Before the World Cup started in Brazil much was said about the attacking trio of Argentina and their contrast in ability to their defensive unit. As the games began to pass, sports analysts found themselves underwhelmed by the attacking display of Argentina. As Lionel Messi scored, the team was declared Messi-dependent; if Lio did not score or chase the ball, Messi did not do enough. What Argentina became was not what everyone wanted. Instead they became a solid team with a strong back four that is truly captained by Javier Mascherano, who dictates the pace of the game and the stability of the formation. Argentina did not have intentions of winning games 7-1. They intended to prove that every aspect of their team is capable and world-class. The last time Argentina conceded a goal was June 25th against Nigeria. Since then not one goal has passed through the Argentine defense that was supposedly the weakest aspect of Argentina.
Netherlands was seen as the stronger side regardless of the fact that in their Quarter-Final match against Costa Rica they were unable to score one goal in 120 minutes and were minutes away from losing against Mexico in the Round of 16. They somehow had convinced the analysts that they were the stronger team because they were not dependent on one player. But against Argentina, Netherlands showed that neither Sneijder nor RVP were capable of legitimately breaking down the Argentina defense. It was Robben who fiercely went down the right flanks in hopes of scoring but found himself stifled by Mascherano and co.
In the first half Argentina dictated the game and possession as they established their dominance and it wasn’t until the final moments of the 90 minutes that Holland was able to seriously strike fear into Argentina. The entire game was incredibly close as both had clear chances waved off by offside calls and almost equal amount of shots at goal. But after 120 minutes, it was a penalty shoot-out that would determine the winner of this game and the incapable goalkeeper who many Argentina fans wanted to stay home finally had his chance to solidify his place. After two saves, Sergio Romero not only became man of the match, but made it clear that Argentina was not the lopsided team many had predicted them to be. Nor are they the Messi-dependent team they have been called. Argentina goes into the 2014 World Cup Final as a team capable of winning the FIFA World Cup.