Mascherano retires after Argentina World Cup exit

Sports Desk: Argentina's Javier Mascherano announced his retirement from international football on Saturday night, in what could be the first of a series of mass departures following the nation's disastrous World Cup campaign.

Mascherano, 34, whose 145 caps make him the nation's most capped player, has been at the centre of attempts in Russia to wrest control of the team from coach Jorge Sampaoli, whom the established players have little trust in. Yet his own performances here have been poor.

'Personally, for me now it's over,' he said after the 4-3 defeat by France. 'From now on I'm just one more Argentina fan. It's time to say goodbye, it's time to support from outside. I hope that in the future these boys can achieve something.'

Lionel Messi — who announced his international retirement in 2016 before a change of heart — may well follow Mascherano out of the international set-up.

Mascherano made it clear on Saturday night that the No 10 and captain is considering walking away.

'The day that Messi will not play for Argentina you will understand how great this player is,' Mascherano said. 'I hope Messi continues his journey with the team.'

Lucas Biglia, the AC Milan midfielder, also said that he is stepping down and the future of Angel Di Maria, clearly devastated as he left the stadium, is also in doubt.

Sampaoli's 14-month tenure seems doomed, too, though while attempting to gloss over a pitiful defensive display, he declared that he wanted time to decide on his future.

At a punishing press conference, in which it was put to him that Argentina had suffered their 'worst defeat this century' Sampaoli said: 'For me, the fact of being here and being where I want to be makes me not decide what I want to do.'

The former Chile coach surprisingly avoided any mention of the defensive failings which allowed Kylian Mbappe to register his arrival in the world stage with two goals.

Sampaoli described the four-minute period in which Mbappe scored twice, to overturn Argentina's 2-1 lead, as 'a very strange play', declaring: 'We were maybe not precise. We will be able to analyse this later.'

Sampaoli's continual changes of system during the tournament have contributed to the lack of faith in him.

After tearing the Argentinians apart, Mbappe was asked if his performance could lead to him being considered a world-class player.

He said: 'Of course. In the World Cup, you have the top players so it's an opportunity to show what you can do and what your abilities are. There's no better place than a World Cup.'

Asked if Mbappe, who was born in 1998, the year France won the World Cup, could be compared to the Brazilian Ronaldo, France manager Didier Deschamps said: 'I think he is even quicker.'

Source: dailymail.co.uk


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