Why this matchup matters

Two football ideas, one impossible night

Carlos Bilardo's Argentina 1986 bring 3-5-2 and maradona gravity with compact block. Guy Thys's Belgium 1986 answer with 4-4-2 and counter attack with tournament steel; the matchup is decided by which side can impose that identity without exposing its weakest transition.

ArgentinaCarlos Bilardo · 3-5-2 · Maradona Gravity · Compact BlockBelgiumGuy Thys · 4-4-2 · Counter Attack · Tournament Steel

400 alternate nights

Argentina vs Belgium

Model lean: Argentina

Signature score

1–0

average goals 1.811.27

52.5%
Argentina
23%
Draw
24.5%
Belgium

Most likely scores

  1. 1–011.5%
  2. 2–19.5%
  3. 1–18.5%
  4. 2–08.3%
  5. 2–28%
  6. 1–26.8%

Match profile

xG1.711.35
Shots15.112
Poss54%46%
CS30.5%15.5%
BTTS58.5%
Over 2.559.3%

Goals in 400 matches

  1. ArgentinaG/m
  2. Maradona2580.65
  3. Valdano1720.43
  4. Burruchaga1090.27
  5. Batista550.14
  1. BelgiumG/m
  2. Vandenbergh1690.42
  3. Claesen1410.35
  4. Vercauteren630.16
  5. Ceulemans390.10
Home XIArgentina1986Carlos Bilardo · 3-5-2
90OVR

XI

  • STJorge Valdano86
  • STDiego Maradona98
  • CAMJorge Burruchaga86
  • LWBJulio Olarticoechea81
  • CMSergio Batista84
  • CMHéctor Enrique80
  • RWBRicardo Giusti80
  • CBJosé Luis Cuciuffo80
  • CBJosé Luis Brown82
  • CBOscar Ruggeri86
  • GKNery Pumpido84
Bench · 9
  • CBDaniel Passarella84
  • CAMRicardo Bochini82
  • STPedro Pasculli80
  • CAMClaudio Borghi80
  • LBOscar Garré76
  • CAMCarlos Tapia76
  • GKLuis Islas76
  • CMMarcelo Trobbiani76
  • GKHéctor Zelada74
Away XIBelgium1986Guy Thys · 4-4-2
84OVR

XI

  • STNico Claesen78
  • STErwin Vandenbergh80
  • LMFranky Vercauteren82
  • CMJan Ceulemans86
  • CMEnzo Scifo86
  • CMDanny Veyt74
  • LBPatrick Vervoort76
  • CBStéphane Demol78
  • CBGeorges Grün80
  • RBEric Gerets84
  • GKJean-Marie Pfaff88
Bench · 7
  • CMRené Vandereycken80
  • CBLei Clijsters76
  • CBHugo Broos76
  • LBMichel De Wolf74
  • GKJacky Munaron74
  • RWPhilippe Desmet72
  • CMLeo Van der Elst72

Ratings

Attack94
Midfield90
Defence86
Goalkeeping84
Chemistry95
Overall90

Ratings

Attack82
Midfield84
Defence80
Goalkeeping88
Chemistry90
Overall84

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XI

  • STJorge Valdano86
  • STDiego Maradona98
  • CAMJorge Burruchaga86
  • LWBJulio Olarticoechea81
  • CMSergio Batista84
  • CMHéctor Enrique80
  • RWBRicardo Giusti80
  • CBJosé Luis Cuciuffo80
  • CBJosé Luis Brown82
  • CBOscar Ruggeri86
  • GKNery Pumpido84
Bench · 9
  • CBDaniel Passarella84
  • CAMRicardo Bochini82
  • STPedro Pasculli80
  • CAMClaudio Borghi80
  • LBOscar Garré76
  • CAMCarlos Tapia76
  • GKLuis Islas76
  • CMMarcelo Trobbiani76
  • GKHéctor Zelada74
VS

Tap a player for PAC SHO PAS DRI DEF PHY

XI

  • STNico Claesen78
  • STErwin Vandenbergh80
  • LMFranky Vercauteren82
  • CMJan Ceulemans86
  • CMEnzo Scifo86
  • CMDanny Veyt74
  • LBPatrick Vervoort76
  • CBStéphane Demol78
  • CBGeorges Grün80
  • RBEric Gerets84
  • GKJean-Marie Pfaff88
Bench · 7
  • CMRené Vandereycken80
  • CBLei Clijsters76
  • CBHugo Broos76
  • LBMichel De Wolf74
  • GKJacky Munaron74
  • RWPhilippe Desmet72
  • CMLeo Van der Elst72
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