Ricardo GARECA: “I am a free coach” as Argentina look for manager

By
Roy Nemer
-
215

Peru’s Ricardo GARECA spoke at a press conference stating he is a free coach.

As we reported on Monday, the Peruvian FA tweeted out saying that their national team coach Ricardo GARECA would hold a press conference on Tuesday. At that press conference, GARECA said that he would take time to see if he will remain as the manager of Peru but for now he is a free coach.

Reports in Argentina remain that Jorge SAMPAOLI will not continue as national team manager and GARECA’s name has been thrown into the hat following the team’s elimination from the World Cup.

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215 Comments

  1. Major issue with our squad heading to Russia is: AGE
    Most experts are saying Argentina’s ageing squad couldn’t conquer the French young players.
    I hope the new era starts now with young fresh players, they don’t have to be WC beaters but at least they improve every tournament or qualification campaign so they can put some hope in fans.

    Though I will see same old faces next Copa.

  3. Sampaoli will want to amend his mistakes and shut the mouths of the people who’ve mocked him through the WC. He’s got the experience to come back.

    How many coaches have Argentinian fans wanted sacked then ended up winning trophies in the past. We’re going through it all again.

    I’m not saying I want him to stay but just look how history is repeating itself.

    • I think the main point of AFA to get rid of sampaoli is that probably messi will retire if sampaoli stays. AFA wants to milk messi in the late stage of his career. What makes me sad more than our world cup disappointment is that there is no hope all I see is chaos.

        • Copa America is too close ahead that Messi probably think he at least can have one last shot to help the NT to win major thropy.

          However, with Messi still playing, no matter who’s the new coach , he will come up with same one same plan.. “how do we get the best out of Messi?” instead of “how do we get the best out of this team?”

  4. I know some of the people here believe in giving Sampaoli a pass and saying its not all his fault.
    The mere fact that this guy asked a player (Messi) who he should substitute is grounds enough to fire his ass immediately on the spot. It tells you the guy has lost confidence, is confused and doesn’t know what he is doing. Sure the AFA has a mountain of problems, but that does not mean Sampaoli isn’t one of them.
    NOW there is some talk that he said something along the lines that since this generation has passed he can start his project. This is ridiculous. He is too stupid to manage anything. If that was the case, he should have lined up all his best players in the starting lineup. HIguain, Messi, Aguero, Dybala, LoCelso Dimaria and anybody else people were clamoring for. This way if we get eliminated he could have said I played all my best players and still lost. Instead, he was tinkering and trying to outsmart coaches that were way smarter than him. Its like a chimpanzee comparing intellect to Albert Einstein. We had the chimpanzee managing us. Enough already with its not his fault. He should get fired for not possessing the intellect alone.

  6. @msi75

    Velez has best youngsters in Argentina league.

    Not only Thiago Almada who was with U-20 team in Russia to spar with seniors (he is tall, 185 – it’s good). There was also another Velez kid Francisco Ortega -category ’99 who already is playing as LB in senior team and impressed me a lot. Another player of good physical conditions:
    youtube.com/watch?v=za5KC6Hi43A

    But first of all Velez has Matias Vargas, named Eden Hazard of the league. Though he remids me more WIliam of Brazil. I don’t see any better talent in Argentina ATM.

    Lucas Robertone – second in the club after Vargas. Then Santiago Caceres.

    • Varags is an undeniable talent but Robertone is the type of player that Argentina needs right now, a hard working, creative CM.
      To be honest I’m really liking what Heinze is doing with Velez right now and I wish him the best.

    • Unbelievable, world beater, then why doesnt this guy play in Internacion adult teaml? Do you have more youtube videos from spanish 3rd division about Leo Suarez (22 years old player!!!), Sampaoli OUT such talents and not in the WC squad.

      • Leo Suarez was already closing first team of VIllarreal when got injury that made him out for many months.

        Everyone who want to deny every Argentina talent seems to be a troll. Go support Brazil if you are so impressed by their $$$$ priceless youngsters.

  8. Pep Guardiola has been lured by AFA for 12 million a year… like he’d leave his relaxed life for the AFA. He’s apparently told Aguero he’d love to reunite with Messi but he feels an Argentine should be the manager for Argentina.

    This is becoming a joke. All Argentine managers in the past who’ve been hated have come back from no where and show there real worth. It’s not impossible for Sampaoli to bounce back from this (if he’s still our manager).

  9. I’m sick and tired of our one-dimensional Messi Argentina since many years. I miss Argentina team like in 2006 or 2004. Team of many creative players. Every one of them was able to do decisive things on the pitch. Team of 11 equal mans (That team goal of many passes against Serbia best prove of that). Lucho, Aimar, Maxi, Cambiasso, Tevez, Mascherano, Riquelme, Saviola, Sorin, Messi. That was last time when Argentina was not in Messi shadow. They were enough good to win that WC full of big teams with big stars. Lost to Germany in penalty kicks, while Germany lost to World Champion Italy only in extra time. That Argentina team just needed a bit more luck.

    Bielsa incorporated to Copa America team so players that were enough young to play in Olimpic Games and win as well: Lucho Gonzalez, d’Alessandro, Burdisso, Coloccini, Mascherano, Saviola, Delgado, Figueroa, Tevez, Rosales, Coloccini, Medina, Mariano Gonzalez, Clemente ROdriguez. All they U-23 players.

    Now we need exactly the same. Give priority to players that will enough young to play in 2020 Olimpic Games (I know first we must qualify). Born ’97 and younger. Just few names:

    Matias Vargas (Velez, close to Europe)
    Cristian Romero (Genoa) ’98
    Lucas Robertone (Velez) box-to-box ’97
    Ascacibar
    Joaquin Torres (Newell’s, Benfica offer 3,5m for him) winger ’97
    Barco
    Lautaro
    Lovera (Rosario Central) AM ’99
    Ezequiel Palacios (River) CM/AM ’98
    Martin Sarrafiore (Huracan/Internacional PA) playmaker ’97
    Nicolas Gonzalez (Argentinos Juniors, very close to Inter) winger,AM ’98
    Gaston Lodico (Lanus) CM ’98
    Marcos Senesi (San Lorenzo, several European clubs interested) ’98
    Matias Zaracho (Racing) AM ’97

    ……………………Romero

    ………………Foyth……Lema
    ….Bustos…………………………..Tagliafico

    ………………….Battaglia
    …………..Lo Celso……..Paredes

    …….Dybala………………….J.Correa/Vargas

    …………………..Lautaro

    Experimental but in this line up most players already had debut in NT so why not…

    • Nice insights @ Gonzalo on argentine upcoming stars. In your formation , any reason you have selected
      1) Battaglia over Ascacibar
      2) JCorrea/Vargas over Pavon
      3) Lautaro over Icardi
      4) Lema over Mammanna
      Also how is Rossi Battala & Musso as Goalkeepers . Keep hearing these names. Can they start over Ruilli ?

  10. We are a QF team. Top 8. Not a champion team. Lets get used to it. Lets accept the fact.

    We will lose to teams like Brazil and Germany (9 out of 10 times). Also lose to France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands etc. May be 6 out of 10 times. If we are OK with this, let the show go on. Else, a lot of things need to change. Just firing Sampaoli or Messi will not help.

    Without Messi, this team won’t even qualify. Period. No matter who the coach is. Basically, we should not have the illusion that we are title contenders. Last time after reaching QF, there was a chance and path to glory was visible. I think that the team and coach had a plan and almost executed it.

    So, hope for QF. Occasionally we will do SF, final and also occasionally we will do 2nd round and group stage exit. If we go to the final, we will win 1 out of 5. There are teams/players who just cannot deliver in the final, we seem to be one of that kind. That does not mean we will never win, but it will be rare. I have hopes to see Argentina win one world cup before I die. 2 times will be a bonus 🙂

    • What has been, was and continue to be ARG achilles heel ??? NOT being able to score enough goals with a team filled with offensive power and probably the most ever assembled on one team with even spares. Whose fault was that but the managers in charge. There is noway ARG would have lost to France even with the sorry defense if KUn, Messi, Higuian or Dybala all on the same page, NOWAY.

    • Argentina appeared in 27 copa finals and 5 WC finals (they participated in 17) , so that’s almost average of 1 final in every 1-4 WC. Before this year lost to France, previous 2 meets was won by Argentina. Last time Argentina faced Brazil at WC, Argentina won.

      You wanna example of a team would lucky enough to get into QF? That would be Spain. They only passed round 16 once in last 4 WC and only appeared in 1 final. You said Argentina would have lost to Holland 6 out of 10 times? how many thropy Holland has? less than 1.

  11. I have previously mentioned that there are structural issues in Argentina affecting the Argentine football negatively. Corruption has always been a serious problem, not only in AFA but all the way up to the President (Kirchner among others). In my view, corruption can be a symptom of poverty, and poverty is one of factors why young and promising football players are looking for a quick way to be a professional abroad. Lack of resources also affects the Primera which has problems of keeping good players. AFA is obviously hampered by weak financials as well, resulting in appointing mediocre coaches. Hiring Simeone or Pochettino? Forget it!

    Football fans of Argentina all over the world are always expecting and demanding Argentina to win titles, whether it is the Copa or the World Cup. But the question is if the expectations are anchored in reality? I believe to be a top football nation that can be a serious contender in every championship that the country participates in, the nation has a couple of boxes that must be checked. First, a large population in order to have a sufficient pool of players to chose from. Argentina has a population of around 45 million, less than Brazil (208), Germany (83), France (67), UK (66), Italy (61) etc. Spain has similar population as Argentina but has only one World Cup to their merit. In terms of population, Argentina is an overachiever, especially Uruguay, while France and England are underachievers.

    A second factor is the wealth of the nation, which can be measured with GDP per capita. Are you wondering how come Iceland with a population of only 300k can draw with Argentina, or why Sweden with 10m can be in QF? They are ranked 5 and 11 in GDP/capita. Countries with high GDP are obviously more wealthy, meaning that they have resources to pour into football, but it is also a sign of political or financial stability. Germany is ranked 17 by the way. Argentina is ranked 54, far behind most of European countries.

    Third factor is culture. USA for instance do not have a football culture like in Europe or South America (baseball is ranked as a larger sport over there I think). Argentina is of course ticking a large box here, but as football is growing and becoming more global, the smaller countries are catching up and the different styles are becoming more uniform. I wonder how Argentina differs in terms of style nowadays?

    When factoring in these three factors, I find it amazing that Argentina is such a great football nation given the conditions, but I am also puzzled about the high expectations that we have on the national team where winning titles is only good enough. The more I think about it, the more similarities I find between Argentina fans and England fans, always ranting about winning titles. Perhaps our expectations should come down a bit, and appreciate Argentina as an overachiever as it truly is?

  12. The AFA want Pep Guardiola to replace Jorge Sampaoli as the head coach of Argentina and are willing to pay him a bumper $12million-a-year until 2022, according to AS.

    Half of his salary would be paid by the AFA with the other half would be covered by Torneos, who have television rights for the national team until 2030.

    The big complications of course are the fact that the Catalan just renewed his Manchester City deal until 2021 and appears to be in no rush to leave the club.

    Even so, it is claimed by AS that Guardiola told Sergio Aguero in a phone call that he would “love” to coach Argentina, although he recognises they should ideally be coached by an Argentine.

    Furthermore, Guardiola has a good relationship with Lionel Messi from their Barcelona days and could keep him involved after the footballing superstar against fell short of winning the World Cup this year.

    In the book Che Pep, journalist Vicente Muglia wrote of the connection between Guardiola and Argentine football, something that could lead to the current City boss managing La Albiceleste at some point.

    Pep is said to have asked Diego Maradona when he was in charge of Argentina (2008-2010), “Diego, do you see me leading the Argentine team one day?”, to which the national icon replied “Yes”.

    For now, the idea of Guardiola leaving the Etihad Stadium seems remote, but he is known to be interested in taking a national team job some day, and Argentina sounds like an option.

  13. This WC campaign is the worst. Even Maradona took us to the Quarter final in a year where all giant teams were strong. This year, we struggle against Iceland and Nigeria and get hammered by Croatia. Pathetic.

  14. I still can’t believe we featured a team starring Maxi Meza and Enzo Perez (the 24th player selected to the squad) and Lo Celso, Dybala, Icardi don’t even get a single chance.
    I just can’t believe this imbecile thinks he deserves a chance to continue. It’s like a nightmare.

    • San Isidro: Don’t put the blame on Sampaoli. Team politics played a big part on who starts and who doesn’t go to Russia. Sampaoli will open up someday and reveal his reasoning.

      • Yeah Right…. are you guys just here to be speculate… the preference to wide players the preference to high line the preference to false 9 to accomodate a 4-3-3 and the ego clash with the only scorer in first two matches .. is all sampaoli…Messi doesnot like playing only ST and there is no hiding it

        if team politics had an impact Messi will have played with Aguero… remember the qualifiers under Sabella… They love playing together… Messi played better even with Higuain who could connect with Messi for the one twos….

        The Nigeria match first half we dominated because we had a 4-4-2 with Enzo and Masche staying back beside Banega and leting him build play from midfield… Yes a Kranvitter a Lo Celso would have helped…. instead we got pavon.. I get in in nigeria second half we lost shape because we got desperate for the goal….

        instead of the only setup that looked comfortable and capable of scoring in three games we got Pavon on an important match against France… with a high line and compromised defense… We had pushed Enzo forward … Pavon was a spectator and absence of Enzo who was guarding the right against nigeria often even behind Masche in midfield against Nigeria made otamendi play wider and left more space

        And you think team is to blame….. Thank you for being an hating amateur WC2022… please go watch the two games…. your insistence on pointless arguments is laughable

    • That game on its own should prove that Messi could not have possibly picked the players, no Kun or Higuain!

      Unfortunately its over but a new coach is a must. I might get roasted for this but I really wish pekerman could be lured to come back.

    • To me it’s absolutely clear he never wanted Dybala in the first place… He succombed to mediatic pressure by including him but was unenthusiastic from the beginning. The best proof of that is he hasnt played a single minute in the WC.

  15. Just impressive what Pochettino has done to English football: Trippier, Rose, Walker, Stones, Dier, Alli and Kane are all his current and former players. In this world cup, there are also Sanchez, Son, Vertonghen, Erikssen, Lovren,.. Etc. in the same case. They were all nobody before Pochettino. Many players are lost without him such as Lallana, Schneiderlin and Shaw.

    I don’t know any coach in the last few years who promoted so many young players. Most of them just happy to spend money.

    Tactically, he likes very high pressing, not necessarily possession but good technique, fast and high work rate is the requirement.

  16. @all
    I have said this before, solving the problem starts with accepting the problems. Facts are
    1. Argentina is a worldwide popular team, especially in some Asian countries. 1 billion from India itself.
    2. Argentina often have some exciting players, who everyone knows about. For last 12 years its Messi.
    3. Argentina is a QF team. We can do better or worse in a given year, but overall we are a QF team.

    If we want to do better than QF consistently, things need to change, people need to work hard. Few other facts

    1. Italy Federation and soccer was in shambles in 2006. Remember Juve? They won it. At the end of the day coaches and even more players fight in the field. Things can be bad, still you win. In every profession. You cannot wait for ideal conditions to perform.
    2. Every great coach becomes horrible once they are with Argentina NT. Except Bauza 🙂
    3. Our players are very ordinary. Other than Messi. No individual talent. So build a team.

    I would build a team to win. First focus on not conceding the goal. Defend well.

      • @Albiceleste_Seattle
        Totally agree with you. QF is not bad. 3 out of 4 world cups we will top the group. Which is a huge requirement for us to go till QF. This time we did not and hence played one of the other top teams and lost.

        We will lose to teams like Brazil and Germany (9 out of 10 times). Also to France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands etc. May be 6 out of 10 times. If we are OK with this, let the show go on. Else, a lot of things need to change. Just firing Sampaoli or Messi will not help.

        Without Messi, this team won’t even qualify. Period. Not matter who the coach is. Basically, we should not have illusion that we are title contenders. Last time after reaching QF, there was a hope and chance and I think that the team and coach had a plan and almost executed it.

  17. Today it is exactly 25 years ago we won our last trophy: the Copa America 1993.

    A quarter century…
    So many finals since then…
    So many great players…
    So few great coaches.

    • No, they won Olympics twice and 5 times U20 since 93. My regrets were WC 98 and 2006, we had the best team of the competition. In 2007 copa, we had Maschereno, Vernon and Riquelme in the midfield. Shame.

      • Wrong. We won multiple U20 WC’s and two Olympic golds but the a team won nothing in 25 years.

  18. Messi was so poor in this World cup. But he’s Messi. We understand his pressure even though he failed to show some leadership. Hope he come back with some maturity. But one thing not clear is, fans like us from India understand how corrupted AFA is and reading about Julio Grondana..he reminds “The Godfather”. But why people of Argentina never criticized him and how they accepted all his atrocities just like that. The same people blame Messi.. someone who really tried to bring happiness to his people..his implementation may have failed.. but no one can question is intention.. but how people like Grondana had such a free and luxurious life.. never compelled to answer the questions and emotions of people?

  19. Its been a while but no matter who we have as coach…unless the AFA gets their act together all coaches that come in will be frustrated. Ever since the departure of Pekerman and by extension Hugo Tocalli etc Argentina have milked the last of that system. The signs were there since around 2008 when that last talented under 20 cycles which included Di Maria, Aguero, Banega and most of this current crop ended.

  20. Fire Sampoli.He is responsible our early exit.No preparation in whole one year.Playing eleven selection were worst.We should had Higuain or Augreo instead of Pavon.Even in half time he did not sub him.Messi was in wrong position against speedy wingers u can not put Fazio in place of Rojo.Rojo was making mistake but that were not lethal.

  21. It has been tough few days. I don’t know how to console myself. I think with France our attack and midfield did enough. Scoring 3 goals against mighty France is not a matter of joke. If a defense concedes goals left and right no team can keep up with that. I feel even strong Brazil will find it hard to score against France. I didn’t like Sampaoli’s tactics but on the other hand I think he fielded all our best available defenders who has UCL experience and still it didn’t work. From day one I felt the absence of Romero and may be his absence shattered the confidence in defense. Otherwise how come the team who was second best in defending in the whole qualifier looked so shaky . Any way its all gone . Now I feel we should have both long term and short term project. Because to calm down this huge fan base we need success , a trophy badly that might less the burden on players, management.

    • It seems to be a vicious cycle over the past few years aint it… appoint a new manager… under pressure immediately to call up certain players (first Tevez then Icardi then Dybala)… team fails to gel… more pressure… eases burden by consulting players to find out what would make them comfortable and only to fall back to the tried and tested… performs somewhat ok in competition… carried by Messi more often than not… then fall at final hurdle (or if Messi can’t keep producing miracle, fall out even earlier stages)… intense pressure and scrunity on manager and players… sacked… REPEAT. If you are lost and skipping through my description above, it just goes to show you too are familoar with the cycle. How can we ever break out of the cycle? Is it really structural? I don’t know………..

    • I agree with you @PAimar. Like any European team Argentina doesn’t have smart management or good structure . Impatient fans, crazy media will never let it happen probably .Plus it has half or 1/4th population compared to Brazil, Germany, Italy who have always been benefited from its African immigrants. Given the chaos AFA always goes through , to me its obvious that we may always have a team only good for Quarter Final unless some genius like Messi or Maradona comes in. I could be wrong , but this is my understanding.

    • Sampaoli failed with his high defense tactics, not because of players. Otamendi, Fazio, Mercado, Rojo can play a traditional 4 back defense. They were exposed because they played unnecessarily high for possession, useless possession. And when the holding midfielders lost the ball, the sprinters would easily beat our defenders, be it Mbappe, Musa, or even Croatia’s Rebic. Sampaoli made the opponents great!

  22. To be honest, This Argentina team is very average. Messi makes them slightly better. If it was not for Messi, Teams would easily steamroll us over. Its because of Messi our opponents has to keep few players on him instead of going all out on us. Ex: Spain 6:1 Nigeria 4:2. And Remember Messi created the last 2 goals against France out of nowhere. Walking or Running does not matter. With Messi we still have some creativity and punch. We still need him for our upcoming generation.

  24. I put all the blame on Sampaoli,

    I honestly think had we had Tata or Bauza, we Could of at least reached the Final or Semi final,we could of won the Group instead of Croatia and would of had much easier route than 2014.

    Sampaoli tried to change everything too Quick too soon.

    I would never ever Forgive that Bald C**t,it’s almost like he was doing it deliberately .

  25. Vs France 3 goals was Tagliaficos mistakes, our LB was never there when we needed, on Mbappes side, every danger came from there, and who was Argentina’s left back Mr Tagliafico. In the first half before Griezmann free kick (luck) Mbappe ran through our defense, where was Tagliafico? before the penalty again where was our left back? Before Pavard goal Tagliafico missed the fckin ball, kicked a horrible luft, the other is history. France 4th goal again, Mbappe came free again, again and again, where was our left back? What the hell did this guy on the whole match? His attacking contribution ofc was zero , so? He was not forward, not backward. Mbappe simply destroyed him, France won the game on that side, Tagla was exposed. It was so painful to watch like when Isco destroyed Bustos. With a proper left back ARG would win, thank you Mr Tagliafico

    • Perhaps, but we don’t exactly have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to the left-back position. Who else could have started on the left?

        • Rojo was bad enough in his natural centre-back position this world cup (scoring a goal was wonderful but has nothing to do with defending) and yet you wanted him to play a fullback? Rojo had missed most of the season with MU too. Whatever he did in 2014 is irrelevant. Besides, he may have been good defensively in 2014 but did not contribute much in attack, which sort of typical of how a centre-back plays when asked to play a fullback.

          • ENganche

            Tagliafico is good and will be better. Fabrizio Angileri (Godoy) and Francisco Ortega (Velez) are good prospects as well.

          • Soto still is good. But for me he always lacked a bit defensive skills while quite impressive on the ball. Very good ball control and so on. I have seen some interest from European clubs for him after his last good season in Racing. He is developing. Racing is better club since incorporated few youngsters, including Soto.

            Racing is in final stages of CL. Soto is part of that. The games against River in August are going to be exciting.

          • Silva faded away – agree. Still has a time to emerge in future. I always think it’s wart to wait till player has 28 to judge.

    • Oh really? If he was so bad why he is the only our defender from WC people want still to see. Just don’t try seek excuses now. THe fact is the oldies team took as to nowhere.

      Csabalala comment June 24, 2018 at 4:05 pm

      “Argentina-Columbia 3:0, Columbia-Argentina 0:1, if finally the right players’ll play how they can ARG will beat not even Nigeria, France too”.

      LOL

      You were supporting the generation for years and where we are now?!!! Because of stupid people like you around NT we lost 4 years!!! Now we see stick on the oldies was waste of time. You should stop talk more here as you fooled himself.

      Now you want to deny facts and seek scapegoats.

    • Yeah, I see that. If not Tagliafico we are in quarterfinal… I know you’ve said many times before WC worst things, as he is peasant from local league, but now it seems everyone want him in new team. Something smells in your opinion.

    • Tagliafico just debuted in NT before WC. His first tournament. THrowed into deep water. Left best impressions of our defenders and the guy want to delete him. This is the kids mentality that lead us to disaster in this WC. I understand we should back to Rojo…

      • And who the fuck cares when he debuted? His mistakes cost us the WC. Our defense was rock solid in WC 2014, Copa 15, Copa 16 without your superstar defender, even in qualifiers was not that bad, only 16 goals conceeded without this superstar. And what happened with him? Worst argentine defense ever immediately, 3 aging but at least class defenders and a complete amateur without discipline. Again look how Rojo put Robben in his pocket in semi, and this Tagliafico performance. So i was 100% right about the nobodies (zero goal, zero assist, zero contribution on this level, even against an Iceland, it was so evident, Di Maria, Messi, Aguero, Banega all had their world class moments, which can make differents, Acuna, Salvio, Meza, Pavon, Tagliafico? Ofc zero

        • “So i was 100% right about the nobodies (zero goal, zero assist, zero contribution at this level, it was so evident, Di Maria, Messi, Aguero, Banega al had their world class moments, which can make differents”

          Hahahaha I never saw people so frustarated trying to distort desperately facts. Facts are the oldies were there in last 2 games, you’ve said they will beat France, they are guarantee of class you were supporting them for years. They lost. This is same disaster like in 2002. You must face it.

          Look at your comment, one of yours many supporting the “class players”. Should I bring here more your support comments to the generation? I’ve said this yet in 2015 – if this generation will not retire soon we will finish like Spain in 2014.

          “Argentina-Columbia 3:0, Columbia-Argentina 0:1, if finally the right players’ll play how they can ARG will beat not even Nigeria, France too”.

          You see what you want to see. Everyone want Tagliafico in new team except you. He was best of our defenders.

          • Yes we lost because of Sampaoli, Armani, Tagliafico, Pavon, Enzo and super sub Meza. Deschamp is a clever coach, he attacked with his deadliest weapon our weakest point. (Tagliafico). The exact same what Isco did with Bustos. With this lineup ARG would win: Romero—rojo-otamendi-garay-mercado—banega-masche/biglia-lo celso—di maria-aguero-messi, dybala, higuain, dybala as subs, too much garbages were in the team

          • second dybala=perotti, at least a player who can dribble, pass and has UCL big match experience, even if Meza would be a class player (hes not) his deficit of big games experience against world class!!! opponents make him always nervous and useless

          • “With this lineup ARG would win: Romero—rojo-otamendi-garay-mercado—banega-masche/biglia-lo celso—di maria-aguero-messi, dybala, higuain, dybala as subs, too much garbages were in the team”

            Hahahaha

            So still there was too little the oldies to win. You are total idiot. Great excuses. Still not enough oldies to win.

            Who fouled Mbappe finally. ROjo! Stupid foul because Mbappe was drawing far from goal, he couldn’t score from that angle.

            Lo Celso, Dybala???!! Oh, suddenly you are for youngsters?! So the oldies needs anoy youngster to help?!!!! Dybala?! It comes from biggest Dybala hater… I will copy and copy your embarassing comment before France game.

          • “No Di Maria no show” No Di Maria, no win.

            Where was the Di Maria show? Worst player on the pitch in first game. Nobody in third. And total loser (countless losts) with great/lucky goal in last. Is this his show? How he was talisman? He was there. Just like in previous WC he was total shit apart the only one goal in both tournaments but you were always talking he is our talisman and guarantee of show. LOL

          • You are so dumb man its painful. I tell you again liar, Lo Celso, Dybala world class potentials with more or less high level match experience. My problem with Dybala not his talentless rather his countless shit performances in NT, but at least the talent and potential is there, which can make difference. Lo Celso the same. Meza, Pavon? Green guys without experience, nervous players with or without talent on this level, nobody knows, time will tell, but useless atm. If Dybala and Lo Celso alternatives are useless Pavon, Meza and Enzo what the question moron? My problem with Tagliafico not his age rather his shit defending skills.

          • di maria wes not great, but made his world class moment again, which in Meza will never be, bcoz hes a talentless slow garbage player, play 100 games with meza against France -caliber teams on a WC and that guy will stand zero goals and zero assists, so evident. (the reason clubs paid more than 200 millions euros for Di Maria, and every shit european club that want to buy Meza (is there any after this WC? will no more than 5-10 millions. Another universum.

      • First time in your life be a man, not a coward chicken, and answer the question, not your usual blablabla, where the hell was Tagliafico until Mbappe destroyed our defence on his side? Where, where, where? What the hell did this guy in the whole match? His non-contribution in defending Mbappe made our defenders vulnerable. His task was protecting that side and that fckin player. See i even accept if at least you admit the truth that Tagliafico was destroyed, tried but a very weak defender. So?

        • You should better look at your 3-man central defence of oldies. Where they were? Your super playmaker Banega who first lost the ball.

          • Mercado was so horrible in this WC and in friendlies that playing against him Mbappe would have score 6 goals. Tagliafico saved us many times in this WC. Much more than Mercado.

          • Ahaha shoulda coulda woulda, or do a Rojo like performance vs Robben, who knows. Dont halucinate, now lets start to blame Tagliafico hater.

          • Why you are talkin about Rojo playing 4 years ago? I have nothing against Rojo AD 2014. He was young and good. It’s not the same player. What did Rojo in 2014 no matter here. He couldn’t never ever do the things now he did 4 years ago. That’s why I refused support the worn out players.

          • All that you,ve said here and there against Argentina future (denying talent potentiall that always is there) is recorded by me and will judge against you in near future. Then just don’t try to be chamaeleon more and pretend for youngsters supporter in the future like you did before few times.

          • You lie again, who do fuck care where will stand these green guys in 5 years? ATM Pavon is useless, Meza is useless, tagliafico is useless, and 90% of your talents are useless ATM, If Meza would play in Manchester for years and fuck a lot of big clubs with his goals and assists just for fun (like an Mbappe), his worth over 100 million euros, i would be the biggest Meza fanboy. But man not that the case, he plays still in a low-level league without big game experience, none of the big clubs want to buy him, because hes not good, AVERAGE, so why was he in the WC-squad? And important if Meza would score goals in WC, make defenders look stupid, im the first who make excuses, but again i was 100% right. So again why? -1 important place, pavon -2 and so on…the nobodies remain nobodies, zero contribution. Much better players ATM watch the WC (useful players too) on television.

          • Why Meza was on WC?! Because he was best player against Spain! It’s still friendly, but it’s still Spain. That’s why he was there. Absolutely sensible reason. Mentall blockade he had is another thing.

            The comment above will also judge against you soon. I see already many fans of Pavon here (I’m not his fan rather) when he will emerge in Europe his fans on Mundo will eat you with bones. Be ready!

          • “Tagliafico is useless”

            Everyone will say you he was our best defender on this WC and one of 2-3 best players. I don’t know who were the 2 other though.

            Now you may just try to deny reality.

  26. One of the prime reason we have very few youngsters playing in big clubs is because our managers never gave chance to new young guns in our national team for last 4 years. Nowadays our players from local league only interests Russian or Portuguese or some B league clubs. If you give them exposure in the national team then only it will catch attention of big clubs because the big-rich clubs are no longer interested in our young mids or defenders. Their scouts only look for forwards nowadays. Meza had a very good chance of moving to a big club after Spain game but he completely blew it with the help of his imbecile coach and his nervousness.

    It breaks my heart to see Messi ending his career without a world cup. Our tactics were so predictable that any b-rated team could hold us to a scoreless draw. When every ball has to be passed to Messi who is surrounded by 3-4 opponent team players and from there only we build our attack then how difficult is it to put brakes on our attack?? Look at Brazil how beautifully and wisely Tite has used Neymar. He only gets the ball if he is in a better position that others. But in our team no matter who is where it as to go to Messi first. Imbecile Sampaoli continued with the same trend hoping Messi magic will create something but by now all our opponents of the formula to defeat us. And his high line pressing regardless the situation of the match cost us the world cup. Dictator Mascherano must be feeling very proud after playing 4th world cup. His team selection and constant interference and baldy’s madness cost Messi a world cup. You guys are stupid to not believe that Messi love for washed up dictator general Mascherano was root of the problem here. Yes Messi isn’t vocal but sometimes being a captain you should set aside personal preferences and select the right team member. Every opponent team’s manager outsmarted our fuckhead manager. TV journalist to pundits could easily predict our tactics and easily figure out ways to defeat us. Even then badly was revealing our plans and lineup to media. ” We will play attacking high pressing football against France”,”Attack is our strength”.Fuck off man. We can’t have this man continue managing our young team. Ex-players and people of Argentina should revolt against AFA if they keep this imbecile. And NOOOOO Pep won’t leave Man city to take this joke of a job. He is Spanish not native Argentine. He loves Messi but he also knows that Messi’s chances of winning the world cup at the age of 35 is very slim.

    • Wrong, it’s the other way around. Clubs have much better scout network. Inter bought Lautaro not because he was capped, but because he made a name for himself in Argentinian league.

      Some smart coaches can still pick those great talents which were still not discovered by clubs. Sometimes, that could be a teenage sensation who just blossomed or players who blossomed quite late. In either case, they would reach Europe sooner than later. Sampaoli brought Meza and played him in all matches ahead of Dybala, Lo Celso etc but we came to know why Meza is still playing in Argentinian league.

  27. Argentina has to build from the ground. A long term plan is needed and that’s why the 2005-2007 golden youth generation needs to be eliminated. Messi and Aguero are the only 2 that still on top form, the rest should respectfully retire themselves for the sake of the national team.

    Argentina is the oldest team in this WC, and even if they beat France, their legs wont be strong enough for the next 3 games. Not to mention if those games goes into extra time.

    They need to find a formidable defenders and midfielders that can control midfield like Veron/Aimar/Riquelme. The frontlines wont be a problem since Argentina will always produce a top strikers every few years. In fact, the likes of Dybala and Pavon are waiting to be a starter instead being a late sub or getting subbed all the time… and then you have Icardi (the best finisher in the world today) and he missed out the WC in favor of fat choker Higuain, how? Martinez is another future talent that needs a regular playing time from now on.

    Argentina has wasted way too much time with the 05-07 generations of players. Including the subs, there’s 9 veterans that played against Iceland and history already tought us a lesson that a team which rely on same old players will crash out early, and that’s exactly what Argentina did. Masche at 34 being used as playmaker and also had to defend at the same time… wtf ?

    Whoever in charge after Sampa must starts to call up players that are under 27. There will be Copa in Brazil next year and the fans should NOT preasure the team to see this as a MUST WIN tournament. The younger can use it as learning curve and to have some experience at major tournament.

    As for the current World cup, I’m ok with any team that is left to win it except for England.
    Well, I dont think they could beat Brazil or France or even Uruguay. They decided to lose against Belgium on purpose so they could get an easy route.

  30. I think we gotta be playing the best guys who are 26 and under now. By the next World Cup we will have a squad 30 and under and they will have 4 years experience.

    The next years copa America we gotta pick an under 27 team.

    I don’t buy into the argument of hanging onto experienced guys to guide the less experienced players (unless it’s as a former experienced player being on the coaching staff). We best give experience by giving inexperienced players games for Argentina

    I don’t care if we lose next years copa America if we pick an under 27 team, because in the long run (World Cup 2022) it would give us the best chance of success.

  31. Only AFA can retain a manager who showed no degree of conmon sense since the day he selected the 23 man squad. He only picked few players in the world cup roster rest were all picked by dictator general Masche. If he is allowed to stay he will continue his crazy experiments!! He has to go. Whoever wants him to stay should stop watching football.

    • For me pep guardiola will be blessing, i dont like the way simeone team is playing so nkt him, pochetino very good and also is argentinian,

  32. Happy that AFA considering foreign coach, top Argentine coach Simeone or potch even Sampaoli were best but will turn clueless while managing Argentina. The reason is simple Argentina coach put extra pressure and become fan forgetting their duties. In short any European coach will be the best, pep is unrealistic, frankly i will be very happy with Conte or benitez

  33. AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD IN THIS SITE STOP SAYING ARGENTINA DONT HAVE TALENTED PLAYERS. MARTINEZ ICARDI OCAMPOS CENTERION DYBALA PAREDES ASCEBARAN LO CELSO GARRE LAMELA LANZINI ARE ALL GREAT 17 TO 23 YEARS OLD THEY NEED A GOOD TRAINER AND THEY ARE MANY MORE. ARGENTINA WAS ALWAYS BEST IN TALENT PURE TALENTED PLAYERS THE NEED A COACH

    • Sure, very talented and there will always be. However, I believe Argentina is suffering from structural issues, starting from the very top down to the grassroots, why appointing a good coach may not be sufficient. I fear that Argentina may have many challenging years going forward, similar to Holland and Italy.

    • Icardi, Ocampos, Centurion, Dybala, Paredes, Lamela and Lanzini are all over 23y old.

      Born in 1992:

      Lamela

      The same age as Neymar and Coutinho… lol. Do you see the gulf?

      Born in 1993:

      Icardi
      Centurion
      Dybala
      Lanzini

      Born in 1994:

      Paredes
      Ocampos

      Then, you have Lo Celso (1996), Lautaro Martinez (1997) and Ascacibar (1997) who can be considered as young.

      As for Garré, you have to be kidding me? The kid being born in 2000 has yet to start a professionnal game for Man City. I suspect you put him there because he’s in Man City.

      • no i put him there because guardiola asked personally to take him whatever the cost. MANCHESTER city went in a huge court for him you thing they will do this if he is worth it. plus he played MANCHESTER city b with yaya and he said he is the future

        • One kid currently that seems to receive a lot of hype in these past years is Thiago Almada (2001) currently playing for Velez. I havent seen him directly but many are raving literally about him. Let’s see though because the number of times you had supposed wonderkids turning into nothing is astonishing. But the thirst for the next great thing is real and many are getting desperate to see someone out of the ordinary good but not so great player that appeared in drove in the last 10 years.

    • Real Madrid bought 2 brazilian wonderkids Vinicius Junior (2000) for 45 million euros and Rodrygo (2001) for 45 million euros, these are talents, not our 25 years old players, why nobody want to pay normal money for any of the argentine “talents”? because they are overrated, the biggest prodigy signed to Atlanta United!!! for 12 millions LOL.

        • Csabalala comment June 24, 2018 at 4:05 pm

          “Argentina-Columbia 3:0, Columbia-Argentina 0:1, if finally the right players’ll play how they can ARG will beat not even Nigeria, France too”.

          Your comment. LOL

          You were supporting the generation for years and where we are now?!!! Because of stupid people like you around NT we lost 4 years!!! Now we see stick on the oldies was waste of time. You should stop talk more here as you fooled himself

          • Your oldies were not even able to dominate Nigeria with their poor defence. Even if Nigeria didn’t parked bus. They had not opportunities in the game behind the goals.

        • No one takes you serious. The only bring you bring here to support your comments are stats and money. If secection was depending on this things computer would be pick out NT players after numbers.

        • “At least in a Sevilla caliber team of the top5 leagues, not Sporting, Benfica UCL clown teams, where an Acuna can start. Benfica last year in UCL 6 losses, this is our level? French midfield Kante maybe best DM in the world, Matudi starter in PSG now in Juve, Pogba superstar midfielder, do you want to beat these class midfielders with your Mezas and Pol Fernandezes LOL, again out of your mind, Banega, Masche and Enzo at least know this superstar level well, play against these teams week after week, we have no talented midfielders zero, Paredes in Russia, Lo Celso benchwarmer in PSG, and definitely will play shit under the new coach, Lanzini West Ham our biggest talents? Ascacibar Stuttgart, but i tell you better the difference of talent level between mbappe and pavon was the key, Mbappe real superstar potential, Pavon? Man this guy cannot controll a fckin pass, and the others even weaker than this green guy, without the oldies ARG wouldnt be in WC and definitely not in 16. Wake up, didnt you watch our U20 and Olympics tournaments? Argentinas NT future”

          Once again your stupid comment. You lost your mind. Yo’ve said the same before Nigeria game: “the class players” will guarantee of success, they will beat not only Nigeria but also France. How far they went?

          LOL

          “The class players”

          Your criterion of class player is: play in Big European club and to be transfered for big money. 15 years old football mentality.

          • Now you are praising the France players. But who was writing here few times before WC with irony and sarcasm “the almighty France” to allude they are overated.

            Chamaeleon once again. How to take you serious?

        • “without the oldies ARG wouldnt be in WC and definitely not in 16”

          I like the sentence. Already recorded. We will see soon.

          Argentina is playing every WC since decades but this man thinks we need Marias to qualifiy….

      • You can not judge the level of talent based on how much someone is willing to pay for the player. It is quite possible that the buyer has too much cash in combination with being stupid.

      • you are chamaeleon, flag on the wind, neuter without properties. You are die hard supporter of old guard or youngsters promotor – it depends how things are going. That’s your characteristic. Do I need to bring here your so much optimistic comment posted not long before WC about our young prospects going to Europe, when you mentioned also Meza along with Vargas and other players? Another time you may posting as if in this nation was no single young player that may keep us thinking positive about NT times to come. You are just typical populistic representative of changeable, capricious crowd.

  36. Really disgusted with people posting numerous line-ups with all new/inexperienced faces. Those people are 100% anger, frustration, sentiment, stupidity and 0% brain. No team can ever develop with all inexperience. That will either fail or take ages to build up with some big luck.

    Let’s be real honest here. Sampaoli was a failure because of 4 factors –

    1. He couldn’t pick the right 23 squad.
    2. He relied too much on Messi, mostly to burden the blame on Messi, if his formations didn’t work. Eventually it didn’t work because he couldn’t manage to make a harmony between the playing positions. In short, his formations never worked.
    3. He couldn’t even pick the best 11 within his available resources. Can a sane man plan to play Dybala 20 mins overall and not to play Lo Celso for a single minute?? He played Higuaín all the days with dummy mistakes but opted out on the very day when he was most needed. There are numerous mistakes like this.
    4. He came up with 2nd half joker substitutions in every match like Meza!! I have no words about that ….

    We need a normal, good coach (no need to be a flamboyant celebrity) for a 5-6 year length. Period.

    Now what about the performances?? I know that when the formations are not right, it’s difficult to bring the best out of your players. But the tired, old legs told something more than that. Every better players play in EU leagues, for every team. It’s not our unique problem. If you say Aguero/Di Maria was tired, so should be Cavani and Mbappe and others!! That was not the case. There were sheer deficiency of skills, aging and perhaps, HUNGER TO WIN. Comprising all these deficiencies, all the goalies, Rojo, Mercado, Salvio, Meza, Higuaín, Di Maria, Aguero and many others never deserve a chance – leave alone Macherano & Biglia!!! I’m not sure about Pavon too (as I didn’t see much spark in him too). But as he’s young, leave that to the management. Off course we need a bunch of 5-6 defenders who are capable at this level.

    I strongly believe Romero, Tagliafico, Otamendi, Banega need to stick with the team for at least 2-3 years to make it a balance with the likes of Dybala, Lo Celso, Icardi and many other bright kids available. In that way they’ll have the opportunity to learn from the seniors and gel as a team.

    About Lionel Messi?? Well … if you are a true Argentina fan (with some sanity intact), can you deny (keeping hand on your heart) without Messi (as long as he wishes to play) you can’t make a formidable attack that everybody is afraid of?? I’m not sure what people demand from him!! Winning all the trophies by himself alone?? That’s what you want?? Or MORE??? Yes I admit I’m a Messi fan, I love him more than anyone in the Argentina squad. But that’s becuase Messi is from ARGENTINA. If he was from Portugal or Brazil, I may loved him but no way near these much!

    Back to the context – my firm belief, Messi at his 35, will be no lesser fear for the opponents. They’ll still place 2-3 markers on him, where your midfield and strikers need to cache in. The sheer presence of “Messi-Factor” won’t win you games but it WILL give you EDGE. You have to utilize that.

    Finally, I don’t have much to say about AFA. An organization been corrupt for more than 35 years will take time to quarantine. Nothing is in our control, and honestly, that one is ABSOLUTELY beyond our control. We supporters can only hope the best about that. But we have to go through it and support whatever resources can help our dream come true!

    No way I wanna see the dark days. No way I believe there will be a gloom on Argentina football team. I only want to see them at the top of the World. That’s what I mean by UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

    • THE ONLY 3 MANAGERS ARGENTINA HAVE TO TAKE ARE GUARDIOLA SIMEONE PEKERMAN. THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES TO FIX EVERYTHING FROM YOUTH TEAM TO THE NATIONAL TEAM. IF AFA AFTER THIS HUMILIATION DONT GET ONE OF THIS 3 IT WILL BE VERY BIG SURPRISE FOR ME. THE CHOICES ARE THERE. I KNOW THAT ALOT OF YOU DON’T LIKE PEKERMAN BUT HE PRODUCED ONE OF THE BEST U17 U20 AND NATIONALS TEAMS EVER. AND HE CAN TO IT AGAIN. HE HAVE ASSISTANCE COACH CAMBIASSO TOGETHER THEY CAN DO IT. GUARDIOLA IS THE BEST PLAYS THE BEST FOOTBALL ATTRACTIVE ATTACK FOOTBALL AND HE LOVES ARGENTINA AND MESSI AND AGUERO. WITH HIM THERE IS NO WAY WILL NOT PLAY THE BEST FOOTBALL. SIMEONE IS STRONG MENTALLY HIS TEAMS PLAY STRONG ORGANISED FOOTBALL. THIS 3 ARE OUR CHANCE TO GO FORWARD

    • very good article and so true.. and has been like this for so long u would think someone would have the balls to come along and say enough is enough and change things….and poor messi always blamed but never really speaks out….i hope all u messi haters now will shut up! i’ve had enough of reading the amount of crap i’ve read here from peeps who call themselves fans but are just as bad as the afa… and the idea that he leaves and we will start winning lol that is laudable.

  38. https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/argentina-world-cup-2018-lionel-messi-jorge-sampaoli-julio-grondona-a8426061.html

    Read this fantastic Article, Its sad that now our Fear factor is gone (That was Messi) It was him who always carried us till now. The AFA gets money from the friendlies, But only on one condition, Messi has to play. Well its gone now. Time Conquers everything and everyone.

    The last para says it all.
    “Because what hope does Argentinean football have when its football association has no money, no plan, no structure, no quality domestic league, no youth system, no coach and, quite possibly, no Messi?”

    We are going to a darker future, But we have to rebuild and there will be a day when we are back to the Top, Till then nothing to do just Support and hope for the best, Its easy to support any team or anyone when they are on top of the world. But support is needed for those when they are on bottom of the ladder, those who need it. Right now we have to support our team. Hope for the best.

    By the way THE CURSE IS BROKEN, England finally won a Penalty Shoot out. At this point I would take any other remaining team apart from England, Even I would take Brazil to win the World Cup. But i think we are on our way for an irritation next 4 years, We may have to hear thing like this. “DIEGO MARADONA, PELE, JOHANN CRYUFF, MESSI, HARRY KANEEEE””” WTFFFFF we literally may have to listen all this Bull Shits like those.

    • Exactly #MiK I read this article after Argentina exit.. there has been many critics in mundo who criticise Messi but they dosent protest against the AFA corruption they always hate Messi but they dosent hate grondona..and some idiot said that in mundo all are Messi fanboy but they didn’t try to know that all the Messi fanboy loves Argentina 1st..after messi all the messi fanboy support dybala or anybody else….because we love argentina and Argentine Messi is best in the world that’s why we support Messi ….why dybala and Messi not played together that’s not Messi fault it was the fault of coach who didn’t indicate new tactics where Messi and dybala player together ….so stop blaming Messi or any kind of player and supporting Argentina because my team is suffering with pain and I personally stand with my team and with the players..from 1990 to 2018 argentinar Tina didn’t win WC but my love for argentina increasing day by day so stop blaming Messi and try to put your support to for the team and players …thank u..

      • THEY CRITICIZE MESSI FOR WALKING AROUND THE PITCH, IT SEEMS THEY HAVE NOT BEEN FOLLOWING HIM IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, WELL THAT’S HIS STYLE AND MOST DESTRUCTIVE MOMENT, JUST LIKE A LION WALKING AROUND LOOKING FOR THE NEXT PREY.
        A LOT OF MESSI HATERS HERE THINK THAT OUR LOYALTY IS TO MESSI, NOT TO ARGENTINA, JUST BECAUSE WE SPEAK THE TRUTH, WITHOUT MESSI WE WERE NOTHING SINCE AFTER 2006, NO ONE FEARED US. JUST LIKE HATING ON MESSI AND SAYING HE IS NOT ARGENTINIAN, HE DOES NOT PLAY FOR ARGENTINA LIKE HE DOES FOR BARCA, WELL, GET A COACH WHO CAN BUILD GOOD TEAM WITHOUT RELYING ON MESSI FOR EVERYTHING, AND SEE WHAT HE CAN GIVE YOU. I THINK THIS IS THE BEST THAT COULD HAPPEN TO HIM, EVEN THOUGH I AM VERY SAD FOR THE ELIMINATION WHICH WAS 100% SAMPA’S FAULT FOR NOT DEFENDING A 2-1 LEAD. BUT MAYBE NOW THEY CAN UNDERSTAND THAT MESSI NEEDS PLAYERS TO SUPPORT HIM, HE CARRIED THE TEAM ON HIS BACK FOR 8 YEARS. HE CAN NOT DO IT ALONE

        • of course you joke before 2006 all fear us all. Like we didnt have pasarela kempes ardilles maradona valdano burusaga batistuta caniggia redondo veron requielme veron aimar crespo lopez zanetti ayala and many many more

          • MAYBE YOU SHOULD READ TWICE BEFORE REPLYING:
            I SAID SINCE AFTER 2006, WHICH MEANS AFTER 2006 WORLD CUP. MOST OF THOSE PLAYERS WERE LONG GONE AFTER 2006
            WE HARDLY QUALIFIED FOR 2010 TILL THE LAST GAME.
            I AM SURE YOU WERE NOT AROUND IN 78 AND DID NOT WATCH KEMPES OR EL GRAFICO . DO YOU KNOW THAT HE WORE THE NO. 1 SHIRT IN 1982?
            NONE OF THESE PLAYERS GAVE US IN FOOTBALL WHAT MESSI DID, I AM SURE THAT MESSI’S PRIME IS UPON US. IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT WC WINS, THEN PELE MUST BE BETTER THAN MARADONA (WHICH IS NOT TRUE AT ALL) BECAUSE PELE WON MORE WC THAN MARADONA

      • I concur. I find it strange that some at this site are calling people as Messi fanboy in order to degrade. Instead of being proud of Messi being an Argentine, they are mentioning Zidane, CR7, Neymar etc as either more intelligent or better players. WTF! Understand this, I am extremely proud of Messi because he is from Argentina. Had he been from Brazil or any other country, I could have cared less. If anyone wants to call me Messi fanboy, then so be it! I am extremely lucky to have seen Maradona and Messi during my lifetime and both are from Argentina. I doubt I will see anyone near their qualities in the remainder of my life, and what would the probability be that this player comes from Argentina?

        • FIRST OF ALL I AM AN ATLETICO MADRID FAN SINCE 1985, AND ARGENTINA FAN SINCE 1978. SO PEOPLE DON’T THINK I AM A BARCA FAN.
          ONLY 3 TYPES OF PEOPLE HATE MESSI
          REAL MADRID FANS
          BRAZIL FANS
          PORTUGAL FANS
          ALMOST EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT I KNOW AND HATES MESSI , BELONG TO THOSE GROUPS
          ANY ONE WHO DOES NOT AGREE THAT MESSI IS THE BEST OF ALL TIMES, DON’T UNDERSTAND FOOTBALL. PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IN THE PAST THERE WERE DIFFERENT RULES OF THE GAME, TACTICS WERE NOT VARIOUS, NO SOCIAL MEDIA, TV, INTERNET PRESSURE AND THE LAWS OF FOOTBALL WERE EASIER FOR THE PLAYERS, YELLOW CARDS AND RED CARDS RULES WERE DIFFERENT AND EVEN DEFENDERS WERE NOT THAT PHYSICALLY BUILT. OFFSIDE RULES WERE DIFFERENT. I BET IF THE RULES TODAY APPLIED TO PELE’S TIME HALF OF HIS GOAL WOULD BE OFFSIDE. PLAYERS DID NOT PLAY 2 OR 3 MATCHES A WEEK, PELE NEVER PLAYED IN EUROPE, WAS NOT INVOLVED IN VERY HARD TACKLES AND SCORED MOST OF HIS GOALS AGAINST 4 OR 5 TIER TEAMS.

    • Juan Antonio Pizzi, who is from Argentina, said: AFTER COPA FINAL IN 2016

      “Messi’s numbers are unparalleled and I think they’ll remain that way forever, because it’s impossible for a football player to do what Messi has done…. My generation can’t compare him to [Diego] Maradona — that’s for my generation, because of what Maradona did for Argentine soccer. But I think the best player ever played today here in the United States.”

      I WITNESSED ALL THE GREATS FROM PELE (OVER RATED) TO MESSI, I CAN TILL WITH ALL CONFIDENCE THAT HE IS BY FAR THE BEST. MARADONA SECOND BY FAR DISTANCE.

      • For me Maradona is the greatest ever, because he had the unique and unequalled ability to take average teams, Argentina ’86, Napoli to glory. Over time his achievements become ever greater because no one has come close to matching them. He took Argentina to a world cup final in 1990 on one injured leg. That’s not to say I don’t live Messi, I do and he is second after Diego.

  39. I don’t want Sampa for only one reason. He does not give any importance to defence. His idea is to concede znd outscore. Our teams I 80s 90s and even up to 2016 hardly used to concede goals. First priority is to FIX DEFENCE. So I want a coach who will do these and not let in 3 to 4 goals in a match. I think Gareca will adhere to this basic principle. Sampa on the other hand was very reckless to say the least.

    • HIGH DEFENSE LINE AGAINST MBAPPE AND GRIEZMAN IS PURE STUPIDITY. WHEN YOU HAVE 2-1 LEAD AGAINST FAST PLAYERS, PLAY IT BY THE BOOK:
      FALL BACK, CLOSE THE SPACE, INTRODUCE FRESH LEGS AND HIT ON THE COUNTER. SAMPA IS A TOTAL IDIOT

  41. ARGENTINA SQUAD according to current performances……..
    ……..
    …………………..Rulli.( r sociadad)…………….. …………Mammana(zenit)…foyth(tottenh)
    Luis gomez(lanus)…………..tagliafico(Ajax)

    …………….asciabar(stutgart)….peredes(zenit)…
    ….. ……. ..Messi(Barca)…….lo celso(PSG)

    …….. Dybala(Juventus)………. Icardi(inter)

    Substitute-

    Centurian…
    Laurato…
    Pavon
    Kranevitter
    Lanzini
    Bustos
    Funes mori..
    Conti
    Acuna

    ANY Suggestions? ????

    It will be highly appreciated…..thanku

    • this wc was a big opportunity to win. Except France that had the quality and a complete new team build in the last 2 year all the other teams are not good. We feel on them. We had to go with a young team but we didn’t plus very dig mistakes in coaching. next WC going to be a new era for all big teams ARGENTINA GERMANY ITALY HOLLAND SPAIN WILL have completely new teams from today we have to build our team and get ready. we need a real good COACH that can make this team. Its going to be a team for 10 YEARS

      • IF BALDY SAMPA WOULD HAVE INSTRUCTED OUR PLAYERS TO FALL BACK AFTER THE 2-1 LEAD TO DEFEND AND INTRODUCE AGUERO WITH FRESH LEGS, WE WOULD HAVE NEUTRALIZED MBAPPE AND GRIEZMAN BY CLOSING DOWN THE LANES THEY RAN INTO, STRUCK THEM AT LEAST ONCE ON THE COUNTER AND BAG THE GAME, THE ROAD WOULD HAVE BEEN CLEAR TO THE FINAL. SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO PLAY IT BY THE BOOK. BUT SAMBALDY IS HARD HEADED EGOISTIC NUTCASE.

    • I believe it’s going to be Belgium, France or Croatia this time. As per all the contests so far, Belgium seemed to have all bases covered to go all the way, only if they can beat the selecaos. France was shaky – their only chance is if Mbappe & Griezmann shines. Mbappe is special, 3 times better than overrated Neymar.

      My favorite from here, though, is Croatia. They’ve shown real talents with compact defence and dominating midfield. Don’t be bullish – Denmark played a really good game in round of 16. I bet they were no lesser than Brazil on that game. Thanks that Croatia have passed that hurdle. That man Rakitic is a genius. With Modric they are really dangerous combination, who can change the result in seconds. As we all know, it’s only a matter of 1 goal (max 2) in QF/SF/Final, then all defending. My best wishes to Rakitic! That’s what my beloved Lionel would have wanted from here

  43. @Whizzard: Thank you, I have been saying for some time now that Tissone should’ve been on the Argentina national team since his prime Malaga days..

    @Fernando ‘El Principe’ Redondo July 3, 2018 at 6:17 pm
    ”I don’t want any black players in our team. They have no discipline or brains. Name me one black player who has been voted world player of the year. You’ll find the last one was George Weah, over 20 years ago!”

    You’re very low IQ and a RACIST person..Haha, you’re probably still stuck in the 1800’s..You people are the reason why the Argentina national team is so unlikable. I’m guessing Ronaldinho is not a black player? Ronaldo (Brazil) is not a black player? They all won the BDOR..The best players in the NBA, college Basketball, NFL, Track and Field are black athletes..Welcome to 2018, man..

    I never said Argentina should elect a black person as their president..But for national team like Argentina not to have black players shows how backwards the football is going. So why does Uruguay have black players but not Argentina?

    You’re a racist just like all the people around you!!

    TRUST ME, a lot of none native Argentina fans agree with what I’m saying…I have Always hear this question for years now, ”why no black players on that team?”

    • It’s a question of simple demographics, Argentina has very few black people, less than 1 % of population vs Uruguay’s approximately 4%. How many professional black Argentine players can you name that play in Argentina or abroad? I personally have no issue with them, we could use some box-to-box midfield dynamos,but Argentina historically did not have that many blacks, similar to Chile, Bolivia and Paraguay.

  44. Players Donot Have A Concern . Most Of Them Will Return By 2019 Copa , Lose It And Again Return By 2020 , Lose It And Give A Last Try Until 2022 .
    2022 Expected – Werner / Rulli , Bustos , Manamma , Quarta , Tagliafico , Parades ,Ascibaar , Lo Celso , Dybala , Icardi , Lautaro .
    2022 Reality – Romero , Mercado , Otamendi , Rojo , Tagliafico , Perez , Banega , Salvio , Messi , Higuan , Dimaria .

  45. this is the statement of claudio toppia

    SELECTION
    “No leader of AFA asked Sampaoli to resign”
    Jorge Miadosqui, the Secretary of National Teams, talked about the future of the Argentina coach and assured that the decision on its possible continuity “will be taken calmly”.

    1/1
    Miadosqui

    Posted on 07-03-2018

    Within minutes of getting on the plane back to Buenos Aires, along with the national team and managers, Jorge Miadosqui, the Secretary of National Teams, referred to the possible continuity of Jorge Sampaoli as coach of Argentina: “No leader of AFA He has a contract and there are still many things to analyze, we must take it in. When we arrive in Argentina we will be evaluating what happened in Russia, its continuity will be decided by the Board of Directors and not only by Tapia. ” assured in dialogue with AM 1070.

    In addition, he added: “Sampaoli has a project for Qatar 2022, but Russia was with the best and with the intention of becoming champion, we have to give it time and hope that things will improve.” There are players for restructuring

    On the other hand, he spoke about the management of the leadership in Russia: “There was no time to think about sports, we took care of how the players were going to return, many lies have been transformed to hurt the National Team. from Russia thanking all we did for them. ”

    To close, he did not dodge the question about the relationship between Sampaoli and Sebastián Becaccece: “I did not see any fight between them, if the relationship is broken it will be seen in the next few days, I do not know what will happen”.

    https://www.ole.com.ar/seleccion/dirigente-afa-pidio-renuncia-sampaoli-miadosqui_0_2044595592.html

    • Good post. I believe this is all posturing. He is evading answering questions. Too many bridges have been burned and this guy will get no support to stay. In a few days he will step away for a couple million dollars and get another job.
      My only thought is if you were going to spend 20 million you could have gotten a MUCH more qualified manager than Sampa.

      • Agree! For a FA that had no money to pay the plauersx flights and security, how in the world did they find the funds to commit 20million to an Argentine who supposedly volunteered to take over the job?

  46. The man is not going to quit his current job unless he was promised something! Didn’t Pekerman take some time off before agreeing to come back to Colombia when ARG was looking for a manager? before Tata was given the job.

    I always said Pekerman would be the perfect manager for ARG, proven coach, been around the block more than few times and was in charge when ARGENTINA was at its best, and oh yeah, Colombia just crashed out.

    • True…
      You can’t say they haven’t had opportunities. 3 back to back finals, and blew all three!
      It’s not like they don’t have a team, you need a team to get to a final!

      They just choked! Let’s hope the new generation that comes to the Copa America will not follow their predecessors footsteps!
      Players like Dybala (playing his first Copa America), Paredes, Kranevitter, Tagliafico, Pavón, Lo Celso, etc to show the old how it’s done!

    • Sadly, Argentina lost their winning habit. It’s 6 international finals since 2004 and they lost all:
      – Copa America 2004 (1-2 to Brazil)
      – Confederation Cup 2005 (1-4 to Brazil)
      – Copa America 2007 (0-3 to Brazil)
      – World Cup 2014 (0-1 to Germany)
      – Copa America 2015 (penalty shootouts to Chile)
      – Copa America 2016 (penalty shootouts to Chile)

      That’s too much and that adds immense pressure on the next generation. The new team desperately needs some luck to break the ice and win something. It’s very very important to build up confidence from that.

  48. Sampaoli and the players both made mistakes and both are to be blamed. If you blame one and defend the other you are wrong.
    I am sure one day when they are old they will regret their childish behavior and will want to give everything just to turn back the clock and give everything to win the World CUP.
    Do you realize what has happened?
    We are out!
    We will have to wait another 4 years and 1/2 to see our team at the World cup.
    Some of us will be alive and some of us will die. Some of us will never witness what it feels like to win the World cup.
    How can you throw it away so easily putting on the colors of this team.
    Can you understand my anger?
    Can you understand why I write essay that last up to 2 hours of writing to pinpoint what we are doing wrong?
    I am negative because I simply don’t trust the people who are in charge, being afa, coaches and players and don’t wanna go from this world without experiencing what it feels to finally win the world cup.
    Thanks and please cut that racist bullshit.

  49. I know some are saying he could be just another Sampaoli. You never know, you never know. Only time, only results on the pitch will tell. That said I frankly do not think anybody could be as bad as Sampaoli. I’m pretty sure a lot of the people making comments here,and everything staying the same, would have done a far better job than Sampaoli. This man was horrible, horrible and horrible. The worst coach in this World Cup. Some even say it’s not all his fault, the players have to take the blame, I say balloney. This unbalanced man was responsible for everything that happened. He set everything in motion with his completely crazy formations. When Spain dropped six on his crapy ways it was all over. He’ll constantly, every game even in the World Cup except against Nigeria, leave his defense vulnerable. If it was a player problem, meaning no personnel, then he should have changed tactics and play with four or even five in the back at all time. Argentina can never play like Island but you put five in the back, and close down space, in the second half against Spain and there is no way they score again and may be you come with a respectable 2-1, or even a miraculous 2-2, on that day. I keep bringing Spain because I think everything changed for Argentina that day. Sampaoli really lost his mind and Argentina lost its mojo. If you are a team aspiring to win the World Cup your B team, B team, let alone your almost complete one, just does not lose 6-1 to anybody, any place, three months before the competition begins. Yeah, anybody but Sampaoli.

  50. Unfortunately this is going to drag out for a couple of weeks. That is why Gareca is buying time. He will most likely be the next coach once Sampaoli has a new job lined up.
    Nowadays the AFA doesn’t develop their own players; we send out hundreds in HOPES that others will develop them. Until this ends, nothing will change. IF we win it’ll be because we caught lightning in a bottle.
    All the Simeone lovers just understand he had Luciano Vietto and Angel Correa and I think Kranevitter and a few others and didn’t do crap with them. He cares more for his wallet than anything else. And my personal favorite is Axel Werner, our future goalkeeper; less than 15 appearances since 2015. He should have about 100 games under his belt by now and less than 15. So much for the great Argentine coach giving a crap about Argentina. He is long on opinions and short on actions. I can’t stand the guy and would take Poche or Pekerman any day of the week and twice on Sundays.
    Being the third best team in a league that is dominated by 2 teams is not that hard in the case of Simeone
    The thing is, if you are the NT coach in Argentina, you are expected to win pretty much everything. If you coach Peru, Columbia, Atletico, Tottenham, or any of the other teams, you are just expected to compete and have respectable showings. In the case of Atletico or Tottenham, being in the top 4 and going to UEFA is good enough. In the case of Peru or Columbia or Chile, all you gotta do is end up in the final 8 or 16. Way different expectations than we should win every tournament every other year. The pressure doesn’t even compare, and that is why we go through coaches like toilet paper. Only when the corruption ends or slows down, and we realize our reputation is bigger than our game, will any of this start to change.

    • Money changed football. We are quite similar to Holland. Back in 1990s, the top clubs from Holland were able to compete for CL or UEFA Cup and play equally with the top clubs from England, Spain or Italy. They never ran out of talents back then. Today, their young boys are sold to English and German clubs at their teen age. The Dutch national team lost their identity and have been struggling. They made it to semi 2 times recently but that’s not their traditional style. Holland and Argentina are fading out from the world football powerhouses club. Sad but true

  51. Gareca: “Yes, I’m free and available, just call me so I can experiment more on your NT and add more misery than you already have- Failure to qualify for next world cup, well I can do that”

  52. What I personally think, the coach, while he is a factor, but is not the MAJOR factor! It’s the players!

    Like Guardiola even admits, he’s been so successful because of the players he’s had. He had to spend over 300 million on a bunch of players to compensate for last seasons failure.

    The manager has to motivate the players, but also play the right players.

    It has to be equal blend I guess! What’s the point of having brilliant players with a mid level coach, or having a brilliant coach with mediocre players.

    What the next coach has to do is pick the right players.
    This players could be:
    – Dybala
    – Paredes
    – Kranevitter
    – Rulli
    – Musacchio
    – Perruzzi
    – Pezzella
    – Lamela
    – Lo Celso
    – Icardi
    – Lautaro Martínez
    – J. Correa

    With the right players to get Argentina winning, imagine these players with the best player in the world at the head of the attack?

    My Lineup:
    Romero/Rulli
    Peruzzi-Mussacchio-Pezzella-Tagliafico
    Lanzini-Paredes/Kranevitter-Lo Celso
    Dybala-Martínez/Icardi-J. Correa
    Or
    Messi-Martínez/Icardi-Dybala

    Why keep Tagliafico?
    It’s not his fault he was told to push up so high, that’s the instruction he was given! He’s one of the best LB Argentina has!

    Good Manager+Good Players>Great Players+Mediocre coach>Mediocre Players+Great Coach

      • Yea, why not? Keeping sending you’re message across, someone will hear you. Hopefully the right person.

        Some one should just bring a banner to the next Argentina game with their preferred lineup. Sure the message will get across that way 😆

    • Are you serious? Tagliafico is consistently among the worst of each match. High work rate but always late.

      Between him and a Pavon totally transparent and a Meza who never made a good control, I think so many others deserve their chance.

      But yes, I am OK with this lineup with Paredes, Lanzini, Dybala and Lo Celso

    • you dont stick on 30yrs of age players. we need young and agile players they should take forward on the pitch without fear. if you pick avg age of 25-27yrs then they will become 30-32yrs in WC2022.
      it a scrap…

      we need player between 19-23yrs old boys they should run with ball like horse speed

      • Ummmm… ok then? Who’s the best Argentinian LB then? Like some say Bustos was the best RB Argentina has until he was violated and abused by Isco countless times, lucky he won’t be conceiving triplets. Now imagine against Mbappe, Modric, Matuidi… or even worse… Neymar. Neymar against Bustos would be so difficult to watch for any Argentina fan🤭

        I said because of the high press Tagliafico was always caught out, another conservative coach wouldn’t have him venture out as recklessly.
        But who else do you have in mind?

  53. I think let’s shop for a coach. If that’s what we think we need.

    I think regardless of opinions on Sampaoli he is not a long term solution. He’s ruined his image to new players and Argentina looks like a joke because of his tactical decisions.

    I think for the short term is fine to keep him as a manager of the national team
    But let’s go out there and find the right candidate and wait for them to be available if we need to. That might be until next summer, let’s keep Sampaoli until then. It’s a free option really, unless we really really thing we have a chance at Copa with ABC coach.

    Let’s put some thought in to it. I don’t think switching coaches is as helpful as flushing the toilet at the AFA and building it up from bottom. Any idea on that rumor? I am trying to give it legs

  55. What I read in Tyc Sports is this. The AFA is going to tell sampaoli that some of his funds will be cut. So he can decide whether to stay or quit.
    Moreover he is going to meet Juanma Lillo to persuade him to be in his technical staff. I feel he is staying.

  56. and here I thought England would easily beat Colombia without James, why? because I thought that would be enough buffer to keep Brazil away from the trophy if GOD forbid they beat Belgium then either France or Uruguay!!!

  57. Argentina will never ever win a world cup again unless they integrate fast athletic black players on their team. This is 2018 not 1930 or 1970. If Argentina need a real coach, they should hire Carlos Queiroz. All Argentina coaches going back to the 1990 world cup have fail to win a world cup yet people still think an Argentina coach is going to change the outcome today? As of today, Argentina football is at ROCK BOTTOM!! The brand is definitely at an all-time low coming out of the 2018 world cup.

    • Kid
      You’ve posted here a long time, but posting we need black players discredits your knowledge of the game. Our speed has to do with the fact that we have been the oldest team in the World Cup the last 2 cycles. I KNOW you know better than to think skin color is a bigger factor in speed than age.
      This generation hung on way too long and refused to bow out gracefully as all footballers usually do. Our problems are organizational and developmental far more than anything else.

    • I know your thoughts turned from pink into deep black but it doesen’t mean Argentina needs also black players (no racism here). More athletic, fast – we have such. Less but we have. I had the idea before WC we need such one on CM – like Battaglia. Maybe Agustin Almendra from Boca will show something in upcoming U-20 tournaments.

      First of all we need younger to have fast.

    • We use to have players with great pace: Canniggia, Claudio Lopez, and Di Maria (when he was at Madrid). Any name from the youth teams who can sprint with some football IQ? We desperately need a new Canniggia.

      • Fast players need not to be an Afro-Argentine. Bale has no African ancestor, he is still fast. So was Canniggia. It’s our youth training’s fault. Every boy wants to become Messi or Riquelme. Fast kids are underrated and overlooked.
        I remember Ocampos was very fast, not sure how has he been developing into a player nowadays

      • “Argentina will never ever win a world cup again unless they integrate fast athletic black players on their team”
        a most unusual and strange comment but any way to ask the question, exactly where are these so called “afro-argentine” players full stop?, where are they going to come from? as EngenChe has already pointed out we have so very few about being less then 1% of the total population, yet alone those who play the game of football at any level and yet alone the highest level who could be ready for a n.t call up.

        oh wait maybe i spoke to soon as 31 year old fernando tissone who plys his trade for Desportivo Aves in the Portuguese lge …what do i know lol
        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernando_Tissone

  58. ROY
    haven’t you heard it yet. There is big big changes coming up in Argentina tachnical team if Sampaoli stays and most likely he will but his team salaries and buy out close will be reduced. Plus till copa 2019 he will get contract. AFA gave him few some ultimatum. Buckle up Gareca Fan lol

  60. Tabarez
    Needles to say Uruguay has lesser expectations than Argentina.
    He presented a presented a project after Uruguay missed the world cup 2006. He reached the semi-final in 2007 losing to Brazil in penalties. He reached the semi final in 2010 world cup. He won the 2011 copa America. He earned his stay. Change his guard and now has built a new team.

    Low
    Voller took a bad team to the final 2002. Ribeck was hired and crashed Germany in the Euro 2004. Germany was in shambles and there came the ever laughing and positive Klinsmann with a project and a team of coaches. None expected them to reach the semi-final in 2006. Everybody was happy bcause there were no expectations all the German wanted was not to be a disaster in their own country hosting the World cup. They begged Klinsmann to stay but he refused and campaigned for Low to become the coach. Koinsmann was the motivator and Low the tactical brain. Low reached the final of 2008 Euro, none expected him to win it. Spain was favorite. Germany reached the semi-final losing to Spain who were considered favorites so the campaign was billed a success for Germany. Expectations began to grow because the youngsters had become men now and they lost to Italy but still came to the conclusion that they need to trust Low. Needles to say Germany had excellent qualification campaigns. 2014 he won the world cup.
    He went crazy before the World cup and many are not happy with him but he has decided to continue and people are willing to give him a chance because he won the World cup and there is no viable option and Christian Streich was to be named Coach, doesn’t sound world beater he trains Freiburg.

    The conclusion is that you need some kind of success to show so that you can continue or at least you have to show that you are getting better.

    Sampaoli’s biggest mistakes was not to trust his own decisions. He was star struck with Messi. He called up new players, result and was not so great. We were risking not to qualify. He panicked. experimented so he began to call up the old guard. they took over.
    I believe he never got what he wanted.
    He believed he could do that after the World cup.
    Now AFA, Players, journalists and fans are united and want him out.
    There is no coming back, I am sure that wherever he goes next he will have success.

    Whoever the next coach is appointed must be given full control and he must built a new team.
    If we set winning Copa as target and influence the coach taking x player the coach will be a failure.
    If you call a player once it is harder to not call him later, you get familiar.
    the best way is to set the tone from the beginning, new coach can get rid of players easier, if the new coach thinks he can come here and take the same players and win the Copa and then drop them you’ll be mistaken. Firstly we will not win it and secondly he will lose respect.
    If we built a new team I’m not asking the coach to win the copa.

    • “Whoever the next coach is appointed must be given full control and he must built a new team.
      If we set winning Copa as target and influence the coach taking x player the coach will be a failure.
      If you call a player once it is harder to not call him later, you get familiar.
      the best way is to set the tone from the beginning, new coach can get rid of players easier, if the new coach thinks he can come here and take the same players and win the Copa and then drop them you’ll be mistaken. Firstly we will not win it and secondly he will lose respect.
      If we built a new team I’m not asking the coach to win the copa”.

      I think the same.

  61. Sampaoli want to play pressing football which looks interesting but Argentina don’t have weapon which was needed Sampaoli to understand, always said make messi best from messi why not best from Argentina. Sampaoli was messi fan, pep was messi mentor that’s made difference

    • What a racist dumbass you are!! Right or wrong, capable or not those could be right discussions. But no way you can abuse his look or face. That’s real low-life mentality. What you want, George Clooney as your manager??

  64. If bauza was a coach and Argentina took 2-1 lead and have to depend 35 win Argentina in quarter, i remember against chile Argentina took 1-0 lead on penalty depend 70min even though played badly, France not scored 4goals in total group stage and scored against Argentina shows this team had no chance to win but escaped from 7-1 humiliation, although noone remember 6-1 Spain friendly.

  65. FIFA put US referee to England game. what a joke.

    as i see is decided to pass them next round by force.

    FIFA MAFIA !!!

    in next game put referee from Scotland to England game.

    SHAME

    • cox4: I saw the same and 2 English players could and should have been sent off for very dirty play but nothing at all-what is the point of var then? the ref booked as many of the col players as he could.

      This f.u.b.r w.c for us is seriously shaping up to be my worst nightmare of a the yellow team vs the red team 66 this 66 that blah blah final-this is a serious lose lose for me and do excuse me as i puke at this thought!!!!

      Belgium please save us!!!

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