Player Focus: Mascherano Must Overcome Kroos in Sunday's Midfield Battle
It is strange to think that in six games at the 2014 World Cup Argentina have scored just 8 goals, 1 of which was a Sead Kolasinac own goal. Boasting Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero and Gonzalo Higuaín - 3 players who netted a combined 292 league goals since the 2010 World Cup - many expected the South Americans to score freely this summer.
While Messi has shouldered the goalscoring burden, netting 4, Agüero and Higuaín have underwhelmed, scoring just once between them, while Ezequiel Lavezzi, who replaced Agüero in the starting XI due to injury, is yet to find his goalscoring touch. One player, though, who has gone about what is required of him with ruthless efficiency, is Javier Mascherano.
The experienced midfielder has been pivotal in Argentina’s progression to the World Cup final, stomping his authority in the middle of the park and facing down all those who dare to go toe-to-toe with ‘El Jefecito’. Only Messi (8.77), Ángel Di María (7.84) and Martín Demichelis (7.67) have a better WhoScored rating than Mascherano (7.65) of every Argentina player at the World Cup, reinforcing his importance in Alejandro Sabella’s starting XI.
His match-saving tackle to deny Arjen Robben against Netherlands on Wednesday helped Argentina to the World Cup final and epitomised Mascherano's never-say-die attitude, though it came at a cost, with the midfielder admitting afterwards that he had suffered an unfortunate injury in making the challenge. Predictably, the 30-year-old is expected to be fit for Sunday's final against Germany, regardles, of the problem he suffered.
His availability will be vital to the South Americans against Germany. Only Spain (61.4%) have averaged more possession than Germany (59.4%) at the World Cup - Die Mannschaft’s gameplan clearly is to dominate teams into submission and strike when the time is right. Of all teams to make it past the group stages, Joachim Löw’s side had the best pass success (86.4%), so disrupting the rhythm of the European giants' passing game is essential.
This is where Mascherano can play a crucial role at the Maracanã. The midfield pitbull has made the most tackles (28) at the World Cup and limiting the supply to the Germany attack in this area of the pitch will play a defining factor in who emerges victorious on Sunday. Toni Kroos in particular has been imperious in the heart of the German midfield in Brazil. Only Thomas Müller (8.11) has a better WhoScored rating than Kroos (7.80) of every Germany player, so stifling his impact will minimise the chances Müller has to score.
No player has netted more clear-cut goalscoring opportunities at the World Cup than Müller (3), while only James Rodríguez (6) has scored more goals than the Germany star (5). These chances have regularly stemmed from Kroos, who has the vision and ability to pick out teammates in dangerous positions.
Kroos has also played the most forward passes at the competition (154), so his penetrative passing will need to be contained in order for Argentina to avoid conceding and maintain their impressive record of having never gone behind at any point at Brazil 2014. Mascherano will be crucial to curbing Kroos' potentially devastating passes from the middle of the park.
However, a crucial facet of any holding midfielders game is the ability to retain possession. Mascherano is clearly adept when it comes to winning the ball back from the opposition, but finding a teammate when back on the ball is vital if Argentina are to start attacks in the midfield third. Mascherano, though, is performing this aspect of his game with aplomb.
The Barcelona star has made the most accurate passes (460) at the World Cup, with Sunday’s opponent Kroos (454) closest to matching that figure. His time spent with Barcelona is clearly reaping the benefits and while he often featured at centre-back for his club, his passing ability has developed during his time in Spain, meaning he can effectively retain possession to an extremely high standard in midfield. La Albiceleste often look to play the ball out from the back and the defence can trust Mascherano when he drops deeper to receive possession due to his consistency on the ball.
While much of the focus will be on the goalscoring exploits of Müller and Messi, the midfield battle between Kroos and Mascherano is likely to play a key part in who wins the World Cup. If the latter performs his duties sufficiently well, Argentina stand a much greater chance of coming away from Brazil 2014 as world champions.
Who do you think will come out on top between Javier Mascherano and Toni Kroos in the midfield battle on Sunday? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
