Spain will meet Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at the Met Life Stadium on Sunday. Both teams earned their way to the showpiece occasion with impressive and contrasting wins in their semi-finals against France and England. At the core of Spain and Argentina’s wins was their ability to win and dictate the midfield battle. Given how both World Cup semi-finals were won, it shows why Manchester City are prepared to spend big this summer to strengthen their midfield.
Spain and Argentina won the midfield battle in different ways to make the World Cup final.
Spain beat France 2-0 in the first World Cup semi-final. At the heart of Spain’s victory was their ability to comprehensively win the midfield battle. Rodri, Fabiàn Ruiz and Dani Olmo controlled proceedings against the highly fancied French outfit. Aurélien Tchouaméni and Adrien Rabiot were outmatched and outclassed in midfield. With Didier Deschamps starting Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola together, the French didn’t have the necessary strength, or bite, in midfield to beat Spain. That was perhaps the most telling factor, on top of a brilliant team performance, in Spain’s win.
Argentina beat England 2-1 last night to book their place in the World Cup. England took the lead in the 55th minute following a quality goal from Anthony Gordon. However, from that moment onwards, Argentina pinned England back and goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez in the 85th and 91st minutes sealed Argentina’s win. They were also aided by Thomas Tuchel attempting to park the bus for over 35 minutes. Tuchel’s questionable substitutions basically handed Lionel Messi and Argentina the initiative, which also turned the game.
Argentina comprehensively won the midfield battle last night. Enzo Fernandez, Alexi MacAllister, and Leandro Paredes were far too energetic and combative for England to contain. Rodrigo De Paul came on in the 72nd minute to further consolidate Argentina’s midfield advantage.
Elliot Anderson battled manfully against Argentina’s midfield for 45 minutes. He faded out of the game after halftime. Jude Bellingham had his moments, however Declan Rice was subdued. Eventually England folded and were content to try and hang on to a 1-0 lead. It was an idea doomed to fail and that is exactly how it played out. England’s midfield could not overcome the experience, guile and quality of Argentina’s midfield which proved decisive.
However, the two World Cup semi-finals showed why Manchester City are so eager to bring more quality into their midfield.
Manchester City is looking to bolster their midfield, which is the key component of today’s game.
The two World Cup semi-finals showed how important it is to win the midfield battle. That has always been the case in football. It is perhaps even more important than ever in the modern game. PSG have won the last two UEFA Champions League titles with João Neves, Vitinha and Fabiàn Ruiz forming arguably the strongest midfield trio in Europe. To reach that level, Manchester City have to improve their midfield. It will be a costly operation for that to occur. However, it is a procedure that City have begun.
Manchester City have signed Elliot Anderson for £116 million from Nottingham Forest. They could also potentially pay up to £85 million to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille. Both players, coupled with a fully fit Rodri, would give City a formidable midfield. Simply put, City have to pay up to build the midfield they need.
Previous midfield signings haven’t worked out as planned for the FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders. This has forced them to shop from the top shelf. Nico Gonzalez is a good player, but he wouldn’t be considered a top-level midfielder. Not yet anyway. Tijjani Reijnders had a difficult first season at Manchester City. It is debatable that he will reach the required level for Enzo Maresca’s side. He could, but it is just as feasible that Reijnders is already at the level he will reach. Mateo Kovacic is in the twilight of his career but he could be a useful squad player.
The need for Manchester City to bolster their midfield with elite midfielders is clear based on the options that sit below Rodri and Elliott Anderson.
Final thoughts.
Having a quality midfield is vital to any team’s success. Both of the recent World Cup semi-finals highlighted this as does PSG’s recent dominance of the UEFA Champions League. Manchester City have a good midfield when Rodri is fully fit. Signing Elliot Anderson vastly improves City’s midfield as would signing Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Manchester City know what is needed this summer to vastly improve their engine room. They are in the process of doing exactly that. If City can get their midfield signings right this summer, it will set Enzo Maresca’s side up for success and allow them to seize the initiative in the majority of matches they play.
Hello Adam
You name 5 midfielders, only one is English, how would this impact on squad composition.
The best answer to that will come when the transfer window closes. I’ll have a closer look into that over the weekend and see where we sit but you do raise a valid point in terms of the homegrown situation.
I really hope this does not happen but if Anderson turned out to be another White Elephant like Grealish then I ask myself “why would I not be surprised?”
What you see is not what you get. At the WC for England only Bellingham and Kane looked world class
I’m not buying that in regards to Anderson. Put someone alongside him who wants the ball, unlike Rice, and he’s a different player, ala Rodri when Anderson plays for us. In the first half against Argentina Anderson covered the pitch well and wanted the ball. The second half Tuchel changed his set up and it didn’t suit the majority of England’s players, especially Anderson.
Also, Anderson is a different type of personality to Grealish. Forget the price tag, Anderson adds what we desperately needed in midfield and he looms as a pivotal signing for next season and beyond.
I don’t recall my actually saying that. I merely stated “I would not be surprised”. I was clearly not implying he would be a white elephant just that if he turned out that way I would not. I must suppose that if he does not match up to that £100m+ tag you would be shocked whereas I would not.
Time will tell. I do recall the first time I saw KDB 10 years ago and I said ” it has taken 40 years and over £54m to replace Colin Bell”. When I see him in a City shirt after 20 odd games I will give my assessment. As I have never met him or Grealish I am unqualified to comment on their personalities.
I don’t really care what a player costs, it’s irrelevant to me. Anderson is a City player and that is all that matters. I think he’s a very good player, and at 23, he has his best years ahead. Hopefully we see that play out at City. Based on his career trajectory, it should.