Argentina: The Comeback Connoisseurs
There is no singular plausible explanation for Argentina’s penchant for comebacks. England’s late goals against DR Congo and Norway can be directly attributed to tactical tweaks from coach Thomas Tuchel. Spain, in their ranks, possess a player who has made the role of a super sub his forte — Mikel Merino. Argentina, however, are not one-dimensional. They could rely on pure individual brilliance, like Julian Alvarez’s 112th-minute strike against Switzerland, or alternatively, could lure opposition into believing they could nick a late goal only to hit with a devastating counter, like the one which resulted in Enzo Fernandez’s injury time winner against Egypt. Existing in a dimension where a solitary footballing strategy no longer applies, the connoisseurs of comebacks keep producing one theatrical finale after another. Only 10 of the tournament’s 48 teams have managed to score at least 10 goals. Argentina have scored 10 goals after the 75th minute alone. Messi has logged late strikes against Algeria, Austria and Jordan too, albeit having no bearing on the match results. Here’s a look at some …
