Argentina is one victory away from being eliminated from the 2018 World Cup in Russia, confirming one of the biggest embarrassments of a team that four years ago was competing for the title alongside Germany; a team that has been world champion twice and that, in only one occasion, did not make it past the group stage in their last 12 participations: Korea - Japan 2002.

That team, led by Marcelo Bielsa, arrived at the first World Cup in Asian lands as the title favorite after accumulating 43 points in the South American qualification and only one defeat. It had great players such as Hernán Crespo, Juan Sebastián Verón, Gabriel Batistuta, and Claudio López, to name a few; but also included in the 23-man squad was the then 28-year-old midfielder Matías Almeyda.

The 'Pelado', who at that time wore the jersey of Italian club Parma, witnessed the last major failure of the albiceleste in World Cups, as despite the incredible streak they were on (they defeated Germany 1-0 in a friendly match prior to the tournament), they were not able to advance to the next round. They finished third in Group F behind Sweden and England, only surpassing Nigeria.

The former Chivas coach played only 63 minutes in that World Cup, in the last match against Sweden in which the albiceleste was playing for a spot in the Round of 16 after defeating the African team and losing to the English. Bielsa started him and he was cautioned at minute 58 for causing the foul that resulted in Sweden's goal; five minutes later, he left the field to make way for 'La Brujita' Verón.

"The first memory I have is of bitterness because we were eliminated, and also analyzing the match we had many goal situations. It was a shame the free-kick goal. We always had the mentality of fighting for the World Cup and being eliminated in the group stage was a disappointment," the Argentine said to TELAM agency in 2013.

That was the second and last World Cup that Matías Almeyda played for his country, as four years earlier he had also participated in France 98, where they were eliminated in the Quarterfinals and where he played in all five matches.

Today, the Argentine strategist lives in Guadalajara and could relive that nightmare if Lionel Messi and his teammates don't lift the heavy burden they carry on their backs after the humiliation suffered against Croatia in Nizhny Novgorod.