ARGENTINA PUT FAITH IN PLAYER REVOLT AS COACH SAMPAOLI IS SQUEEZED OUT AHEAD OF CRUNCH CLASH
Sampaoli squeezed out as Argentina put faith in player revolt
THE Argentina squad sang Happy Birthday to Lionel Messi after a dinner in his honour on Sunday night but, for the 2014 World Cup finalists, it was a brief moment of harmony in Russia.
Messi and his team-mates face Nigeria in St Petersburg this evening knowing that only a win will give them a chance of staying in the competition.
A draw against Iceland and then a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Croatia has prompted ridicule at home and mutiny within Jorge Sampaoli’s squad.
Yesterday the coach — expected to be sacked after the tournament whatever happens — came out fighting, suggesting that his players were about to turn things round.
But the more embarrassing truth for the 58-year-old (below) is that tonight’s team and formation have been chosen less by Sampaoli and more by a clutch of senior players including former Liverpool and West Ham United midfield man Javier Mascherano.
At a press conference at St Petersburg Stadium last night, Sampaoli said: ‘I am convinced this will be the starting point for this squad of players.
‘We are very hungry to win and you will see a different Argentina from now on as we enter the matches we need to win to lift the World Cup.
‘The players will give their last drop of sweat on the pitch because there is no alternative.’
Messi’s own personal struggles in Russia began with a missed penalty in their opening game and then a miserably uncharacteristic showing against Croatia when he only touched the ball 47 times.
‘My players will have to compete by filling their hearts and their lungs with desire and that includes Lionel,’ said Sampaoli when this was put to him.
‘We are in a very delicate situation but we are strong enough to come through it.
‘I think the (Croatia) match was complicated for Messi. The structure of the game didn’t favour him. He didn’t get a lot of balls from the midfield.
‘We are going to try and improve that and we are sure that is not going to happen tomorrow. For the good of Argentina, I am sure Lionel Messi will be touching the ball a lot more.’
Sampaoli said one of his main tasks had been to transmit positivity to his players, adding: ‘Let me stress, I don’t feel like I am inside that virtual world. I do not consume fake news and lies and untruths. But there are people I have to work with on a daily basis and they are affected by these comments. ‘I want my players to be able to come to a match with a good performance. We are at a tournament and we have to try and compete. You have to feel tip-top in your heart and your soul, your legs and your head. We have to diagnose the basic problems so we can nip any problems in the bud quickly.’
Nigeria have plenty to play for themselves tonight. The Africans are currently second in Group D after a victory against Iceland.
Nigeria’s Bryan Idowu, a scorer in their recent 4-2 victory over Argentina in a friendly in Krasnodar, said: ‘Everyone knows Lionel Messi is a great player but we will be trying to make sure this is his last-ever appearance in the World Cup.’
They were bold words from the Russian-born left-back but not ones likely to worry an Argentina side for whom the most worrying dangers come from within. In training yesterday there was what appeared to be a rather staged chat between Sampaoli and Mascherano that did little to fool anybody. One of the problems afflicting the coach is that nothing that happens in camp ever seems to stay private.
Even a Whatsapp message from Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone — hugely popular in his native Argentina — and a friend criticising Messi and the team appeared to leak to the internet over the weekend as did some suggestions — unsubstantiated — from a prominent journalist that Mascherano and striker Cristian Pavon had fought in the dressing room after the Croatia game.
Mascherano has denied the claims but does appear to be sporting a black eye. Meanwhile, one of the major culprits from last Thursday’s game — Willy Caballero — would appear to be about to pay for that with his place in goal.
The Chelsea reserve goalkeeper erred spectacularly in presenting Croatia with the ball for their first goal and appeared a haunted figure after the game.
Yesterday, uncapped 31-year-old goalkeeper Franco Armani appeared at the pre-match press conference, indicating he will start.
Experienced Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo is also expected to start as Sampaoli resorts to a 4-3-3 system that is favoured by his senior players.
Meanwhile, Manchester City centre forward Sergio Aguero is also expected to miss out. ‘I haven’t chosen the team to face Nigeria yet,’ claimed Sampaoli yesterday but nobody appeared ready to believe him.