Kylian Mbappe is France‘s star player, that much is obvious. Based on that, while also trying to stay true to Argentina‘s style, Lionel Scaloni has prepared a ‘spider’s web’ to trap the French striker.
Based on the formation Scaloni tested on Saturday, it looks like this is how the Albiceleste will line-up: a five-man backline to prevent space for Kylian, an ‘anti-Mbappe plan’. The starting XI that Scaloni tested is as follows: Emiliano Martínez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Lisandro Martinez, Acuna; De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister; Messi and Julian Alvarez.
This would mean three central defenders: Romero, Otamendi and Lisando Martinez; two wing-backs: Molina and Acuna; three midfielders, with Enzo as the axis and two inside midfielders (De Paul and Mac Allister); plus the two attackers: Messi and Alvarez.
This line-up, if confirmed, means some changes compared to the semi-finals when Argentina played with a 4-4-2, but it’s nothing new with respect to the quarter-finals against the Netherlands. In that dramatic match the Albiceleste started with a 5-3-2, sitting an ‘injured’ Angel Di Maria on the bench, as is expected tomorrow.
Di Maria is precisely the other option for the Argentines. ‘El Fideo’ is fully recovered and came in for Lisandro in Saturday’s session to form a 4-3-3, which would be the other formation against France. However, due to the offensive characteristics of the French, it’s more likely that Scaloni will opt for a backline of five, and that Di Maria will be the ‘plan B’ if needed.
The curious thing is that in his press conference, Scaloni said that the team has already been decided. We’ll only know if it’s confirmed right before the final.
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