Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella urged his players to raise their game after seeing them labour to overcome Bosnia-Hercegovina 2-1 in their opening World Cup match in Rio de Janeiro.
One of the pre-tournament favourites, Argentina went ahead in the third minute thanks to a Sead Kolasinac own goal, but it took a glorious 65th-minute solo effort from Lionel Messi to give them breathing space.
Even then, an 85th-minute strike by substitute Vedad Ibisevic threatened to give Bosnia a path back into the game and there was relief in the Argentine ranks when the final whistle sounded.
"If we analyse the two halves, I'd give us six out of 10," Sabella told a press conference after Sunday's Group F encounter at the Maracana.
"We have to improve. Part of this improvement is my responsibility."
After seeing his side toil in a 5-3-2 formation in the first half, Sabella reverted to a 4-3-3 system at half-time and sent on Gonzalo Higuain and Fernando Gago.
The changes took Argentina back to the set-up they had used in qualifying and they proved effective, with Messi thriving amid the extra space and scoring following a one-two with Higuain.
"In the first half, we controlled Bosnia well, but we weren't getting in behind. That's what we managed to do in the second half," Sabella said.
"We got in behind more after Higuain and Gago came on and with (Angel) Di Maria dropping deep. We were able to play our game, the one we'd played during the qualifiers.
"We played differently than usual in the first half, but it was my decision. In football, you need a balance between defence and attack.
"We had to give a bit more power to the attack in the second half."
- 'The best whatever happens' -
===============================
Messi in particular seemed to appreciate the switch and his goal carried all of his hallmarks -- a sudden burst of acceleration, a neat one-two, a sidestep that flummoxed two defenders, and an unerring low strike.
