Croatia crushed Argentina 3-0 in group D match on Friday.
Argentina’s dejected coach Jorge Sampaoli took the blame for their horrendous 0-3 loss to Croatia in Group D match in FIFA World Cup 2018 on Friday.
He even tried to divert the massive criticism from a terrible goalkeeping mistake and a poor performance by his captain Lionel Messi.
The match was played at Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod Stadium and the stadium was dominated by the Argentine fans, who ended up only in disappointment as they watched their side awfully collapse in the second half.
Just after the play resumed post half-time, keeper Willy Caballero messed up a clearance and Ante Rebic fired home Croatia’s first goal.
“It’s not right to blame Caballero. If I’d planned things differently, it would have worked out differently. I honestly thought the plan for this match was going to put pressure on the opponent. But after the disaster of the first goal, it was tough, we were lost emotionally.” said Sampaoli in the post-match conference.
Soon-to-turn 31, Messi probably is playing in his last World Cup and so far has not been able to create his magic, especially when his side has been desperate for that.
“Our driving force is Leo, but we couldn’t find him. We work as a team to get the ball to Leo, but also the other team (Croatia) works to avoid that,” added Sampaoli, whose best players have all underperformed during his year in charge.
“It’s the driver’s responsibility. Everything that happens to the team is due to the leadership. Leo is prejudiced by not having in us drivers as good as him,” he added.
Apologising to the Argentine fans, Sampaoli said, “There is shame, pain, at not delivering for the Argentine people. It’s been a long time since I felt like this, and now it’s happening with the shirt of my own country. It hurts badly.”
In their opening match of World Cup 2018, Argentina drew 1-1 with Iceland, when Messi missed a penalty. They next face Nigeria, who lost their opener to Croatia, in their must-win final Group D match.
“We have one match left, and we have to take whatever opportunity the others give us to see if we can get through to the second round. I say sorry to all the fans who made such an effort to come to Russia. “I shared their dream. I did the best I could,” Argentina coach said.
(With Reuters inputs)
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