SENTINELCELTS

It was always about the win. After such a long lay off some sense of familiarity was going to be lost, momentum there to be picked up again not simply carried on as usual. That’s not how real life works, are you at your optimum on your return from holiday? No, and neither were the Bhoys.
33 shots on target with a single return tells me match fitness is needed to sharpen up the group.
Thankfully there’s plenty of games coming up.
 
It’s understandable, that’s life, and as stated it was always about the points.
The points we finally ground out, the type of points that win leagues. Even when the team underperformed, they found a way to win, that’s a very good sign.
 
I like a Captain who takes matters into his own hands, one that leads by example. Upon his return Calmac saved our blushes and cemented his credentials as a definite first pick when available.
He must play, but where exactly is a different debate. I suggest not as the deep lying midfielder, the fact he can score reinforces letting him off the leash.
Bring in Mooy and push him up the field please Ange.
 
Sunday’s big clash was a pleasant surprise. A true spectacle of football emerged that had almost everything. My one gripe was the lack of crowd noise, they were almost silent for periods during the biggest game in the world.
 
Never again shall I witness a player score four goals in the World Cup final yet end up on the losing side, an incredible statistic. My big takeaway is both teams scoring while they were on top, fully taking advantage of the situation. Argentina dominates the first half and scores two, then France reciprocates. Both took their chances, capitalized on the dominance. Mark of a good team, and somewhere we should aspire to be.
 
As for Captain Leo, well done. He may not have delivered the cup singlehandedly ala Diego, but I believe his very presence gave his teammates some vital belief in themselves. Their talisman helped bond the team into a very good unit, they realized they always have a chance of scoring when he’s conducting affairs and took much heart from that fact.
That first half won them the game in my book, that deserved two goal cushion was the difference maker, the platform for victory. Through talent, willpower, and space opening up another Argentine goal later in the game was almost inevitable, essentially the first half left their opponents needing four goals to win.
That’s a lot to ask, too much as it proved.
 
Penalties are a toss up, but the more often a player has experienced very big moments the less they should phase him, in theory anyway.
Leo knows big pressure, and by coolly slotting away that first penalty gave his team the platform for success. Even though I fancied Lloris to save at least one due to experience, it was the younger South American stopper who got big calls correct on the night to cap off a marvelous game of football and a tournament that truly delivered on the pitch.
 
It was a very good weekend for the captains of Celtic and Argentina.
 
By Mahe
sentinelcelts@gmail.com