Argentina: Ball proximity in possession

As anticipation builds for the FIFA World Cup 26™, we revisit standout tactics from each of the four semi-finalists at Qatar 2022. Here, we explore how Argentina’s utilisation of ball proximity in possession facilitated control through retention, progression through nearby support around the ball, and the creation of attacking advantages.

Argentina were victorious at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, defeating France 4-2 on penalties following a 3-3 draw in the final. Head coach Lionel Scaloni was credited for adapting his side’s tactics throughout the tournament, changing systems and personnel depending on the opponent and game state. One tactical aspect which remained a consistent feature, however, was Argentina’s utilisation of ball proximity in possession. During attacking phases, Argentina players frequently moved towards the ball carrier. This collective intention to approach the ball created favourable conditions for a range of advantages to emerge in possession, allowing players to adapt their actions based on both team-mate and opposition behaviour and reducing reliance on predetermined attacking patterns.

Example 1: Using team-mate proximity as a platform for coordinated interactions

Example 2: Establishing control through close connections

Example 3: Influencing opposition behaviour through ball proximity

Example 4: Creating attacking advantages through deliberate positioning and spacing

Key Insights

Use ball proximity as an organising principle in possession: Argentina players frequently used the ball location as a primary reference point for support movements and positioning in possession, rather than strictly maintaining predefined positions within their attacking structure or relative to the opposition’s defensive formation.
Create emergent advantages in possession through proximity-based interactions: Through proximity, Argentina increased the frequency and quality of player interactions, enabling a range of attacking actions and combinations to emerge while drawing opposition attention and forcing defensive decisions that could be exploited.
Ball proximity provides a platform for immediate regains: Argentina’s ball proximity functioned as both an attacking and defensive mechanism. When possession was lost or became contested, players were already close to the ball, allowing an immediate and coordinated reaction to regain quickly without significant structural adjustment.

Example 1: Using team-mate proximity as a platform for coordinated interactions

Our first example, from Argentina’s group stage victory over Mexico at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, shows how ball proximity created the conditions for coordinated interactions between nearby team-mates, leading to an emergent advantage in possession. While some players maintained width and depth, Argentina’s midfield trio and Lionel Messi, who at times formed a fluid central diamond, moved both individually and collectively towards the ball.

This reduced distances and created multiple passing angles around the ball carrier, drawing opposition pressure and facilitating quick pass-and-move combinations in tight central areas. This provided the platform for players to combine in the moment, with Messi timing a forward run to exploit space beyond the Mexico midfield line and Alexis Mac Allister recognising it to play into his path, allowing Argentina to bypass pressure and create an attacking situation.

(1/6) As right-back Gonzalo Montiel receives, Ángel Di María drops to receive a line pass while Rodrigo De Paul also moves towards the ball to offer support inside and below.

(2/6) Di María cuts inside, prompting Lionel Messi to initiate his movement towards the ball, before playing back to De Paul, who passes inside to holding midfielder Guido Rodríguez.

(3/6) Rodríguez and Messi exchange passes, drawing Mexico midfielder Luis Chávez out to engage. As Rodríguez receives again, Alexis Mac Allister darts towards the ball to offer a forward passing option.

(4/6) With Messi unmarked, Héctor Herrera begins to engage as Mac Allister controls, giving him a split second to select his next action.

(5/6) Messi uses Herrera’s momentum against him, timing his forward run beyond the Mexico midfield line, which Mac Allister reads before playing into his path.

(6/6) Messi carries into space before being fouled, winning Argentina a central freekick less than 25 metres from goal.

Example 2: Establishing control through close connections

Our second example, from Argentina’s group stage match against Australia, illustrates how ball proximity supported periods of control through sustained possession and close player connections. As Argentina switch play to their left flank, multiple players move towards the ball-side to provide the ball carrier with immediate nearby passing options. When the initial aerial duel is lost, Argentina’s proximity to the ball and each other reduces their recovery distances. This allows Argentina to immediately win the second ball, sustaining the attack and maintaining pressure in Australia territory.

Argentina’s ball-side concentration then draws the opposition across in numbers, creating space on the far side. Rather than exploiting the weak-side, however, Argentina play back inside, where more players are positioned in close proximity, creating greater opportunities for faster ball circulation and stronger counter-pressing security. Through quick one- and two-touch combinations, Argentina retain possession, manipulate opposition positioning, and ultimately win a free-kick in Australia’s half.

(1/6) After regaining possession on the right, Argentina switch play to the left. Following Marcos Acuña’s lay-off to Papu Gómez, multiple Argentina players move towards the ball to offer support.

(2/6) Gómez’s attempt to play over Australia’s backline into Acuña’s path is intercepted, but Argentina quickly regain possession as Julián Alvarez reacts to win the second ball and heads wide to Alexis Mac Allister.

(3/6) Argentina briefly switch to right-back Nahuel Molina before redirecting play back inside. After Rodrigo De Paul’s carry forward, he finds Lionel Messi, who flicks first-time to Mac Allister, who does likewise to Fernández.

(4/6) As Fernández’s pass travels wide towards Acuña, Messi follows the direction of play to offer nearby support, arriving as Gómez receives.

(5/6) Gómez plays inside to Messi, who lays off first-time to Acuña, who does likewise inside to Fernández, allowing the holding midfielder time and space to play through Australia’s stretched defensive block.

(6/6) Following Fernández’s vertical pass into Mac Allister, the midfielder twice turns to evade pressure while team-mates approach to offer multi-angled support, before winning a freekick.

Example 3: Influencing opposition behaviour through ball proximity

This third example, from Argentina's 3-0 semi-final victory over Croatia, highlights how ball proximity influenced opposition behaviour and created opportunities to exploit resulting spaces. Following a high regain, Argentina players moved towards the ball to secure possession after the turnover, establishing close passing connections around the ball carrier and enabling quick one- and two-touch combinations under pressure.

The speed of Argentina's play, combined with frequent changes in direction and angle, encouraged Croatia players to shift towards the ball, helping disrupt their defensive organisation. Argentina then progressed through central areas before attacking a retreating defensive line with a quick pass-and-move combination involving diagonal actions, played against the momentum of opposition pressure, to generate a close-range shooting opportunity.

(1/6) Argentina’s high pressure leads to a Croatia turnover, which Nicolás Otamendi collects. Fernández and Mac Allister immediately move towards the ball to secure possession, with the former receiving.

(2/6) Fernández plays forward to Mac Allister, who sets back to Otamendi before Leandro Paredes receives. As this pass travels inside, both Fernández and Mac Allister drop to provide nearby passing options.

(3/6) Following Paredes’ turn and forward pass, Mac Allister lays off first-time wide towards Otamendi. Argentina players then approach the ball area to offer multi-angled support, drawing Croatia players across the pitch.

(4/6) Acuña’s diagonal pass back inside to Paredes triggers Mac Allister’s movement to receive the next pass, which he bounces first-time back to Cristian Romero.

(5/6) Romero’s half-volley bypasses Croatia’s press and finds Rodrigo De Paul centrally in space. As the Croatia defensive line retreats, Messi drops back from an offside position to receive diagonally.

(6/6) Messi carries diagonally towards Croatia’s penalty area as Fernández makes a counter movement inside. The pair exchange a quick pass-and-move combination, creating a close-range shooting opportunity for Messi.

Example 4: Creating attacking advantages through deliberate positioning and spacing

This final example, from Argentina’s group stage victory over Poland, demonstrates the tactical flexibility within their possession phase. Previous examples highlighted how Argentina used ball proximity in possession to create close passing connections and coordinated interactions around the ball. In this sequence, however, Argentina players maintained more fixed positions relative to their own attacking structure and Poland’s 4-4-2 defensive formation.

Argentina’s left-back advanced high and wide, their advanced midfielders occupied spaces between the lines, and their forwards pinned the opposition backline high and narrow. While this asymmetric shape was a recurring feature, the more deliberate and fixed player positioning within the team structure, alongside frequent movements away from the ball carrier, posed different defensive dilemmas for the opposition and added further variation and unpredictability to Argentina’s attacking play.

(1/5) As Argentina’s asymmetric, positionally-orientated shape forms, Enzo Fernández drops to narrow Poland’s forward line before laying off to Cristian Romero, who finds Nicolás Otamendi in space to advance.

(2/5) Otamendi carries forward before passing wide to Marcos Acuña, as Alexis Mac Allister moves away from the ball to occupy space between Poland’s midfield and defensive lines.

(3/5) Julián Alvarez’s channel run between Poland’s right-back and centre-back helped create more space between the lines, allowing Mac Allister to receive Acuña’s diagonal pass inside and turn.

(4/5) With Poland collectively drawn towards the ball-side, Mac Allister begins Argentina’s switch of play against the momentum of opposition pressure with a pass to Rodrigo De Paul, who immediately finds Ángel Di María on the right wing.

(5/5) Di María dribbles diagonally towards the penalty area before being blocked by Poland's left-back and winger, winning Argentina a corner-kick.

Final Note

At Qatar 2022, Argentina demonstrated how ball proximity can function as an additional organising principle in possession. With players frequently moving towards the ball carrier, Argentina reduced distances between team-mates and increased nearby support around the ball. This created favourable conditions for combination play, coordinated off-ball movements, and adaptable attacking interactions to emerge in response to both team-mate and opposition actions, reducing reliance on predetermined attacking patterns.

Ball proximity also helped Argentina sustain attacks through quicker circulation and opportunities for immediate regains. Alongside periods of more deliberate player positioning and spacing, Argentina's flexibility and variation increased the unpredictability of their attacking play, making their actions more difficult for opponents to anticipate and defend against.