger.
Then Salvio came in to replace Maxi. The Atletico de Madrid player saw a lot of the ball but used it ineffectively.
With 9 minutes to go, and still locked on 1-1, Higuain comes on to replace Sosa.
He did not score any goals, but he showed the importance of having a penalty box man in a tight game.
Now that Aguero had company, the Swiss defenders were not as settled having to mark 2 forwards, and then one of the centre backs loses the ball when he tried to come out playing, and when Messi got hold of it there was always going to be the second goal.
He ran past Senderos as if he was not there, and the keeper did not know what part of his goal to cover as Messi chose to chip him to make it 2-1.
With a minute left in the clock, Higuain was brought down in the box (another example on how 2 strikers complicated in only a few minutes) and Lio completed his hat trick from the spot.
Not spectacular, but it was a good win, against a side that has the means to hurt others but it seems that they don’t want to.
The pluses the centre backs looked solid. Garay always in the right place, and Fernandez fighting for every ball.
Messi feeling the love for the team and the jersey again.
Aguero showing he can be a threat. Mascherano had a good game, even if he commited more fouls than required. Brana has improved, and could be a good option. Gago’s positioning was great too.
In the cons. Campagnaro as a right back did not work so well, even if he was not bad.
Zabaleta on the left is a problem waiting to happen.
Still looking for the two attacking midfielders to help the forward line. Maxi and Sosa did not work tonight.
The stade de Suisse, a 35000 seater stadium is immaculate. It was only built in 2005 and it looks as if it was built yesterday.
The facilities are first class, and so is the hospitality.
As kick off was approaching the ground started to fill up, first there were little patches of people, later more and more groups, until the whole place looked full and with a great atmosphere.
Argentina were well represented in the crowd, with lots of flags, colourful wigs and a noisy gang of fans singing happily.
When the teams were announced we thought it could be more of a chess game than a friendly.
Sabella said yesterday at the press conference, that because this is the last game before the next qualifier in June, it was not about trying new things, but about finalising most of them.
The home side, aware of the visitors attacking threat, came out with two lines of 4 close to their own area, but also knowing of the difficulties Argentina has to defend, they had a different outlook when in possession. The second line of 4 moved forward and deep into the Albiceleste’s territory.
Up front though they still only had one player, and it was not enough to threaten the new look defence of Campagnaro, Fernandez, Garay and Zabaleta.
The back four for Argentina looked composed, gave me the impression that they were calm, knew what they needed to do, and would have responded well if they were attacked or put under pressure.
Surely that was already an improvement to what we were used to in the not distant past.
In midfield, Brana and Mascherano began well, complementing each other well and covering each other’s back. Maxi and Sosa kept interchanging sides looking to see where they can function better.
Maxi on the left was not comfortable, and on the right was ineffective. Sosa alternated good and bad in both sides.
Tweny minutes into the first half, Sosa from the right, found Messi the way Lio likes it, facing the opposition and already making his trademark diagonal run, la Pulga gained pace and passed it to Aguero, who held it incredibly well, waiting for Messi to get into position. Then Kun backheeled it to Lio, who finished it low to the impossible place. One- nil. Good combination, good move.
It was clear from the start that the orders from Sabella were to find Messi and let him carry the ball. Inler tried to man mark him, but that hurt the ability of the Swiss team to use him distributing the ball.
It is very important here to clarify that the Helvetic side are very tidy and neat, but too mechanical and unaggressive to hurt better quality teams.
They defended very well. Inler was very solid, but played too near his own area, so lost his forward bursts that are so dangerous.
Senderos was a Marshall on that defence while left back Rodriguez was tough marking and with good pace moving forward.
Half time arrived and the 1-0 to Argentina was fair. Xhaka had a good chance, but that was all Switzerland had to show for.
The second half was a different proposition.
Gago replaced Brana (who left with a knee injury) The home side made a few changes too and more importantly gave more freedom to Shaqiri, who really is a good player. He moved wide to the right, causing trouble for Zabaleta who did not feel comfortable on the left at all.
Switzerland put some pressure on searching for an equaliser, and they eventually got it.
A cross from the left, was looking for the number 9 who missed his attempt to kick the ball, that found Shaqiri unmarked to finish it into the top corner giving Romero no chance.
It was a lucky break in a way, but Zabaleta had come to the middle of the box, leaving the space for the home star player to establish the 1-1.
Switzerland had the ball for a while, but far from goal and was not hurting Argentina.
In the air you could feel that if Argentina had one more forward they could complicate the Swiss defence more. Aguero and Messi had to come too deep to get the ball and could not create any danger.
Then Salvio came in to replace Maxi. The Atletico de Madrid player saw a lot of the ball but used it ineffectively.
With 9 minutes to go, and still locked on 1-1, Higuain comes on to replace Sosa.
He did not score any goals, but he showed the importance of having a penalty box man in a tight game.
Now that Aguero had company, the Swiss defenders were not as settled having to mark 2 forwards, and then one of the centre backs loses the ball when he tried to come out playing, and when Messi got hold of it there was always going to be the second goal.
He ran past Senderos as if he was not there, and the keeper did not know what part of his goal to cover as Messi chose to chip him to make it 2-1.
With a minute left in the clock, Higuain was brought down in the box (another example on how 2 strikers complicated in only a few minutes) and Lio completed his hat trick from the spot.
Not spectacular, but it was a good win, against a side that has the means to hurt others but it seems that they don’t want to.
The pluses the centre backs looked solid. Garay always in the right place, and Fernandez fighting for every ball.
Messi feeling the love for the team and the jersey again.
Aguero showing he can be a threat. Mascherano had a good game, even if he commited more fouls than required. Brana has improved, and could be a good option. Gago’s positioning was great too.
In the cons. Campagnaro as a right back did not work so well, even if he was not bad.
Zabaleta on the left is a problem waiting to happen.
Still looking for the two attacking midfielders to help the forward line. Maxi and Sosa did not work tonight.