What Should Argentina do to Win the 2018 World Cup?

The pathway to winning the 2018 World Cup for Argentina requires a significant shift away from individual brilliance and towards team cohesion. This article explores the critical steps Argentina must take to maximize their chances of success, focusing on teamwork and coaching excellence.

Emphasizing Teamwork Over Individual Dependence

While Lionel Messi's individual talent is undoubtedly a key factor, Argentina's success in the 2018 World Cup will truly rise and fall on how effectively the team functions as a unit. History teaches us that the most successful national teams have not relied on a single star player but have instead thrived on the collective effort of a well-coordinated squad. As a reference, teams like AC Milan, Barcelona (under Pep Guardiola), and Liverpool (under Jurgen Klopp) have demonstrated the power of teamwork.

Furthermore, teams like Brazil, which have won five World Cups, consistently perform well due to their ability to play as a cohesive unit. Even in their recent tournament in 2014, where Germany emerged as champions, it was the team's ability to work together that brought them to victory. It is essential for Argentina to adopt a similar mindset, ensuring that the entire squad is integrated and working in harmony to achieve their goal.

Reviewing Past Management Mistakes

Argentinian football has seen numerous instances where the national team has failed in large part due to poor management and poor selection of players. Notably, there was a pattern of promoting only a select few players in the creative department to the senior squad, overlooking others who could have contributed significantly. For instance, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi, and Sergio Busquets were pivotal for Spain in the 2010 World Cup, but they were often overlooked by their national teams at the time.

Another critical mistake was the blacklisting of talented players such as ángel Di María, álvaro Zamández, and Gonzalo Pintos. Moreover, the burden of creativity and scoring was heavily placed upon Messi in crucial matches, leading to Argentina's downfall in the 2014 World Cup. Similar patterns were visible in the 1978 World Cup, where the team under Perón's guidance demonstrated that collective effort can triumph over individual brilliance.

Need for Exemplary Coaching

The 2018 World Cup will be Messi's last tournament, making it crucial for the team to prepare meticulously. One of the ways to achieve this is by ensuring a coaching approach that emphasizes unity and structure. The Argentine coaching staff must be unified and competent, ensuring that the team is balanced and well-prepared for their matches.

For instance, Brazil's success under Tité in the 2018 World Cup can be attributed to his ability to bring out the best in his team. Similarly, European coaches like Carlo Ancelotti and Jupp Heynckes have shown that a cohesive and nurturing coaching environment can significantly boost a team's performance. Argentina must avoid the pitfalls of having coaches who overstep their boundaries and disintegrate the team dynamic. Coaches who believe they are infallible (like Luiz Felipe Scolari and Carlo Ancelotti) can be particularly detrimental.

Moreover, Argentine fans and the media must support a new approach in scouting talent and selecting players. The focus should be on identifying and nurturing the best players in every position, creating a formidable squad that can compete on a global stage. This requires a unified press that can objectively and constructively evaluate player performances and provide meaningful feedback to the coaching staff.

Ensuring Strong Media Support for the Team

For Argentina to succeed, it is crucial for the sporting press to set aside tribal differences and focus on the collective strength of the team. The press in countries like Germany, Brazil, Belgium, and Portugal are renowned for their unbiased and supportive coverage of national teams, ensuring that every team member feels valued and supported.

Argentinian sports media must follow a similar model. They should celebrate the successes of all players and criticize constructively when necessary, fostering an environment where players feel empowered to play to their best. This can be achieved by promoting a dialogue that focuses on player performance and team cohesion, rather than tribal rivalries.

Additionally, the current head coach, Scaloni, must not blacklisted players unjustly. For example, Sergio Romero, who is considered the best goalkeeper in the country, should not be overlooked for his senior place, and players like Garay, widely recognized as one of the best center-backs, must be given a fair chance to prove themselves in the senior team.

Conclusion

The 2018 World Cup is a pivotal moment for Lionel Messi and the Argentina national team. By focusing on teamwork and the appointment of a capable coaching staff, Argentina can ensure a strong performance in the tournament. United as a team and backed by a committed coaching approach, Argentina has a realistic chance of advancing to the semi-finals or even the final.