Why Higuain Is Under Most Pressure for Argentina Following Loss to Portugal

The underwhelmed Old Trafford crowd will not be the first or the last to see a team come out on top after having been comprehensively outplayed for large spells of a game. This time it was Portugal who prevailed, striking through Raphael Guerreiro in the final minute to take a 1-0 win over Argentina. 

Lionel Messi and his team-mates had dominated possession and territory throughout. The nation lost intensity and shape when the captain was withdrawn at half-time alongside rival Cristiano Ronaldo, in a move that did not please those present in Manchester. 

Overall, there were positives to take away for coach Gerardo Martino. A high-pressing game harried and unsettled Portugal throughout, leaving them little time to dwell on the ball. The midfield duo of Javier Mascherano and Lucas Biglia worked well, while out wide the inexperienced Facundo Roncaglia and Cristian Ansaldi did their chances of providing full-back alternatives no harm. 

But one huge question mark remains over Albiceleste heads. How can a forward line of Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria, with the creative support of Javier Pastore, look so ponderous and unthreatening against a team defending deep and with numbers? 

Precious few chances were created by the South Americans and while all those up front have to take their share of the blame, one man stood out as clearly off-key. With the return of Carlos Tevez to the fold, Gonzalo Higuain is now under more pressure than ever to keep his place. 

The Napoli forward contributed little to Argentina's general play. His passing was lacklustre, his movement laboured and he failed to connect with either Messi or Di Maria in meaningful fashion. Towards the end of the second half, Pipita spurned a glorious chance on the left-hand side of the area; the fact that an offside flag saved his blushes was scant consolation. 

As a natural centre-forward, those deficiencies in the approach to the net can be overlooked if the No. 9 is banging in goals. But Higuain did not look a threat against a strong, yet limited Portugal and faces dropping down the Argentina pecking order behind Sergio Aguero and Tevez in 2015. 

Jon Super/Associated Press

Martino demonstrated both with an excellent Newell's Old Boys team and then Barcelona that a traditional centre-forward is not at the top of his list of priorities. For the Rosario team, Ignacio Scocco and Maxi Rodriguez were the principal goal-scoring outlets as the Lepra marched to the 2012 Apertura title before reaching the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores the next year. 

In the Camp Nou, the diminutive Messi was entrusted with leading the forward line alongside Alexis Sanchez and Neymar, none of whom are known for throwing their weight or physicality around as an asset. In that sense, the lightweight, mobile Aguero or Tevez are far more natural options to spearhead the attack than Pipita's blunter talents. 

One game, a friendly moreover, is obviously insufficient to write off a player's chances, particularly one blessed with Higuain's ability. But the player will know he missed an excellent chance to show his best side in the last game of 2014. The next time the Albiceleste convene will be February or March of next year, by which point Martino must have a strong idea of who his chosen first XI will be going into the Copa America. 

Serie A and Napoli will be Pipita's focus now to show the coach he is up to the challenge, because the evidence of a dull match at Old Trafford only suggested to the contrary.