Sampaoli strife deepens misery for Argentine coaches
Five Argentine managers entered the World Cup last week in what appeared to be a demonstration of the vast quality of coaching in the nation but each one of them has had a disastrous tournament and three are already preparing to pack their bags.
Saudi Arabia’s Juan Antonio Pizzi’s reputation was on the line from the opening game when his side were hammered 5-0 by Russia and his early exit was confirmed by a 1-0 defeat to Uruguay on Wednesday which also saw Hector Cuper’s Egypt eliminated after also losing both of their Group A games.
Ricardo Gareca, who had led Peru to their first World Cup since 1982, swiftly joined his compatriots in being sent home early when his side were beaten by France 1-0 on Thursday.
Three hours later, Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli was put on the brink of a catastrophic elimination by his side’s 3-0 surrender to Croatia.
The two-times winners and 2014 runners-up could still yet avoid their earliest exit from the tournament since 2002 but their fate, and Lionel Messi’s future in what is likely to be the last World Cup at his peak, is no longer in their own hands.
Jose Pekerman could still lead Colombia out of their group, with fixtures against Poland and Senegal to come, although his side got off to a nightmare start by losing 2-1 to Japan after defender Carlos Sanchez was sent off in the third minute.
Pekerman is still revered in Colombia for the team’s inspired run to the 2014 World Cup quarter-finals and Gareca’s reputation will not be tarnished either by his side’s exit from a difficult group.
The future of Cuper is more uncertain as Egypt underachieved after so much promise although they were hamstrung by the untimely shoulder injury to talisman Mohamed Salah.
ROSTOV-ON-DON: When I played and had a bad game... Valdano, Burruchaga showed up and had my back. Messi has no one. It’s all on his own. First and foremost, I would beg for their forgiveness, especially those who came great distances. I am responsible for this result but I was as dreamyeyed as the fans.