Argentina clasificó 'sweating profusely' to World Cup Rusia 2018

If there was any chance of winning this competition, it depended on a ‘bright’ Lionel Messi. Without the 'Flea' plugged in, everything was going to be more difficult.

And it was. To the point that the albiceleste squad only reached the round of 16 of the World Cup. Without wanting to beat a dead horse, Hernán Crespo, former Argentine player, was also disappointed by the performance of the FC Barcelona star in the World Cup.

"I didn't like Messi's World Cup, he didn't live up to it, he got us used to much more," said on Fox Sports Radio Argentina. However, in defense of Lionel, he added: "But we also didn't put the right conditions around for him to perform."

"Messi has to be left alone. By saying that it was Messi's team, Sampaoli put even more pressure on him," he commented.

Hernán Crespo also referred to the rumors that there was a group of players who imposed their ideas on Jorge Sampaoli. "It's nonsense that players put together the team," he stated.

"Today we don't have a base, we have to start over," he recommended while indicating that "I have no doubt that (Mauro) Icardi can be the '9' of the national team."