There are reports emerging in Argentina that coach Jorge SAMPAOLI will no longer manage the national team.
News is just breaking out now and there’s no further information.
What is next for Argentina after World Cup elimination
It’s a day every Argentina fan dreads, the 24 hours after an elimination from a FIFA World Cup.
For Argentina fans (and I’m sure others), it has become a routine. A tournament ends, speculations about players retiring, does the coach stay on or not and it’s question after question. However, here is what we do know in regards to Argentina.
Up first are two friendly games in the United States. The first one being on September 7 in Guatemala. The venue for that appears to be at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.
The second one will come on September 11 against Colombia at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey.
Following that, there are two other friendly matches in the month of November. However the opponent is unknown.
That is what is remaining for the rest of the year. For 2019, there’s the Copa America in Brazil which kicks off in June. One can only speculate how the squad will look like by the time that tournament kicks off.
Javier MASCHERANO, Lucas BIGLIA retire, SAMPAOLI, AGUERO to stay with Argentina
Javier MASCHERANO and Lucas BIGLIA have retired from the Argentina squad while coach Jorge SAMPAOLI will stay on.
Following the team’s 4-3 loss against France in the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup, two players have called it quits. The veteran midfield duo of Javier MASCHERANO and Lucas BIGLIA have both announced their retirements from the Argentina National Team.
For MASCHERANO, it’s not much of a surprise as he stated before the start of the tournament that this would be it for him.
Javier Mascherano: "This story comes to an end. We gave everything until the final. Now, I'm just another fan of the Argentina team. Hopefully in the future these kids will be able to accomplish something." pic.twitter.com/9mzsoKG5Ru
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) June 30, 2018
As for the coach, Jorge SAMPAOLI stated that he will continue as coach of the team while Sergio AGUERO said that he will continue with Argentina for as long as the coach needs him.
For the moment, no word on whether Lionel MESSI will retire or not.
Personally, I may be in the very, very small minority but I think SAMPAOLI should continue. He’s a coach which needs time for his teams to play his system (something, if we are being honest, he hasn’t had with Argentina). He inherited a broken squad while introducing young players like Nicolas TAGLIAFICO (who was a stud in this World Cup and made that left back spot his), as well as the likes of Cristian PAVON and even Maxi MEZA (though this one may not have turned out too well).
Also worth mentioning that it would bring continuity to the squad and some stability in terms of the coach. This team went through three managers in one year with Gerardo MARTINO, Edgardo BAUZA and Jorge SAMPAOLI.
Furthermore, Argentina will play a friendly match against Colombia on September 11 at Metlife stadium in New Jersey.
Argentina knocked out in a World Cup classic against France
It was a World Cup classic as Argentina were eliminated 4-3 against France in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup.
The speed which France possess in attack and when transitioning was no secret. When Kylian MBAPPE ran past the Argentine midfield and was fouled down in the area by Marcos ROJO, you felt like it was going to be a long match. Lionel MESSI’s men fell behind through a GRIEZMANN penalty following the foul but were lucky enough to find themselves level at 1-1 after Angel DI MARIA scored an absolute beauty of a goal.
The second half started with Federico FAZIO getting his first minutes at the World Cup as he came on for Marcos ROJO who was on a yellow due to the earlier penalty incident. Angel DI MARIA was brought down nearly the penalty area as Argentina were awarded a free kick.
Up stepped Ever BANEGA, the ball found MESSI and his shot came off Gabriel MERCADO and deflected into the back of the net. Argentina had taken a shocking 2-1 lead!
That celebration was short lived as nine minutes later Benjamin PAVARD scored a screamer of a shot to make it 2-2 and bring France back into it.
Kylian MBAPPE scored twice, four minutes apart and it was suddenly 4-2 for France. In came Sergio AGUERO and Lionel MESSI sent in a cross and AGUERO headed it in to make it 4-3 in injury time. Maxi MEZA sent a ball into the area which was touched by DI MARIA but went out of play as Argentina were eliminated.
Argentina starting eleven, Cristian PAVON starts with Lionel MESSI
Cristian PAVON is in Argentina’s starting eleven.
Argentina coach Jorge SAMPAOLI has decided to start Cristian PAVON up front with Lionel MESSI and Angel DI MARIA. Aside from that, it’s an unchaged eleven from the team which defeated Nigeria. Here’s Argentina’s starting line-up:
ARMANI; TAGLIAFICO, ROJO, OTAMENDI, MERCADO; BANEGA, MASCHERANO, Enzo PEREZ; DI MARIA, MESSI, PAVON
No Gonzalo HIGUAIN or Sergio AGUERO as SAMPAOLI has decided to go with the winger.