World Cup 2018: 5 issues Argentina needs to fix for glory in Russia

#4 Drop all unfit players

Once again, di Maria was disappointing

It is amazing to note that for all the quality and stardust the team possesses, a large number of players who started the game against Iceland are actually not first team regulars at their clubs.

The very poor di Maria whose only contributions were constant complaints has been a bench warmer at PSG. Biglia and Marcus Rojo spent much of last season outside their clubs’ first teams as well.

Mascherano had to move to China as his legs are gone, and Eduardo Salvio plays as a winger for his club Benfica but started as a right-back against Iceland.

This lack of competitive game time showed as these players could not match their teammates’ intensity and efforts. Two of them (Di Maria and Biglia) were justifiably substituted.

Sampaoli must show bravery in the must-win game against the Croatia and subsequently in the tournament by playing the fit and in-form players who have the energy to compete for the duration of the match. Boca Juniors’ Cristian Pavon did more in 15 minutes than Di Maria did all game.

Players like Pavon, Federico Fazio, and Gabriel Mercado among others should be starting ahead of the unfit ones, the manager will need all the energy he can muster if the team is to survive the Group of Death.