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'Paralysed and broken': Argentinian press lay into Messi's side after Croatian collapse

Argentina newspaper ‘Ole’ brands the national team ‘Broken’ after their 3-0 defeat. (Twitter/Getty)
Argentina newspaper ‘Ole’ brands the national team ‘Broken’ after their 3-0 defeat. (Twitter/Getty)

It was one of their worst World Cup results in recent memory – and Argentina’s national press didn’t hold back afterwards.

Jorge Sampaoli’s side are on the brink of an early World Cup exit after their humbling 3-0 defeat to Croatia.

The South American side – who reached the World Cup final four years ago- faced an incredulous media back home, with one Argentinian newspaper branding their defeat ‘a deep sickness’.

La Nacion said Argentina’s national side are affected by ‘a deep sickness’. (Twitter)
La Nacion said Argentina’s national side are affected by ‘a deep sickness’. (Twitter)
‘Man of anguish’: Other Argentine media outlets centred in on Willy Caballero’s goalkeeping horror show. (Twitter)
‘Man of anguish’: Other Argentine media outlets centred in on Willy Caballero’s goalkeeping horror show. (Twitter)
National newspaper Clavin declares ‘Messi doesn’t deserve this Argentina’ after the shock defeat. (Twitter)
National newspaper Clavin declares ‘Messi doesn’t deserve this Argentina’ after the shock defeat. (Twitter)
 Down and nearly out: Argentina fans in Nizhny Novgorod look glum after their side's shock defeat. (Getty)
Down and nearly out: Argentina fans in Nizhny Novgorod look glum after their side’s shock defeat. (Getty)

La Nacion, a right-of-centre Argentina national paper, said the national side ‘lacked spirit and guidance’ during their Group D embarrassment.

The largest newspaper in Argentina meanwhile, ‘Clarin’, declared that ‘Messi doesn’t deserve this Argentina’, in reference to their talisman and under-performing teammates.

Daily sports newspaper ‘Ole’ produced a damning front page after the match simply said: ‘Quebrados’ (‘Broken’).

Player ratings in the Argentine national press did not make for pretty reading. (Twitter)
Player ratings in the Argentine national press did not make for pretty reading. (Twitter)

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Dejection: An Argentinian fan considers his country’s plight in the stands in Nizhny Novgorod. (Getty)
Dejection: An Argentinian fan considers his country’s plight in the stands in Nizhny Novgorod. (Getty)
Under pressure: Lionel Messi feels the weight of expectation as his side go 3-0 down. (Getty)
Under pressure: Lionel Messi feels the weight of expectation as his side go 3-0 down. (Getty)

Their player ratings gave no Argentina player more than a five, with goalkeeper Willy Caballero scoring just one out of 10.

Argentina slumped to a 3-0 defeat in Nizhny Novgorod and now need to beat Nigeria in their final group game to stand any chance of making the last 16.

A victory could still see them go home if Iceland beat Nigeria and then see out a draw with Croatia, who’ve already qualified for the next round.

Javier Mascherano said Argentina now ‘have to pray’, while boss Jorge Sampaoli begged for forgiveness after the defeat for one of the world’s footballing superpowers.

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