The great Lionel Messi, in contention for the football G.O.A.T title, knows that the World Cup 2018 is his last shot at glory and immortality. Argentina know that too.
At 30, Messi’s window to lifting the trophy is slowly closing. Perhaps, another major defeat might just spell the end of his era in Argentina. We have all seen his frustration after their Copa America finals defeat in 2016 which reduced him to tears and prompted him to announce his retirement from international football.
However, while a large part of the world wants to see La Pulga and the Albiceleste lift the trophy at Moscow in July, there’s no doubt they have Mt. Everest to climb if they are to succeed. In the World Cup where the best of the best play, there’s just no room for slip-ups nor time to relax and feel down.
With less than two months left before the big event in Russia, we now take a look at Argentina’s campaign and what they need to do to reach the promised land.
How did Argentina qualify?
Three coaches in the South America FIFA World Cup qualifiers and a Messi rescue act. That tells the story for Argentina on how they earned passage to Russia 2018.
Edgardo Bauza took the reins of the national team after Gerardo Martino quit, but Argentina continued to struggle and found themselves in a perilous fifth place in CONMEBOL—only the top four sides automatically qualify for the World Cup.
And with Argentina sitting just two points ahead of Ecuador for a play-off ticket, the Argentine Football Association decided to sack Bauza before eventually replacing him with Jorge Sampaoli.
The Argentines found stability under Sampaoli; however, they failed to win games and managed only three straight draws (against Uruguay, Venezuela and Peru) before Messi stepped up and catapulted his country into the world tournament.
With their backs against the wall and facing elimination, Argentina turned to Messi in their time of need and the Barcelona star responded with a hat trick against Ecuador, effectively quieting any concerns and giving the football-obsessed nation another reason to believe.
What awaits them in the World Cup group stage?
After finishing third and earning an automatic qualifying spot, Argentina were drawn in Group D along with Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria.
While that group isn’t an eye-popper at first look, closer analysis suggests that it might well be considered the “Group of Death.”
Who could forget Iceland and their Cinderella run in Euro 2016 when they beat the highly favoured Englishmen en route to the quarter-final? They also topped Group I in the European qualifiers for World Cup 2018, during which they took down a strong Croatia side at the death of time.
Of course the World Cup is a different story, but it’s clear confidence is high for the tiny nation of just 330,000 people—something that Argentina should be cautious of.
Croatia and Nigeria, on the other hand, also pose huge threats, thanks to a star-studded lineup. The Croats finished behind Iceland on their way here, though their depth with the likes of Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Mario Mandzukic should never be ignored.
Meanwhile, the Nigerians are the first team to qualify from Africa, and they did so in convincing fashion by overwhelming the likes of Cameroon, Zambia and Algeria.
Nigeria are also familiar with Argentina. They were in the same group in 2014 and finished behind the team back then. The Super Eagles made life hard for the Albiceleste during the Brazil tournament and made sure to remind them of that when they beat Argentina 4-2 in a friendly last November 2017.
While the group stage already gives Messi and Argentina a difficult path to the finals, the knockout rounds won’t be easier as well. They could even face either Spain or Portugal as early as the quarter-final depending on their position in the group!
How can Argentina win the World Cup?
Argentina boast a plethora of world-class talent, but the players need to step up and prove they can replicate their club form on the world’s biggest stage.
Sure enough, Messi should and will be the headline act. He has a chip on his shoulder and tons to prove to the Argentine fans who have never seen him the way the Catalans do. Nonetheless, as Argentina Chief Claudio Tapa said recently: “We have to help him, he cannot do it alone.”
Indeed, Argentina have been too dependent on Messi, and they cannot continue doing that if they want to win that coveted trophy.
Jorge Sampaoli probably has the world’s most formidable frontline with Paulo Dybala, Sergio Aguero, Mauro Icardi and Gonzalo Higuain at his disposal. The task for him in the upcoming months is how he can play them and use that depth in talent and quality to their advantage.
Having three coaches in such a short amount of time makes it difficult for Argentina to have solid chemistry. Not to mention that buying into Sampaoli’s high-risk style of play that favours relentless commitment to attack is a tall order.
However, they need to do so, and they need to do it quick.
Most of all, however, confidence will be key for Argentina, which is probably lacking right now. After their poor performance in the qualifiers and three straight finals losses in the international scene, it’s not easy to find a source a faith. Nevertheless, Argentina have no other choice but to believe they can.
It is the last time we’ll see Messi at the peak of his powers which means it is Argentina’s last chance under his captaincy.
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