#1 Lionel Messi deprives fans of the star attraction
Those that had made the night's trip to a half-empty Etihad Stadium would have surely spent the money they did, in the hope to see Lionel Messi play.
But a muscle strain for the little genius meant that he could play no part in the game whatsoever.
Also, besides the fans missing watching the genius in action, Argentina missed what Messi provides on the pitch.
There was little to no creative spark provided by anyone in the side when the game was crying out loud for someone to break it open.
Sampaoli needs to have a look at this situation as well.
It is unfathomable that Messi would not play the World Cup, but in the extreme worst-case scenario, Argentina need someone to play that creative role.
Like the situation with Icardi, it is also perplexing that Paulo Dybala doesn't even make the Argentine squad.
Argentina need a creative spark to take a little burden off Messi, and they really don't have a better option than Dybala.