Lionel Messi isn't to blame for Argentina's World Cup problems, Jorge Sampaoli and the federation are

(CBS)

You got that right, Eye! What else you got?

There is no doubt that Argentina, from the streets of Buenos Aires to all 23 provinces, has as much talent as any country in the world when it comes to soccer. 

...

But why is this team disastrously spiraling downward at the World Cup in Russia? It's rather simple. The continuity and the leadership aren't there. It feels like a sinking ship and nothing more. 

Sinking ship! Oh! There goes the General Belgrano!

Since the 2010 World Cup there have been five, and three during the 2018 World Cup qualifying cycle.

And sadly, the federation has picked the wrong man to lead this team. 

Argentina manager Jorge Sampaoli insists on using players that are typically on the bench with their respective clubs, and it's baffling. Willy Caballero: Chelsea backup. Marcos Rojo: Manchester United backup. Two players that aren't good enough to start for any big team or club, yet they have been earning minutes in the opening games in the starting lineup. Caballero gave Croatia the first goal, he nearly gave up another howler, and he wasn't sharp in the first match. Rojo was awful in the opening game...[Note: this was written before Rojo scored the match winner today. But this guy's points are still valid. It is baffling why Kun Aguero was not subbed in until the 51' or something like that?]

...

...instead, he opted for a 32-year-old Enzo Perez who has struggled at River Plate. He opted for a 34-year-old Javier Mascherano that plays in China and has no business being on this team. An Angel Di Maria that hasn't been good in a couple years. An Ever Banega that has never produced consistently with the national team. And Lucas Biglia, who isn't 100 percent healthy. 

...

Of the 23 players Sampaoli called up initially (before the injury to Manuel Lanzini), 11 had 10 caps or less with the national team. Some weren't even hardly used by him in qualifying leading up to the tournament. [Weren't even hardly? Who the hell wrote this?..."Roger" "Gonzalez." CBS, you have editors, no? Are they versed in English prose, or no? No, right?]

It feels like he came into the job without ideas, just with a truckload of duct tape and a prayer. 

...

The changes in coaching, the player selection of a coach that clearly doesn't know what he has at his disposal, is ruining what could be Messi's last chance at winning the World Cup. [Not to mention nearly causing Messi to have a nervous breakdown.]

I'm waiting. 

And so is Argentina. But not just for a trophy, but for a manager worthy of leading the talent this team has, for a federation to make the right selection to rebuild this train wreck.

The man is clueless. Jorge Sampaoli is clueless.