"When you reach a semi-final you need to suffer," said Lionel Scaloni. Although did Argentina need to suffer quite so much? Taken to extra-time by a depleted Switzerland side, just as they had been by the minnows of Cape Verde, and requiring a record-breaking comeback to see off Egypt, the defending champions' route through the knockout stages has seemed based on suffering.
But after Switzerland were beaten in Kansas City, Scaloni kept returning to a reason why it was a struggle, one that could have pertinence for their last-four date with England in Atlanta: physicality. "Physically they are a very strong squad," he said. "It was very difficult for us to win the duels. Switzerland are very good on a physical level."
And perhaps Argentina are not. They have the staying power and spirit to conjure late goals – in their last three games they have scored in the 79th, 83rd, 92nd, 92nd (again), 111th, 112th and 121st minutes – but there are different types of physicality. Their most celebrated player is famously unphysical: a year from his forties, spending much of the match walking, though technically brilliant.
But his teammates may not compensate with running power. Fifa's statistics show Argentina only 10th for sprints made, behind three teams who have played a game fewer. More remarkably, they are 48th out of 48 for average speed at which their players have moved in this tournament. Lionel Messi may be dragging them down in one respect.
Among players, he is 580th for average speed; even Cristiano Ronaldo is 501st, and some of those below him are goalkeepers or centre-backs whose job description involves less movement. But this is no indictment of Messi; the instructive element is that others are not compensating with lung-busting running.
But after Switzerland were beaten in Kansas City, Scaloni kept returning to a reason why it was a struggle, one that could have pertinence for their last-four date with England in Atlanta: physicality. "Physically they are a very strong squad," he said. "It was very difficult for us to win the duels. Switzerland are very good on a physical level."
And perhaps Argentina are not. They have the staying power and spirit to conjure late goals – in their last three games they have scored in the 79th, 83rd, 92nd, 92nd (again), 111th, 112th and 121st minutes – but there are different types of physicality. Their most celebrated player is famously unphysical: a year from his forties, spending much of the match walking, though technically brilliant.
But his teammates may not compensate with running power. Fifa's statistics show Argentina only 10th for sprints made, behind three teams who have played a game fewer. More remarkably, they are 48th out of 48 for average speed at which their players have moved in this tournament. Lionel Messi may be dragging them down in one respect.
Among players, he is 580th for average speed; even Cristiano Ronaldo is 501st, and some of those below him are goalkeepers or centre-backs whose job description involves less movement. But this is no indictment of Messi; the instructive element is that others are not compensating with lung-busting running.
21 days ago
