Guatemala and New Zealand are the other members of Group A and Argentina's next opponents in the initial phase of the Under-20 World Cup. Among them they played in Santiago del Estero, in the run-up to Argentina's win over Uzbekistan: the Oceanians were one hundred percent opportunistic and took advantage of the only mistake of the orderly Guatemalan defense to win 1-0. Javier Mascherano took note of the highs and lows of each.
They use similar tactical schemes, but their positions are quite different. Both Guatemala and New Zealand bet on five defenders, although those in black present their laners a few meters ahead of the Central Americans, who defend with their lines closer together.
A few meters higher or lower can mark the intentions and game plan of a team. That was clear in the first match of Group A, one of those that opened this youth World Cup. While Guatemala buckled in a 5-4-1, the New Zealanders drew a 5-2-3.
The anger of the players of Guatemala after the defeat with New Zealand. Photo: EFE/ Juan Ignacio Roncoroni
The difference is, mainly, in the extremes. On the side of the men in black, they had Jay Herdman on the right and Noah Karunaratne on the left. The best of this team was when they were able to get together and throw some walls, which did not abound at all. They managed to do it a couple of times.
The height of New Zealand's centre-backs is a key factor. Isaac Hughes is 1.83m tall; Finn Surman is 1.90m tall; and Lukas Kelly-Heald is 1.98m. They are towers that close the aerial game and that also try to impose themselves in the opposite area in the stopped balls. On the other hand, they show slowness and a certain coarseness in the game on the grass.
In fact, the Guatemalan plan was to take advantage of the spaces behind the forward laners and the gaps left by their centers between the lines. They found in a couple of opportunities free players both with balls above and with some filtered pass.
Norman Garbett celebrates his goal for New Zealand. Photo: EFE/ Juan Ignacio Roncoroni
Javier Mascherano's coaching staff will surely have taken note of that. Guatemala prioritizes maintaining a tactical order. It seeks not to look bad or disarm. And he takes advantage of the clarity of Daniel Cardoza, who proves to be the most inspired of his attack. Lying mostly on the left, he can appear in the middle to put a filtered pass or try the goal.
Cutting and leaving in speed towards the counterattack is the premise of the cast of Central America, which is not easy to penetrate if it does not leave its script. Once alone they caught him badly stopped and paid for it with the goal of the entered Normal Garbett.
A deconcentration cost Guatemala the game. New Zealand midfielder Fin Conchie got a front air shot for Garbett. But the biggest mistake was by Mathius Gaitán, who made a mistake in the clearance and left the way free for the attacker.
Guatemala had shown itself to be the clearest on the field. He lacked courage to hurt a New Zealand that, without having done too much did not forgive him the only failure behind.
Santiago del Estero. Special envoy.
See also