re: GROUP F - 11am cdt [Nigeria vs. Team Messi ESPN] [Bosnia/Hrzdfkj vs. Evil ESPN2]

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Messi has been criticized for not taking over games in the WC.

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He should be criticized for his movement in the Bosnia game. Marked out by two or three Bosnian players, he just stands there waiting for the ball to come to his feet instead of creating space for his teammates. The front line's movement against Iran wasn't good enough until Messi got his chance. This game they've looked fluid but they were picked apart rather easily for each of the goals. They had numbers back on the first counter, and on the second (which wasn't a counterattacking goal) they didn't track their runners from midfield.

They are a great team on paper and a good team on the field, but it's not like other teams won't gel. Against a good team I'm not sure Argentina will be able to break down a D without Messi's intervention. Outside the Nigeria game, the attacking movement hasn't been good enough.

That said, I think they are poised for a quarterfinal appearance with a highly probably semi-final appearance ahead.