World Cup managers already feeling the heat
A poor showing on the biggest stage is a career killer, writes Kurtis Larson.
ST. PETERSBURG Imagine standing along the touchline, knowing full well a bad result will cost you your livelihood.
Managers have more to lose than anyone at these major tournaments.
Most players — England’s entire squad, for example — return home to adoring supporters at their mega-clubs.
Their World Cup an dUE FA Euro performances aren’t necessarily forgotten. But players certainly can slip away and lay low for a few months.
Managers, meanwhile, bear the brunt of their country’s failure.
I was in a dilapidated Honduran stadium six years ago when former Canada coach Stephen Hart verbally resigned minutes after an 8-1 defeat.
Poor Roy Hodgson read a prepared statement after England fell to Iceland in France two years ago.
We’ve already seen similar things happen to coaches at this World Cup.
Egypt coach Hector Cuper was asked if he’d be staying on as manager immediately after a 3-1 loss to Russia here at Krestovsky Stadium.
Whether he deserved it or not, Argentinian coach Jorge Sampaoli was told post-game Thursday night he had let down an entire nation.
South American media members love their teams until they underperform at these competitions. Then they savage management.
“There are 40 million Argentinians who hold you responsible,” one reporter told Sampaoli.
Another asked: “What would you like to tell the fans? What can you tell them?”
To his credit, Sampaoli faced the music this week.
“First and foremost, I would beg for their forgiveness,” he said.
Keep in mind that Argentina hasn’t yet been eliminated from thetournament.
World Cup managers essentially know the dates of their funerals.
Most of them don’t survive beyond four years.
MORE ON MESSI
Argentina’s failure at this tournament — so far — comes down to a combination of things: Coaching, organization, desire and, well, Lionel Messi.
Messi wasn’t to blame for his team’s horrendous showing in a 3-0 loss to Croatia. But he also wasn’t completely innocent during what former Argentina defender Pablo Zabaleta called the “worst” he’d seen from his national team.
Messi’s 49 touches during Thursday’s match were an alltime low for the Barcelona star at aWorldCup.
That doesn’t just come down to the ineptness of his coach and teammates. It comes down to Messi’s complete disinterest.
Compare Messi’s body language to Cristiano Ronaldo’s and you see a clear difference between the two players. What’s more, it’s not as though Ronaldo is playing with a talented squad.
I sat pitchside during Argentina’s first meeting with Iceland. Messi was in plain view.
It’s not that he didn’t appear disappointed in defeat. It’s that he didn’t look at all interested in finding an extra possession, or a final attempt at goal, or spilling everything on the world’s biggest stage. He just kind of seemed resigned to the result.
ON THE ROPES
German coach Joachim Low stunned reporters Friday ahead of Germany’s must-not-lose meeting with Sweden.
“Mats Hummels will most likely not be able to play because he injured his neck in training yesterday and it has not improved until today,” Low told reporters, according to Eurosport.
“He has not trained, and obviously there are still a few hours, but usually these things do not improve considerably overnight, and tomorrow we need fit players. I think it makes no sense (to play him).”
Chelsea centre back Antonio Rudiger could draw in if Hummels can’t go.
A loss for Germany would see the defending champs miss the knockout phase for the first time in 80 years.
THANKS, BUT NO THANKS
A cheeky Swedish journalist attended German camp ahead of Saturday night’s massive Group F tilt and suggested the defending champs would be buying plane tickets home following the match.
German midfielder Sami Khedira replied that he’s convinced Die Mannschaft will see off Sweden in what became a must-not-lose match following a Matchday 1 loss to Mexico.
“Thanks a lot, but we don’t need (the plane tickets home),” Khedira replied, according to the MailOnline.
“After this bad start, we know that it’s super difficult, but we know that we’re a strong team. We’re convinced we will win the game.
“I think we’ll need (those tickets) on the 16th of July.”
The World Cup final is scheduled for July 15.
We’re convinced we will win the game. I think we’ll need (those tickets) on the 16th of July.
BY THE NUMBERS
Australia’s previous three goals all have come from the penalty spot courtesy of Mile Jedinak. The Socceroos haven’t scored from the run of play in nearly six hours ... Croatia’s 3-0 win over Argentina was its first victory over South American opposition at a World Cup ... Argentina is winless in four World Cup games, the two-time champion’s longest stretch at the tournament ... Argentina entered its match with Croatia on an 11-match unbeaten streak in the group stage ... Uzbek referee Ravshan Irmatov, who oversaw this week’s Argentina Croatia match, is the same referee who officiated Toronto FC’s Champions League final ... Brazil is now unbeaten in 14 consecutive group stage fixtures.