Dean Workman

Sampaoli has let Argentina down

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Argentina's coach Jorge Sampaoli.
  • Post published:June 22, 2018

Argentina are on the brink of World Cup elimination and there is only one man to blame, Jorge Sampaoli. DEAN WORKMAN explores.

The 3-0 loss to Croatia handed Argentina their heaviest defeat in the World Cup group stages since the 6-1 defeat to Czechoslovakia in 1958. It was also the first time in 11 World Cup campaigns that the South Americans have failed to win both of their opening games. This sees them face the daunting prospect of a group stage elimination for the first time since 2002.

Yes, Argentina could still qualify for the knockout stages, but will need results to go their way and will need to beat Nigeria in their final group game to have any chance.

The fallout from the loss to Croatia has, however, painted a picture of a broken squad while their star man Lionel Messi has been a stark contrast to the player we see turning out for Barcelona.

READ: Sampaoli begs for Argentina’s forgiveness

When a team has the likes of Messi, Sergio Aguero, Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Higuain, Angel di Maria and so on, it is up to the coach to formulate a system that gets the best out of his players and unfortunately for Sampaoli, he has failed to do this.

The warning signs were there for Argentina as they sat outside the four South American qualifying spots going into their final game against Ecuador. Messi then scored a stunning hat-trick to guarantee his side’s place in Russia. La Albiceleste were then later thumped 6-1 by Spain in a friendly match in February, albeit without Messi in the team, and again the alarm bells must have been going off.

Sampaoli had always been an advocate of aggressive pressing, attacking football and quick combination play under a 3-4-3 formation when he was managed Chile. He has, however, never really settled on a preferred formation for La Albiceleste, using a 4-2-3-1 formation against Iceland and then reverting to a 3-4-3 against Croatia, and his side has never really resembled those attacking qualities which he prides himself on.

READ: Argentina squad ‘clouds’ Messi’s brilliance, claims Sampaoli

Against Croatia, Sampaoli was punished for his tactical naivety, as his side were left dangerously exposed at the back and outnumbered in a midfield which was controlled by Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Marcelo Brozovic.

Because they lost the midfield battle, they were starved of possession and Messi was isolated from the game. The Argentina captain had only one shot on goal, two touches in the opposition box and lost the ball 13 times as he looked a shadow of the player regarded as one of the all-time greats.

READ MORE: Messi could retire after World Cup, says Zabaleta

Sampaoli failed to provide Messi with the platform to shine and Messi, in turn, failed to drag his team to a positive result in the way which Cristiano Ronaldo has done for Portugal this World Cup.

Credit though must be given to Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić who got his tactics spot on and the way his players perfectly implemented his game plan, but fingers must be pointed at Sampaoli who has let his country down.