Artem Sokolov, exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
VK continues to discuss the teams of the World Cup in Brazil. Now it is the turn of Group F with Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nigeria and Iran.
Argentina
Argentina is one of the potential winners. How else could it be with a team which has an attack group of Messi, Aguero, di Maria, Higuain and Lavezzi. Unlike in 2010, this team is sharply focused on the result. Their mentor Alejandro Sabella is not inclined toward unplanned adventures. His teams play carefully and the same can be said about the national team of Argentina. This team is not afraid of exploiting its opponents, as happened in the qualification games when the Argentinians scored many goals in counter-attacks.
Their main problem is the imbalance of the lines. Only a lazy commentator would not notice their emphasis on attack. This is unlikely to influence the group stage but could be problematic in the play-offs. The Argentinian defence and midfield are dwarfed by its attack. The team does not have a stable goalkeeper and their defence is perhaps the weakest among the teams who could claim the cup. The game of the main star Lionel Messi in Barcelona and in the national team is very different, and the forward was often criticised for this by the fans. Despite this, the wards of Sabella should move on from the group without any problems. This team is capable of defeating anyone in a play-off and can reach the final.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia is a dark horse of the championship. Their potential and the grid of the games means that they can reach the quarterfinals. It will be difficult for them to take the first place in a group with Argentina, but they can easily beat Nigeria and Iran to go into the last sixteen. The level of the team allows for it. Their advantage is that their responsibilities are not so high. They are already heroes in their home country after winning the ticket to World Cup for the first time in history. So if they don't move on from the group, nobody will blame them.
Their main problem is the uneven composition. Their forwards and midfielders like Ibisevic, Dzeko, Misimovic, Salihovic, Lulic and Pjanic don't raise any questions, there are some weaknesses in defence. The wards of Susic lack the experience of big competitions. Maybe this will not appear in the group stage, but could become a decisive factor in the play-offs. Despite all this, the Bosnian team can seriously hope to qualify from the group and reach the quarterfinals.
