RIO DE JANEIRO --
"Is that it?" sneered the front of one of the Rio de Janeiro newspapers after Argentina had beaten Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-1 in their opening World Cup match. Taunting your rivals is a dangerous game, particularly after just one game -- that they did, after all, win -- but a certain sense of being underwhelmed was perhaps understandable. After all the hype, with thousands of fans sleeping on Copacabana Beach, with the streets full of blue and white, Argentina had stuttered through the first half before finding some fluidity in the second after a halftime change of shape from 5-3-2 to 4-3-3.
Over the past few days, the Argentinian media has been gripped by the mystery of the formations. It seemed baffling that Alejandro Sabella should change shape away from the 4-3-3 that had been so successful in qualifying, and the reason for the reversion is now the subject of much debate. It may just be that Sabella, recognizing he was ceding midfield, accepted a tactical hunch -- the logic of which remains opaque, not least because Sabella, usually open about such matters, squirms every time he is asked about it -- hadn't worked and went back to the tried and tested. There have, though, been reports in Argentina that players, led by Lionel Messi, insisted on a change although the reserve goalkeeper Mariano Andujar dismissed the rumors. "Messi gave his opinion, which he is entitled to, and you shouldn't go looking for things that aren't there," he said.
Whatever the reason, there seems a blithe belief that now that the 4-3-3 is back everything will be fine and Iran, whom Argentina face in Belo Horizonte on Saturday, will be dismissed. "It was a little difficult in the first half," said Gonzalo Higuain, whose arrival in the second half drew defenders and created space for Messi. "In the second Alejandro modified the scheme and we had greater composure. It changed enough and it's important that we won. In the second half you saw that the tram was playing the same as usual. We know enough. We know how each other plays. We also know our movements. That is quite noticeable."
Yet it would be misleading to think Iran will be pushovers. The general reaction when Iran and Nigeria drew their first game 0-0 was a frustrated sigh. After a vibrant and positive World Cup, that was the first -- for the neutral -- stinker, a game full of dogged running and little goalmouth activity. Yet Iranians could take pride in a solid defensive performance and when the Nigeria press corps, forthright as ever, adopted a critical line of questioning, the Iran coach Carlos Queiroz was quick to hit back. International sanctions, as he pointed out, have made his preparations extremely difficult in terms of arranging friendlies, getting his players together and securing equipment. He does not have great stars; Ashkan Dejagah plays for the highest profile club, and he has just been relegated with Fulham.
All Queiroz can do is look to keep things tight and hope that maybe his side can nick a goal from a set-play. The challenge of thwarting more illustrious opponents is one he relishes. Queiroz is a master of defensive tactics -- and the worrying news for Argentina is that he has shut out Lionel Messi before.
Queiroz was the assistant coach of Manchester United when they met Messi's Barcelona in the semifinal of the UEFA Champions league in 2008. During his time at the club, there was a discernible change in United's approach to major European games, the swashbuckling style of tradition put side for a more cerebral, cautious style.
"I remember the semifinal against Barcelona away when he was speaking with everybody before the second half," said the fullback Patrice Evra. "The team felt very strong at Barcelona and this was because of the work of Carlos Queiroz. Tactically, he brought something very important to Manchester United. The secret is just to get close, to not let him have the first touch. If he goes quickly with the ball it is very difficult to stop a player like Messi... You need to get in strong and close; not foul but be strong and close. After that you can enjoy your game. But if you let him get with the ball and let him run at you, it's very difficult."
Iran will almost certainly set up as they did against Nigeria, with two banks of four behind Dejagah and Reza Ghoochannejhad. Out of possession, Dejagah then drops back into the midfield four with Javad Nekounam falling between the liens as additional cover. Argentina, with a more varied attack than Nigeria's, might be able to force Iran deep enough that Higuain's aerial ability comes into play, or to draw them far enough forward that Messi and Sergio Aguero have space to run into, but it will not be easy. Iran may not be great for the neutral to watch but there is something admirable in its organization.
