Javier Mascherano has stated that he doesn’t think he will continue as coach of the Argentina U20 team.

Mascherano spoke to the media following his team’s 1-0 elimination vs. Colombia at the Sudamericano and has stated that he won’t be continuing. Here is what he had to say:

“There isn’t much to say. The one who failed is me. It’s an incredible generation of players. Unfortunately, I couldn’t give them the confidence and peace of mind.

“I don’t think I’ll continue. The best thing is to go back to Argentina and be calm. I failed and I admit it.”

He took over as coach of the Argentina U20 team in January 2022 and has coached the team in four tournaments. His first was the Toulon tournament in May and June 2022 where the team finished in fifth place.

The next tournament was the COTIF tournament in Spain, a tournament in which Argentina won. After that was a friendly tournament in Uruguay and once more, Mascherano’s team would win the tournament.

This year’s Sudamericano in Colombia served as the qualifiers for the 2023 U20 World Cup and the Pan American games. Argentina did not make it out of the group, winning only one of four matches.

Javier Mascherano announed his Argentina starting eleven vs. Colombia.

Mascherano has made another change in the starting eleven in a match that Argentina have to win. Goalkeeper Herrera keeps his spot in the starting eleven after keeping a clean sheet against Peru.

Maximo Perrone of Manchester City is back in the starting eleven while Nico Paz keeps his spot in the team. Argentina have to win or else they are eliminated from the Sudamericano. Here is the starting eleven:

Herrera; Aguilar, Di Lollo, V. Gomez, Aude; Infantino, Perrone, Aguirre, Paz; Encinas, Puch

Argentina U20 starting eleven against Colombia. Argentina need to win or else they are eliminated. pic.twitter.com/Bmw4amzz5N

— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) January 28, 2023