Portugal vs. Argentina: Tactical Preview of International Friendly
Portugal vs. Argentina is perhaps the glamour international friendly of 2014 due to the presence of maestros Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
But both managers will take the event seriously as they prepare for their respective upcoming tests. Fernando Santos' Portugal are still developing under a new regime, and Argentina are less than a year away from the 2015 Copa America.
Let's take a tactical look at how these teams are progressing.
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Portugal
Portugal have started carefully and slowly under Fernando Santos, adjusting to a very different life than the one experienced under Paulo Bento. Santos has spread his net and tried all sorts of options and players, refusing to single in on "favourites" as his predecessor did.
That's resulted in recalls for the likes of Tiago and Jose Bosingwa, while Cedric Soares and Raphael Guerreiro have also entered the picture. There's a fresh feel about the squad, even if the results are trickling in.
Santos is still finding his feet systemically, but after Bento's home loss to Albania, the former Greece manager has won both his competitive games. He's showing flexibility; he played a diamond against Denmark and a loose 4-4-2 against Armenia, and both formations have been rather fluid.
As he continues to assess his options, it's tough to judge how they'll set up, but you can bet the formation will place key players Ronaldo, Joao Moutinho and Danny in a place to succeed.
Argentina
Gerardo Martino, also fairly fresh from taking the reins with Argentina post-World Cup, will continue his push to get Messi on the ball in dangerous areas as often as possible.
Los Albiceleste play a 4-3-3 under Martino, but it's no longer modelled on the Barcelona system of 2011 with Messi up front. Instead, Messi plays from the right, and a true No. 9 takes the central berth.
They have an embarrassment of riches to take up that central position—Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Carlos Tevez represent three world-class options—and Angel Di Maria now looks to be settling into a role on the left wing, not in central midfield.
The central trio work hard and provide cover for the roaming full-backs, and it's noticeable Martino is assessing alternate options at left-back for the injured Marcos Rojo.
Direct Portugal
The Argentine midfield trio of Ever Banega, Javier Mascherano and Enzo Perez, described aptly by ESPN FC's Michael Cox as "workmanlike," will need to be switched on during transitions against Portugal.
Santos' Seleccao play a rather direct brand of football when lined up in a 4-4-2-esque shape, moving the ball from back to front quickly, with Joao Moutinho and Co. in midfield little more than conduits.
Ronaldo is now merging into a striker's role, and against Denmark, Santos tried Nani up front alongside him. Both looked superb when darting in behind and taking advantage of space—relishing being on the ball so often in central areas—and the full-backs pushed up aggressively to create width.
In quick turnovers and transitions, Argentina's midfield three will have at least three, if not four, runners heading straight past them in central areas. As Portugal swarm forward, they'll also need to think about slipping wide to help cover their own full-backs.
It's not pleasant to defend against; Santos has Portugal frightening defences once again.
Messi
As we saw against Hong Kong and against Croatia at Upton Park, Messi now plays on the right-hand side of a 4-3-3 under Martino.
Every manager's brief with Argentina is to get the best out of Messi, and while Alejandro Sabella began with Messi wide right in World Cup qualifiers, he eventually moved into a No. 10 position behind Higuain. Martino sees value off the right, cutting onto his left and shooting.
Teams have, over the last three years, adjusted to methods that can sometimes stop Messi. Placing him back out on the right is risky given he's easier to box out, but once he gets the ball, he can torment.
With "proper" strikers in central areas, Messi's underrated passing and creativity can see him become just as much of an assistor as he is a goalscorer. His adaption to this role changes how Argentina attack, and it'll be interesting to see if Guerreiro, who will earn just his second cap for Os Selecao, has any chance of stopping him.
