Argentina midfielder Javier Pastore’s contributions to the variety and depth of their attack at the Copa America includes his ability to link up with Lionel Messi even if that means acting like a post.
Pastore has slotted into the side that finished runners-up at the 2014 World Cup and helped them reach a second successive Copa America final against hosts Chile on Saturday.
Former Argentina midfielder Diego Latorre, now a football commentator and blog writer, called Pastore “the link that was missing” to make Gerardo Martino’s team fire on all cylinders.
Pastore was, Messi aside, Argentina’s stand-out player in their 6-1 semi-final demolition of Paraguay in a team Martino wants to see taking the game constantly to the opposition.
Final pass
“I try to give the final pass to Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria for them to finish,” Pastore said.
“With Leo it’s different, at speed you’re useful as a post, you just have to pivot the ball back when he comes along fast.
“It’s good to find each other in some parts of the field to make the most of Messi’s speed and game,” the Paris St-Germain midfielder added
Latorre, who was in the Argentina squad that won the tournament in Chile in 1991, said Pastore was “the link between creation and a penetrating attack”.
"He raises the potential of the team... He knew how to mix with those up front and Messi, creating space for him," Latorre wrote in his influential column in the Argentine sports daily Ole.
“Not only that, he managed to do what he hadn’t before in this Copa America, break into the box and into a finishing position by surprise,” added Latorre referring to Pastore scoring Argentina’s second goal against the Paraguayans.
Rival defences take their eye off Pastore at their peril with Latorre saying he can ghost in and out of their consciousness.
“He’s not easy to detect because he moves between the lines and doesn’t follow a tactical path: he touches the ball, disappears and comes back in,” Latorre added.
The faith
Pastore is the kind of player who depends on the faith a coach puts in him to develop over a series of matches, otherwise he can oscillate between great performances and poor ones.
Martino, however, has stuck with him and hopes Pastore can deliver as much or more in the final.
Despite their run, star forward Lionel Messi has managed just a single goal all tournament, although Martino is unconcerned by Messi’s drought.
“Leo has the capacity to be important in whatever way he wants. Who could think that his assists are not the equivalent of a goal?
“I see him happy, I do not see him worried about not netting. He does not need to be the top scorer to be happy.”
Chile saw off Peru in the semis and have reached the final four times before, the most recent appearance coming in 1987.
They have yet to win the title, however, and goalkeeper Claudio Bravo believes they will have no better chance than as tournament hosts.
“We are never afraid of other national teams. We respect them but we do not fear them,” the Barcelona player said.
“We have to do what we have being doing. We have to fight, play as equals. The chance is ours, and with our home fans in the stands that increases our chances of getting closer to the title”.
