Argentina France - quick note

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So fucking gutted. Again the team selection simply didn't make sense. What is Di Maria? What is this man who oscillates between pub football and world class every ten minutes? Where is he meant to play? What is he supposed to be doing on the pitch? Fuck'sake. Dybala? Where? Aguero? Nah? Mascherano? Sampaoli's attempt to gegenpress France was never going to work with the players he has at the back there. It's hard to tell - rumours are divided - as to whether it's him or Messi picking the team. What needs to happen though, is for a manager to be able to tell Messi where to go on the pitch himself - someone not afraid of picking Icardi or Dybala, people it's rumoured Messi has an issue with, not afraid of dropping the Messi-chums (Mascherano) from the squad, but then also willing to build up a team that attacks through Messi, without him being just another counter-attacking outlet upfront or on the wing. The most frustrating thing for me about watching Messi at World Cups has been the lack of that Banega figure in centre midfield, the man who picked him out time and time again in the Nigeria game. Sabella too often went for a double-negative Mascherano-Biglia in 2014, and then Maradona ended up using Veron at left-wing in 2010. Will see if he sticks around. Be great to see him win a Copa America at least.

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