In Argentina’s most iconic footballing arena, in front of 50,000 frenzied Argentinians, a historic night was orchestrated by an Argentine man. For Uruguay.
South America’s second-smallest country is sandwiched right between its two biggest, but in consecutive games, they have beaten them both.
A 2-0 win at La Bombonera was Uruguay’s first over Argentina in 10 years — and their first in Argentina since 1937 — while last month’s triumph over Brazil inflicted their first qualifying defeat since 2015. Last night’s win saw them close the gap to Argentina at the top of the World Cup qualifying standings to two points.
And even in just his fifth match in charge, Uruguay were unmistakably a Marcelo Bielsa team.
Throughout an eclectic coaching career, relentless running and an aggressive off-the-ball approach have been the bedrock of Bielsa’s success. His players must embrace the underdog mentality, enjoy the attritional battle, while relishing the opportunity to play riotous football on the break.
Last night, Bielsa’s intentions to hassle and harry Argentina up the pitch were made clear early on, as a Uruguayan back four of Ronald Araujo, Sebastian Caceres, Mathias Olivera and Matias Vina all demonstrated their willingness to step out and chase Argentina’s technical players into midfield.
Below, for example, Olivera charges out of defence as he sees Cristian Romero play a pass into Lionel Messi. He then follows the pass into Alexis Mac Allister, forcing him to take a heavy touch before losing the ball to a crunching challenge.
Notice too the chaotic structure of the Uruguayan defence; winger Maximilian Araujo is guarding the left-back area, while the actual full-back Vina is infield, the player who eventually makes the tackle.
Midfield duo Fede Valverde and Manuel Ugarte have also dropped into the defensive line — the former alongside his centre-backs to cover the run of Enzo Fernandez, and the latter out wide to keep an eye on Julian Alvarez who has dropped into his own half.
They are a team of hard runners who have each other’s back.
The fluid system is not without its flaws, and can be pulled apart by patient build-up and intelligent movement. See below, for example, as Vina now pushes deep into the opposition half to follow Rodrigo De Paul.
This time, Romero is brave under pressure from Darwin Nunez to wait for the forward run from Mac Allister. The pass is well-executed and Argentina escape with a Uruguayan centre-back high up the pitch.
Again, however, midfielder Ugarte has dropped in to cover for his marauding defender, and the team recover quickly to force the attack out wide.
It is an audacious approach that lays the onus on the opposition to play quickly and incisively if they don’t want to lose the ball.
“We never felt comfortable,” said Messi after the game. “We were not able to have long possessions, did not create chances and played the game that they wanted, in their rhythm.”
Words that represent a resounding success for Bielsa — his disruptors had done their job.
Going forward, Uruguay’s methods of attack were as unsettling as their gritty defence. Direct and uncompromising, Argentina could not deal with the verticality of their opponents’ forward runs.
Their first opportunity of the game saw the ball travel the length of the pitch in six seconds, as Araujo stepped across to intercept a wayward pass and played a hopeful ball in behind.
Note again, Ugarte between the two centre-backs to form a back six. Forward passes from Argentina had to be pinpoint, or they would be swept up.
“What seemed like a ball without any sense suddenly made all the sense in the world” said the Argentinian commentator, as the attacking game plan dawned. Nunez’s searing pace on the counter-attack was a lingering thorn in the Argentina defence, and no one could catch the Liverpool striker as he careered forward and flashed a low shot just wide.
Down the left flank, too, Uruguay exploited Nahuel Molina’s adventurous full-back play and targeted his zone to sprint in behind wherever they could.
Maximilian Araujo offered those in abundance, and it was his head-down run that created a clear opening for Nicolas de la Cruz, following another crucial interception by Ugarte.
Of Uruguay’s seven shots, two came within ten seconds of a long, direct pass from their own half, while the other five were within ten seconds of a defensive action.
Both goals came from colossal defensive efforts, as first, Vina chased Molina to the corner flag, before picking his pocket and squaring the ball for Araujo to score.
And the game was sealed after 86 minutes, after Rodrigo Bentancur stepped across to dispossess Messi, launching the sucker punch on the counter-attack — the ball hitting the back of the net just nine seconds after the Tottenham midfielder put in the challenge.
It was a game won on defensive spirit and powerful forward runs.
Bielsa’s winding career has taken him to seven countries and 13 different teams but rarely has he had to change so little to put his ideas into winning effect.
From Valverde to Vina, Ugarte to Nunez, this nation was already overspilling with unrelenting footballers — players with an appetite for each and every aspect of the game.
High-volume, high-energy football; it is what Bielsa does. With the verticality and defensive tenacity of his new team, he could not be in a much better place.
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