Argentina have put themselves in a position where it's impossible to compete. I have no doubt that 20 or 30 years ago, people would have seen their 2011-2016 period differently. Three finals and they didn't lose a single game in regulation time in four major tournaments
In the 2011 Copa América, they lost on penalties against Uruguay. In the 2014 World Cup, they lost to Germany in extra time. Then they lost two Copa América finals against Chile on penalties. Argentina never had that moment of luck all champions need
In fact, you can argue that Argentina had bad luck in general. It's not normal to lose 2 out of 2 penalty shootouts in finals. Or the fact that Di María got injured in the last two finals and also in the game against Belgium in the World. Once, ok, but three times!?
Argentina score one of the big chances they missed in 2014 and everything goes from shit to amazing. Same game, same players. I honestly don't understand why people are so basic. We have so much information, yet it seems that people are dumber than ever
The problem with today's society is that people don't analyze anything. Everyone talks in superlatives. The biggest the hot take, the most success you have as a journalist/pundit. You can even become the president of the US just lying and using superlatives
People used to praise losing teams. Holland in 1974, Brazil in 1982, etc. Now everyone wants to be the first idiot to say the most ridiculous thing. Everything is either amazing or shit. There is nothing in between. Reaching three finals in a row is VERY difficult
Why do people think that Argentina MUST win something? They aren't Brazil. They aren't Germany. How many of their current players would make the Spain squad? 5? Maybe 6? That type of pressure have affected everyone, the players and also the coaches
Argentina had great forwards and Mascherano. The rest of the team (Romero, Biglia, Garay, Rojo, Enzo, Demichelis and so on) was average. They were a competitive team, but they weren't on the same level as Spain or Germany during that 2011/16 period
Argentina's GK during that period, Romero, couldn't start for 3 different teams since 2013. They haven't produced an elite full back since Zanetti retired. They don't have midfielders like Redondo or Verón. They haven't had a top CB until recently (Otamendi) and he's no Ayala
That obligation to win, unjustified, makes Argentina play with fear after the 2014 final. The external noise and the internal pressure is huge. They are more afraid of losing than they have desire to win. You can't play football/compete at the highest level like that
That pressure affects the coaches too. In order to get short terms results, they renounce to their ideas. There is no way Sampaoli would do the things he's done under different circumstances. That's why capable coaches make the stupid (mostly conservative) decisions they make
Also, I don't know how an honest person can look at the current Argentina team and say they have a great team. The current Argentina team would have been 8th out of 10 in qualifying if not for Messi. They even lost to Spain 6-1 recently. The worst Argentina team in my lifetime
Speaking of Messi, it's the first time I have seen him affected by the pressure. It's almost like he saw the starting XI and realized the mistake he made coming out of retirement. It was obvious that their cycle was over and they needed new players (Argentina aren't producing)
I always thought that the football gods were fair. But they haven't been fair with Messi. He's never been bailed out by a teammate. Not once. The closest thing is Higuaín vs Belgium and Messi started that play. No Eder, no Thuram. no Götze, no Burruchaga... Nothing
Btw, it's amazing how people always compare Messi's lows with other players' high. Don't remember that ever happening to anyone, in any sport. The last (bad) game has more weight than hundreds of great games. And people can watch every fucking game. But that's the era we live in
PS: Appreciate all the messages. Sorry if I don't reply, but I'm bored of Twitter. Also, I have nothing good to say about Barça. Unfortunately, the things I've been saying for years are more evident now than ever. Too late to change things. The last 7 years have been wasted
