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Boos, Birds And Passion: Are Liverpool Fans Putting Too Much Pressure On Their Players?
Recently there has been discussion about atmosphere in stadiums and fans vocal support. We have had fans booing at grounds and also people questioning pressure put on players by supporters desperate for success. West Ham manager, Sam Allardyce, made reference to the booing of some sections of the home crowd after their recent win over Hull City when there had been boos heard around Upton Park despite the team leading 1-0 at halftime.
West Ham vice-Chairman Karren Brady stood by her manager’s frustration by stating “There is no way I can accept my team being booed.” She went onto add, “Big Sam is so upset he complains that he has never heard a winning team booed.”
Others have joined the debate defending a spectator’s right to voice their displeasure. On twitter long-time abuse-provocateur, Danny Baker, posted “So Allardyce says fans mustn’t boo. Why do they ALWAYS forget fans are the only ones who have paid to get in. Every else [sic] is BEING PAID.”
Now personally I agree you have the right to voice your dissatisfaction and it is every fan’s right to comment on the performance of the team, the manager or indeed the club. But, my problem with this sort of ‘support’ is that it rarely achieves what the instigators desire.
My view on the first point is that there are various ways to support your players and club and it is one of the easiest things in the world to be negative, but does it ever really motivate a player or even a team? There are examples of players managing to turn around a rough crowd, but generally it can be very hard to keep yourself motivated if you know you’re going to receive abuse from your own fans. When you consider the bubble most players live in which consists purely on engineering to make their lives simple, uncomplicated and constantly positive, it must be difficult for them to deal with.
Having said that, becoming a top professional footballer is such a cut-throat business where a man must be single-minded enough to sacrifice many of the temptations us mere mortals can succumb to, that you cannot imagine players being able to reach the top if they have slightly delicate skins. These days many managers and coaches will kneel at the altar of man-management and it would seem the days of shouting and badgering players, a la Brian Clough, John Sitton or Neil Warnock, are over. In fact even Martin Allen worships at the font of personal development, believing there’s more to management than just being mad.
Let me illustrate this point with a simple reference. Cast your minds back to May 2005 and Istanbul. Liverpool go in at half-time 0-3 down to AC Milan in the Champions League Final. The Italians put in one of the finest 45 minute displays I have witnessed from any side and I had to admit we were well beaten at that stage. But in the ground what did the fans do? Did they boo? Did they deride, sneer, whistle or even walk out? No, they sang their hearts out. The Italians themselves made mention of the fact they couldn’t understand how those fans could be singing for their side when they had been so utterly outplayed in the first half. As Jamie Carragher wrote in his autobiography
Rafa Benitez also said “Listen to them, we’re 0-3 down and they’re singing higher than ever, do it for them. Our coach Alex Miller’s final instructions at half-time were for us to “score a goal for those fans”, and as the players emerged from the tunnel they could hear the noise being generated from the fans and it certainly had a hand in galvanising the miracle which transpired.
Picking holes in someone or their performance is a very easy thing to do and these days fans seem to prefer to ring up radio stations or join in forums or just tweet, simply to moan. The hardest thing in life is looking for the good in any situation. Funnily enough it is something many religions teach, despite the press they get for being responsible for starting wars or encouraging bigotry, and maybe the demise of religion in this country has had an effect on this. Often the simplest thing is to point out what is wrong rather than how to put it right.
Of course, booing your team is not a new occurrence but booing a side when they’re leading at half-time in a ‘must-win’ game probably is. Is it a sign of nerves on behalf of the fans? Or is it simply a natural reaction to the frustration of seeing your side not play in the way you would like them to? How do you think those West Ham players would’ve felt if they had received a standing ovation after going in at the break 1-0 at home to Hull? Maybe they would’ve felt the crowd was on their side, there was nothing going to stop them now and perhaps they could put in a performance for the fans in the second half. Similarly, how would the Hull City players have felt if they realised the crowd was in full cry and determined to will the home side on?
Don’t get me wrong, I fully support someone’s right to protest and when you’ve paid a lot of money to get in surely you have the right to demonstrate how disappointed you are with what you have been watching? But then that is very easy to do when you’re in the safety of a crowd and, as I mentioned earlier, the easiest reaction is to complain and be negative. It takes a lot to look for the good.
There are ways of voicing dissent and any amount of outlets which will happily channel it for you. I just feel there are better ways of doing it rather than when your team is 1-0 up against a side they should beat and the 3pts you might gain, should ensure safety for another season. I am sure there are many fans up and down the country who would swap places with West Ham fans at this stage of the season.
Perhaps this brings in the question of who should get who going first? Is it the crowd’s responsibility to create an atmosphere to galvanise the team or is it the players’ who need to play well enough to bring the crowd to life? A football match is a play in a theatre or a film in a cinema, where you sit and wait to be entertained. A football match has more in common with a rock concert, where the crowd turns up expecting to be entertained and reacts accordingly joining in with whatever is played out on stage.
Maybe this is all synonymous with the way many supporters believe today’s footballer is separated from them. The pampered ponce who gets to drive off in his top of the range Mercedes and have all the money, women and accolades he wants, no matter how he plays. A guy who has clearly just turned up today to do as little as possible so he can continue to earn his vast wage and has set out with the intention of losing, or worse still, just not even trying. But is that the truth?
Do players deliberately set out to go through the motions? Or is it simply how us mere mortals who have never made it past playing in the park on a Sunday morning, think we would approach some games? But then maybe the reason we have never progressed is due to the voice in our head being far less positive than the one in the head of a player who finally makes the grade.
Some players seem to positively quiver with the excitement of drawing a big club in a cup competition, whereas some fans would prefer an easier tie just to prolong the journey a little further.
Not too long ago it was offered that some players dreaded being selected to play for England as there was so much pressure and negative vibe from the media and supporters, that the whole experience of going away on international duty was a thoroughly unpleasant one. Whether that’s still the case is up for debate, but young players still talk of the honour of playing for one’s country that you could be forgiven for forgetting they were young supporters once who dreamed the dreams we all have.
My second point in this article relates to the suggestion that, although the support at Anfield for Liverpool recently has been phenomenal, it could in fact put too much pressure on a young side unprepared for the heady heights of Premier League Champions. Richard Beech in The Mirror made the point, “passionate support could turn into pressure for young players” but this underestimates what counts for ‘support’ in Liverpool and also the calming effect Brendan Rodgers is having on this team.
Both Glenn Hoddle and Tim Sherwood made an attempt to highlight this before the Liverpool v Tottenham game on Sunday. Unfortunately for them it backfired severely and it was the Tottenham players who seemed overwhelmed with the home side’s vociferous support, going on to fluff their lines. You see the support at Anfield and Liverpool FC is different from many other clubs. I don’t say it’s different than all other clubs as many clubs have fans passionate about their team and desperate to get behind them.
It was pointed out to me a while back by a fan of another club who said “the problem with Liverpool fans is they always over-estimate a player’s ability”. Now that in itself is an interesting observation, seen by the accuser as a negative and yet seen by me, and I would think many Liverpool fans, as a major plus. This club has had plenty of players down the years who made the best of their abilities. Emlyn Hughes, Kevin Keegan, Joey Jones, Alan Kennedy, Jamie Carragher, Craig Johnston and Steve Nicol are all players who weren’t particularly as gifted as some but worked incredibly hard on making the most of what they had. Now we can add to that the name of Jon Flanagan.
Flanagan has been a revelation for me this season. It was clear from the Channel Four documentary “Being Liverpool” that Rodgers identified him as someone with talent, but then he did the same with Jonjo Shelvey and that didn’t really work out. In November when Liverpool travelled to The Emirates, Rodgers surprised many when he plumped for Flanagan as replacement for Glenn Johnson at right-back.
Now contrary to some of the points I have made earlier, twitter was alive with negative comments about the kid’s ability, suggesting he was more Traore than triumph and he shouldn’t be anywhere near the squad. ‘Flanno’ had a decent game but has since gone on to be one of the most improved players at the club. On Sunday he epitomised how he has blossomed into his role with a ‘Cruyff turn’ on the left before feeding Coutinho who went onto score the third goal. Flanagan is everything which is good about positive passionate support and how it can galvanise a player. After initially receiving abuse on social media, in the ground he received support and for a local-boy-made-good this has transcended into performances which make him difficult to leave out.
When players give their all at Anfield the crowd loves them, and they can go onto love them forever. Being a smaller city than London, for example, can have the effect of a player never forgetting who is playing for. As Bill Shankly famously told the fans “these players play for you”, and he never let them forget it and countless managers have gone onto understand that bond and tap into it. Rodgers is no different.
Now let’s not get too carried away as there were one or two dissenting voices during Kenny Dalglish’s second spell in charge, and you could make the point the home form wasn’t great during this time with too many drawn games to be able to challenge for the title. I believe everyone was so desperate to return to the glory days and with Kenny coming back there was a belief it would just happen automatically. But herein lies the problem. Liverpool would start very well at Anfield but if we didn’t score in the first 15 minutes the crowd began to get nervous. What if what you wanted so desperately didn’t happen?
This then transferred to the players and the performances became anxious. With Brendan Rodgers coming in there was a feeling of needing to build something from the beginning and that this would take time. Add to that his calm demeanour and this has given the fans the ability to sit back and enjoy the play and hope for the best rather than just to expect it. Now, of course, we expect the best from the players because they are putting in the performances.
In addition, Rodgers has gone for players with the right attitude, believing his coaching methods can improve their play. One or two have found themselves out on loan or even out of the club if they have shown any deficiency in their determination.
When Liverpool fans offer passionate support they are not saying “you better put in a performance or else you’re letting me and everyone else down”. They are saying “we believe in you and we’d give anything to be in your position, but you have been given the faith to play for us and we believe you can do it”.
It is a subtle difference but it makes all the difference. Misunderstanding that just makes us more determined, and I appreciate I am completely biased in this but then that is one of the reason’s I support this club rather than any other, but being supported by Liverpool fans is just a completely different experience than at many other clubs. If you don’t believe me go and ask Xabi Alonso, John-Arne Riise, Sami Hyypia, Didi Hamann. Players who started their careers at other clubs and didn’t necessarily understand the Liverpool fans before they came, then they move onto other clubs but still hold a real affinity with the club and the city and will often declare this is a place like no other.
At the moment everyone is just enjoying the ride which many of us weren’t expecting until next season at least. But if you are concerned passionate support may have a negative effect on the players, just remember these players are playing every day under the constant reminder of what has gone before them at Liverpool. They are already well aware of the expectations.
Published in permission with Pete Spencer
Argentina will be aiming for a record-breaking 16th Copa America title when they take on Colombia
The Copa America 2024 is set for an electrifying conclusion as defending champions Argentina face off against Colombia at the Hard Rock Stadium in Florida on Sunday. This highly anticipated final marks the first-ever Copa America final meeting between these two footballing powerhouses. Argentina aim to secure a record-breaking 16th title, making them the most successful side in the competition’s history.
Argentina’s road to the final has been marked by grit and determination. They navigated a nerve-wracking penalty shootout against Ecuador in the quarter-finals before securing a comfortable 2-0 victory over Canada in the semi-finals. Julian Alvarez opened the scoring, followed by a historic goal from Lionel Messi, who now stands as the second-highest male goalscorer in international football with 109 goals.
Argentina’s unbeaten streak now extends to 10 matches, and they remain unbeaten in major tournament knockout games on American soil since the 1994 World Cup. It is no understatement that they go into the clash as favourites.
Colombia are no pushovers, however. They have been in exceptional form. Since their 1-0 loss to Argentina in World Cup qualifying in February 2022, they have embarked on a record-breaking unbeaten run of 28 matches.
Jefferson Lerma’s header gave Colombia the lead before Daniel Munoz’s red card put them at a numerical disadvantage against Uruguay. Despite this setback, Colombia’s resilience shone through as they held on to secure their place in the final. The victory over Uruguay was marred by a brawl involving Uruguayan players and Colombian supporters, but Colombia’s focus remained unwavering. This final represents a chance for Colombia to end a long wait since their first Copa America triumph in 2001.
Team News and Predicted XI
Argentina
For the final, Argentina face no injury or suspension issues. Head coach Lionel Scaloni is expected to maintain an unchanged lineup. The defence will feature a solid back four with Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, and Nicolas Tagliafico, with Emiliano Martinez as the goalkeeper.
In the midfield, Enzo Fernandez and Rodrigo De Paul are anticipated to keep their places, even though Giovani Lo Celso and Exequiel Palacios are pushing for a start. Angel Di Maria is poised for his international farewell on the right wing. Alexis Mac Allister, who has been impressive on the international stage, will play a crucial role, linking up with Messi from the midfield.
Lionel Messi, who overcame a leg injury to play the full match against Canada, will lead the attack alongside Julian Alvarez. Lautaro Martinez, the tournament’s top scorer, is expected to begin on the bench and should be brought on in the second half.
Predicted Playing XI (4-4-2): Emi. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Lis. Martinez, Tagliafico; Mac Allister, E. Fernandez, De Paul, Di Maria; Messi, Alvarez
Colombia
With Daniel Munoz suspended, Santiago Arias is set to start at right-back, joining Davinson Sanchez, Carlos Cuesta, and Johan Mojica in a solid four-man backline. Camilo Vargas will likely be the goalkeeper.
In midfield, Jefferson Lerma and Richard Ríos are expected to form the double pivot, providing protection for the defence and allowing the attacking players to push forward.
Captain James Rodriguez, who has recorded a tournament-high six assists, will continue in the number 10 role. He will be supported by Liverpool’s Luis Diaz and Fluminense’s Jhon Arias on the flanks.
Jhon Cordoba, who has contributed with two goals and two assists, is expected to lead the attack, with Jhon Duran and Rafael Santos Borre available as options.
Predicted Playing XI (4-2-3-1): Vargas; Santiago Arias, Sanchez, Cuesta, Mojica; Rios, Lerma; Jhon Arias, Rodriguez, Diaz; Cordoba
Key Stats
- Victory will see Argentina win their 16th Copa America title, making them the most successful side in the competition’s illustrious history.
- Colombia are unbeaten in their last 28 international games.
- Argentina have won 26 of their 43 meetings against Colombia in all competitions.
- A win for Colombia will see them win just their second Copa America title, their first since 2001.
Match Deciding Duel
Enzo Fernandez (Argentina) vs James Rodriguez (Colombia)
Argentina have been solid in defence and penetrating their backline has proven to be a challenge for most sides in the competition. Colombia have a rather dynamic attack but will depend on the veteran James Rodriguez to act as the playmaker.
With the likes of Luis Diaz able to make the most of opportunities, the onus will be on Enzo Fernandez to ensure Rodriguez does not have space to manoeuvre in. The duel between the two players could certainly set the tone for which way the cookie crumbles on the night.
Prediction
Argentina 2-1 Colombia
The clash is likely to be an entertaining one with the midfield battle expected to set the tone for the result. Argentina. however, have more strength in depth and the ability to bring a player of Lautaro Martinez’s calibre off the bench in the second half is akin to a cheat code. The Inter Milan star is expected to lead the defending champions to a close 2-1 win on the night.
Spain and England will face off for continental supremacy in the Euro 2024 final
As Euro 2024 reaches its climax, the football world braces for a thrilling final between Spain and England at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. This highly anticipated match will determine the champions of Europe, with Spain looking to add to their illustrious history and England aiming to lift the Henri Delaunay Trophy for the first time.
Spain, guided by Luis de la Fuente, entered the tournament somewhat under the radar but quickly established themselves as a formidable contender. They navigated the so-called ‘Group of Death’ with ease, securing nine points from three matches against Croatia, Italy, and Albania. Impressively, they emerged from the group stage without conceding a goal to an opposition player.
In the knockout stages, Spain demonstrated their resilience and quality. A stunning 4-1 comeback against Georgia in the last-16 and a tense extra-time victory over hosts Germany in the quarter-finals showcased their grit and talent. The semi-final against France was another test of their mettle, with young star Lamine Yamal lighting up the Allianz Arena and Dani Olmo sealing the win.
Spain’s journey to the final has not been without challenges, but their blend of experience and youthful exuberance has seen them through. They now stand on the brink of history, aiming to become the first European men’s team to win four major tournaments consecutively.
England’s Euro 2024 campaign has been a rollercoaster. Gareth Southgate’s men had a mixed group stage, winning only once against Serbia and drawing against Denmark and Slovenia. Their knockout phase has been a tale of resilience and drama, coming from behind in both the last-16 and quarter-finals.
A lacklustre win over Slovakia and a penalty shootout victory against Switzerland set the stage for a semi-final clash with the Netherlands. Despite early setbacks, including a goal from Dutch prodigy Xavi Simons, England produced their best performance of the tournament. A late winner from Ollie Watkins, following a perfect penalty from Harry Kane, propelled them to their second consecutive Euro final.
Southgate’s squad has shown incredible determination and character, setting new records along the way. Kane’s scoring feats and the team’s ability to perform under pressure have been pivotal to their success.
We take a look at how both sides could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News and Predicted XI
Spain
Spain’s bad-tempered quarter-final against Germany saw Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand fall foul of the referee, leading to their suspensions for the semi-final. Both players are now back at De la Fuente’s disposal, bringing much-needed fresh legs to the Roja XI. Carvajal will replace Jesus Navas, while Le Normand should push Nacho to the bench.
Spain are expected to maintain a 4-3-3 formation with Unai Simon in goal. Daniel Carvajal and Marc Cucurella should hold the flanks in defence, while Robin Le Normand and Aymeric Laporte should form the centre-back pairing. Rodri should form the midfield pivot, with Dani Olmo and Fabian Ruiz pushing forward.
Skipper Alvaro Morata should lead the line with the electric duo of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams providing support. Morata was initially a concern given his freak injury after the win against France. Thankfully for Spain, he trained normally and should lead them out.
Predicted Playing XI (4-3-3): Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Ruiz, Rodri, Olmo; Yamal, Morata, Williams
England
England arrive in Berlin with a fully fit squad, including Luke Shaw, who has recovered from injury. Shaw’s performance against Switzerland and his effective stint in the semi-final suggests he may start, replacing Kieran Trippier at left-back.
Southgate is likely to stick with his preferred 3-4-2-1 formation. Jordan Pickford will guard the goal, with a back three of John Stones, Harry Maguire, and Marc Guehi.
Shaw and Kyle Walker will operate as wing-backs, while Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham form the midfield pivot. Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka will support captain Harry Kane in attack. Southgate has enough game-changers on the bench and it remains to be seen if he will have the nerve to make bold calls or play the long game and roll the dice.
Predicted Playing XI (4-3-3): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi; Saka, Mainoo, Rice, Shaw; Bellingham, Foden; Kane
Key Stats
- A victory on the night will see Spain secure their fourth title, making them the most successful side in the competition’s history.
- A win for England will see them triumph in the European Championships for the first time in their history.
- Spain and England have faced off 27 times in all competitions. La Roja have won 10 games while England have won 14. Three games ended in a draw.
- England have never lost to Spain in a UEFA European Championship clash before.
Match Deciding Duel
Lamine Yamal (Spain) vs Luke Shaw (Spain)
Lamal has been a critical difference-maker for Spain in this year’s tournament and will hope to end it on a high. Up against the recently returned Luke Shaw, he will aim to run rings against the English veteran.
Shaw’s ability to get caught out could provide Yamal the space he needs to run into and put the English backline into disarray. This should also subsequently free up Dani Olmo to make his trademarks into the box.
Prediction
Spain 1-1 England (Spain to Win on Penalties)
England will be keen to end their trophy drought and also go one better than last time around. While they have a strong squad with plenty of depth, Southgate’s inability to take calculated risks should play right into Spain’s hands. It remains unlikely that the trophy will go ‘home’ anytime soon.
Argentina and Canada will face off in the first semifinal of Copa America 2024, a repeat of the competition opener from Group A
Canada have a golden opportunity to make history as they face defending champions Argentina in the first semi-final of Copa America 2024 at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday.
In a rematch of their tournament opener, Canada can become the second CONCACAF team to reach the Copa America final. Both sides advanced to the semi-finals via penalty shootouts, with Argentina defeating Ecuador and Canada overcoming Venezuela after 1-1 draws in regular time respectively.
Argentina’s path to the semi-finals has been fortified by their exceptional defence and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. The victory over Ecuador secures their fifth consecutive appearance in the Copa America semi-finals. Historically, Argentina have been strong at this stage, progressing in seven of their last eight attempts, with the only setback being against Brazil in 2019.
A triumph on Tuesday would mark the first time Argentina reached the Copa America final as defending champions since 1959. Scaloni’s team has been defensively sound, conceding just once throughout the tournament. The Albiceleste are unbeaten in their last nine matches across all competitions, allowing only three goals during this period.
On the other hand, Canada has shown remarkable resilience since their initial loss to Argentina. Jesse Marsch’s squad has conceded just once in their last three games. They are the third CONCACAF team to reach the Copa America semi-finals in their debut appearance, following Honduras and Mexico. They are also the first from the region to advance this far since the USA in 2016.
This semi-final marks Canada’s fifth appearance in the final four of a continental tournament this century. They have progressed beyond this stage twice, in the 2023 Nations League and the 2000 Gold Cup. Canada aims to emulate Mexico’s 2001 Copa America run, where Mexico reached the final before losing to Colombia.
Argentina’s defensive stability and tactical discipline under Scaloni will be pivotal, also giving their world-class frontline a base to build upon. Canada, under Marsch, has transformed into a more disciplined and resilient team. Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies will be crucial in breaking down Argentina’s defence. SoccerSouls takes a closer look at this clash.
Team News and Predicted XI
Argentina
Lionel Messi was not at his best against Ecuador and will be keen to make amends for the penalty miss in the shootout. he missed the final group game with a hamstring injury but now appears to be back to full fitness.
Lionel Scaloni is likely to retain his flexible 4-3-3 formation with Emiliano Martínez in goal. He should be protected by the back four of Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez and Marcos Acuna.
Midfielder Leandro Paredes should perform the role of the pivot in the centre, giving Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister and the dynamic Rodrigo De Paul the freedom to push forward. Lionel Messi is expected to don the playmaker’s role with Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez leading the line. Angel Di Maria will offer Argentina another option off the bench should they need to shift gears.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Emi. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Li. Martinez, Acuna; Mac Allister, Paredes, De Paul; Messi, La. Martinez, Alvarez
Canada
Inter Milan Tajon Buchanan remains a major doubt for Canada after he suffered a broken tibia during training just days before their match against Venezuela. This injury puts his participation in doubt not just for the semi-final clash against Argentina but also for the remainder of the tournament.
Jesse Marsch has an otherwise fully fit squad to choose from for the clash and is expected to set his side up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Maxime Crépeau in goal. The shot-stopper should be protected by the back four of Alistair Johnston, Moise Bombito, Derek Cornelius, and Alphonso Davies.
Stephen Eustáquio and Jonathan Osorio should form the double pivot, freeing up Jonathan David to act as the playmaker. Cyle Larin should start up front, with Richie Laryea and Jacob Shaffelburg providing support out wide.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Crepeau; Johnston, Bombito, Cornelius, Davies; Osorio, Eustaquio; Laryea, David, Shaffelburg; Larin
Key Stats
- Argentina have never conceded a goal against Canada.
- Argentina have not lost a major tournament match on U.S. soil since a 3-2 defeat to Romania in the 1994 World Cup’s round of 16.
- A win on the night will see Canmada make it to their first-ever Copa America final at the first time of asking.
- Argentina have not made it to the final of the competition as defending champions since 1959.
Match Deciding Duel
Lautaro Martinez (Argentina) vs Derek Cornelius (Canada)
Lautaro Martinez is the top scorer in the tournament this season and has made it a habit of scoring late goals for Argentina. This augurs well for a side that is defensively compact, giving them a second wind to settle the game as the opposition gets tired. Derek Cornelius will have his hands full all night but will know that he cannot slack off for even a second with Martinez on the prowl.
Argentina’s ability to score late coupled with Canada’s vulnerabilities in the second half of the game makes for a thrilling finale in the final 30 minutes of the first semifinal. While Argentina do have several threats and matchwinners in their lineup, Martinez’s clinical touch has given them the edge this summer. He will certainly be aiming to make a difference once again on Tuesday.
Transfer Watch
Jonathan David
The LOSC Lille attacker is Canada’s trump card going forward and is expected to leave the Ligue 1 giants this summer. David is a pacy player whose ability to get into space and clinical ability in the box helps make a difference. While several clubs are keeping tabs on him, a solid showing against the defending FIFA World Cup holders will only help boost his profile among potential suitors.
David will be up against the meanest defence in the competition on the night. The duo of Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez aren’t just formidable defenders but their ‘take no prisoners’ approach will certainly add a physical element to the duel. David is unlikely to come up against a meaner backline in the competition and how well he handles this challenge could determine his stock this summer.
Prediction
Argentina 2-0 Canada
Both teams will be familiar with each other having felt each other out on the opening day. The stakes are much higher this time round and Canada will be hoping for a monumental upset. Argentina were handed a late scare against Ecuador and that perhaps will ensure they don’t take Tuesday’s game for granted. The game should be a hard-fought one with Argentina’s match winners making the difference in the second half of the game.
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