I still remember the excitement building up as the 2018 World Cup approached, particularly watching how Argentina's national team was shaping up. Having followed South American football for over fifteen years, I've developed this personal connection to Argentine football culture - the passion, the drama, the undeniable talent that seems to flow through that country like the Rio de la Plata. When the final roster dropped, I spent hours analyzing each selection, comparing it to my own expectations based on players' club performances throughout the 2017-2018 season.
The 2018 squad represented what I'd call a transitional period for Argentine football. We had the established legends like Lionel Messi, of course, but also this fascinating mix of emerging talents and experienced players who hadn't necessarily been part of previous tournament cycles. What struck me most was how manager Jorge Sampaoli approached selection - he seemed to be balancing between honoring the old guard who brought Argentina to the 2014 final and injecting fresh legs who could handle the physical demands of modern international football. I remember thinking this approach made sense theoretically, though I had my doubts about whether it would translate to cohesive team performance under tournament pressure.
Looking at the attacking options beyond Messi, we had Sergio Agüero coming off another strong season with Manchester City where he netted 21 Premier League goals, Paulo Dybala from Juventus who contributed 22 Serie A goals, and Gonzalo Higuaín who had found the net 23 times for Juventus across all competitions. Personally, I've always been partial to Agüero's clinical finishing in big moments, though I recognize Higuaín's overall contribution to the team structure often goes underappreciated. The inclusion of 28-year-old Cristian Pavón from Boca Juniors particularly intrigued me - here was a relatively unknown quantity internationally who brought raw pace and directness that differed from Argentina's typical creative attackers.
The midfield configuration sparked considerable debate among analysts, and I found myself firmly in the camp that wanted more creative freedom for Giovani Lo Celso, who at just 22 was already showing tremendous vision at PSG. Alongside him, we had the experienced Ever Banega (then 29 with 68 international appearances) and the relentless Javier Mascherano, who was transitioning into more of a leadership role with his 147 caps bringing invaluable tournament experience. What worried me at the time was whether this midfield had the right balance - enough defensive solidity to protect what I considered a somewhat vulnerable back line, while still providing adequate service to that formidable attacking unit.
Speaking of defense, the selection of 31-year-old Nicolás Otamendi alongside 30-year-old Federico Fernández formed what I considered a physically imposing but potentially slow central partnership. The full-back positions featured 29-year-old Nicolás Tagliafico on the left and 31-year-old Gabriel Mercado on the right - capable defenders certainly, but neither particularly known for offering the attacking width that modern systems often demand. I remember specifically questioning whether this defensive unit had the collective pace to handle counter-attacking teams, particularly given how high Sampaoli liked his defensive line to play.
Between the posts, we had the interesting situation of Willy Caballero getting the nod despite his limited international experience compared to Franco Armani. Having watched Caballero's inconsistent club performances for Chelsea that season, I'll admit I was skeptical about this choice. Goalkeeper selection always feels particularly crucial in tournament football, where one mistake can end your campaign, and I personally would have preferred seeing the more reliable Armani given the starting role based on his consistent performances for River Plate.
What fascinates me in retrospect is how this roster construction reflected Argentina's broader footballing identity crisis - the tension between their traditional technical, attacking philosophy and the pragmatic needs of tournament football. We had all these incredible individual talents, but I'm not convinced the pieces fit together optimally. The inclusion of several players who hadn't been consistently involved in qualification, like Maximiliano Meza and Eduardo Salvio, suggested Sampaoli was still searching for the right formula rather than building on established partnerships.
When I look back at that 2018 squad now, what stands out is the sheer weight of expectation resting on Messi's shoulders. With 128 international appearances and 65 goals heading into the tournament, he was expected to single-handedly elevate this group of talented but imperfectly assembled players. The supporting cast included quality without doubt - 21 players from European clubs across England, Spain, Italy, and France - but I've always felt the team lacked the cohesive identity that characterized Germany's 2014 winning squad or France's 2018 eventual champions.
The ultimate disappointment of Argentina's 2018 campaign - that dramatic 4-3 loss to France in the round of 16 - somehow feels inevitable when I reexamine this roster. We had incredible individual quality, but the pieces never quite formed a coherent whole. What stays with me is that image of Messi walking dejectedly off the pitch, surrounded by talented teammates who somehow never quite meshed into a team greater than the sum of its parts. That, to me, represents the fundamental challenge of international management - it's not just about collecting the best players, but finding those who complement each other and buying into a collective approach. I'm hoping that these requirements will be met and they could be part of the national team in future tournaments, because when Argentina gets it right, there are few sights more beautiful in world football.
