Klinsmann: 'Argentina has not reached its full potential'
* Argentina - Croatia: 2pm on Wednesday 14/12, on MetaSports.
Argentina started the tournament with a shock 1-2 loss to Saudi Arabia, although Lionel Messi scored. In the second round against Mexico, they continued to enter the game full of difficulties. It was thanks to Messi's flash of light with a thick shot from outside the penalty area that the South American team found the opening goal to create momentum for a 2-0 victory. In the final round of the group stage, it also took the second half for Argentina to find a way into the Polish goal, thanks to Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez.
After overcoming the most underrated team in the 1/8 round, Australia, Argentina had to resort to a penalty shootout to defeat the Netherlands in the quarter-finals full of tension and controversy. In the semi-finals, they will face the defending runner-up Croatia.
During the presentation of the FIFA Technical Study Group at the Doha Media Center on December 12, Klinsmann commented: "Argentina has not reached its full potential. In my opinion, in the semi-final against Croatia, they can reach it. get that".
The Germany coach at the 2006 World Cup also said that in the Netherlands match, Argentina had a better mentality to win 4-3 in the penalty shootout thanks to playing 30 minutes of extra time after being equalized 2-2. Meanwhile, in another quarter-final, the mentality of the Brazilian players was affected by Croatia's 1-1 equalizer three minutes before the final whistle. Shortly after, coach Tite's team lost 2-4 in the penalty shootout.
According to another member of the FIFA Technical Study Group - former coach Alberto Zaccheroni, Messi - who has scored twice - is currently the best player in the 2022 World Cup. He thinks that Argentina is playing well, knowing how to adapt to any situation. opponents and possesses fast players on either side, but the one who makes the difference is the 35-year-old captain. "Messi is the standard of quality. He led Argentina to victories and is having an extraordinary tournament," commented Zaccheroni.
Former goalkeeper Iker Casillas spent 10 years facing Messi in tournaments in Spain and the Champions League. Before the semi-final, the 2010 World Cup winner with Spain gave advice to Croatia's goalkeeper Livakovic: "You always have to be focused when facing Messi. A goalkeeper cannot spend even a second without look at Messi or the players around. You have to pay attention when Messi has the ball."
Croatia ranked second in Group F. In the 1/8 round and quarter-finals, they continuously won thanks to penalties: 3-1 against Japan and 4-2 against Brazil.
In the 2018 World Cup group stage, Croatia beat Argentina 3-0. Many players who participated in that match are still their mainstays today, including Luka Modric, Dejan Lovren, Ivan Perisic or Mateo Kovacic.
