World Cup 2014: Argentina need just one moment of Messi magic

Even at 1-0 up against Bosnia-Hercegovina, Argentina looked like a team which was in constant danger of conceding and capitulating until the 65th minute when Lionel Messi provided a reminder of what he can do — slotting in a brilliant goal to give his team a lift. [caption id=“attachment_1572055” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Messi celebrates with his teammates after scoring Argentina’s second goal. AP[/caption] Here are three things we learnt from Argentina vs Bosnia: Sabella’s substitutions changed everything: It seemed that Messi, Angel di Maria and Sergio Aguero didn’t have defined roles in a team full of players who are used to roaming around the pitch for their clubs. The team lacked shape, movement and penetration before Alejandro Sabella brought on Gonzalo Higuain and Fernando Gago for Hugo Campagnaro and Maxi Rodriguez respectively. From a complicated 5-3-2, Argentina took a defender off and went into a more direct 4-3-3 with Di Maria, Gago and Mascherano in midfield and Aguero-Messi-Higuain up front. It allowed their attackers more space, width and most importantly, opened up space for Messi who was stuck in a playmaker’s role until then. It also allowed Bosnia more chances to attack, but Argentina’s threat and confidence went up. They started taking fewer touches and attacked through the centre in the second half compared to the first. Argentina spent 32.27% of their game on the left flank in the 1st half compared to just 19.72% in the second as Messi moved more central and Higuain drifted in from the right. Argentina just need one moment of Messi magic: Messi’s passing in the first half was woeful at just 76 percent. He had given away the ball eight times and completed just 19 passes. In the second half, his passing success rate was 86 percent with five misplaced passes but 35 completed passes and two key passes. He also took three shots compared to not a single one in the first half. Clearly the powers of Messi were unlocked due to a tactical switch from which his style benefited. His team knew that one run and finish would be enough for them to get the cushion they needed against a resilient Bosnian side — and it came in the 65th minute when he bounced off a pass from Higuain, scampered past a couple defenders and thumped in a precise finish. It came moments after he missed a freekick from an area he should have at least hit the target from — resulting in boos from his own fans. His face fell on hearing them, but the response was phenomenal — his celebration showing what the goal meant to him. A couple more moments like these, and Argentina could stick around in Brazil for a while. Bosnia should easily go through their group: Bosnia should be considered favourites to go through to the last 16. The team was surprisingly well set-up and drilled into a formation and style that played to their strengths. They stuck to a plan and only a very unlucky moment and a bit of brilliance from Messi subjected Bosnia to a loss. But they will have their day in the tournament and it better come later rather than sooner for them — they should see off Iran and Nigeria with ease and save their best for the knockouts. Take this for starters: Bosnia’s overall passing was 86 percent and they created 11 chances sending in 26 crosses and 17 take ons against a team which was expected to beat them fair and square. There’s also that bit of fight in them — they chase you down and close the channels (12 interceptions, 15 blocks and just 13 fouls) very well, which means scoring against Bosnia is not going to be easy. Keep an eye on these guys — they may well turn out to be memorable debutants. Bosnia created 11 chances in the game.