Argentina’s Agony: 34 Years of World Cup Despair

As it turns out Argentina is the breeding ground for a lot of things. Tango (both the dance and the greatest ball of all-time), Gauchos, the Pope and of course world-class footballers. The latter being the reason you’re most likely reading this article. However, with Argentina’s conveyor belt of high-quality footballers comes an expectation that is often too much for the players to deliver when the World Cup comes around. 

In this article, I’ll detail each of Argentina’s World Cup campaigns from 1990 onwards and how the passion and expectations from the stands has proved too much for Argentina’s footballing elite.

The Glory Days

Before discussing the somewhat decline of La Albiceleste, it’s important to understand why the Argentinian supporters expect so much from their players when it comes to the World Cup.

Argentina’s first World Cup success came in 1978 after Mario Kempes scored twice in the final beating the Netherlands 3-1 in the Estadio Monumental in front of an adoring home crowd. Maradona’s predecessor, Mario Kempes, scored six times during the 1978 World Cup, the second-most by an Argentine at a World Cup and set the precedent of what an Argentine can do with the country on his back.

The Argentina faithful didn’t have to wait long before success came their way again. The 1986 World Cup in Mexico was without a doubt the ‘World Cup of Maradona’. After asserting himself as one of England’s biggest villains with two newspaper headline goals (both for different reasons), he went onto score twice against Belgium in the semi-final to book Argentina’s place in the final. They became eventual winners with a 3-2 win over West Germany. If Mario Kempes created the blueprint, Diego Maradona followed it and then improved on it.

Argentina’s two World Cup victories can largely be put down to one man taking the hopes and dreams of the nation on his back and getting to the summit. So what has been the reason for Argentina coming short of World Cup glory since 1986?

1990

Despite Argentina not being at their best in the 1990 World Cup, the reigning world champions managed to work their way through to a second consecutive World Cup final. They would fall short to, then, West Germany. Argentina losing in a World Cup final to Germany…that’s something they won’t want to happen again.

1994

The 1994 World Cup was when things took a turn towards the nation’s gradual decline. That famous image of bulging eyes and distorted face is a sad final image of Maradona in an Argentina shirt. However, things weren’t all doom and gloom. The emergence of Gabriel Batistuta on the scene as he took the helms of the Argentinian national team. From this World Cup onwards, known as ‘Batigol’ after he scored four goals in Maradona’s, perhaps mental, absence.

1998

The ‘Batigol’ phenomenon continued in France ’98. His five goals this tournament made him the highest-scoring Argentinian in World Cups (9). However, Batistuta could not follow in the footsteps of Kempes and Maradona as La Seleccion fell at the death to that goal from Dennis Bergkamp and Argentines would have to hear the jubilant scream of Jack van Gelder for many years to come. You know the one.

France 1998 was Argentina’s first World Cup without Maradona since 1982 and a loss of a character that enormous was always going to be tough to take. Batistuta did his best on the goal-scoring front and Argentina still possessed quality names of Simeone, Zanetti and Ayalla but this was the beginning of a new era for Argentinian football and a Quarter-Final exit at the hands of a very good Dutch side is looked back on without too much disappointment. The 2002 World Cup is a different story.

2002

Going into the 2002 World Cup the expectation from the glory days of ’78 and ’86 was there. Observer Sport Monthly wrote in 2002, “the weight of expectation is enormous. To add to this there is the need for spiritual uplift from a nation in political turmoil.” From the outset, the Argentinian side was facing an uphill struggle weighed down by expectation. Most of their dream to be successful in Asia was down to the fact Bielsa had constructed an Argentinian side that was two years unbeaten going into the tournament.

Things started brightly for Bielsa’s men as Batistuta’s headed goal gave Argentina a win in their opening game. That goal was Batistuta’s 10th World Cup strike and with that, he became the first and only Argentinian to score in three consecutive World Cups. From then on, Argentina’s misery unfolded. Beckham and England enacted their revenge from four years prior and failing to beat Sweden saw La Albiceleste crash out of a World Cup in the group stages for the first time since 1962.

2006

Following on from the embarrassment that was the 2002 World Cup, Argentina, under Jose Pekerman, were back amongst the favourites. A squad boasting of Mascherano, Cambiasso, Riquelme and the second-coming of Maradona tipped them as a top favourite. And rightly so as Argentina started their World Cup campaign in flawless fashion.

They dealt with the tipped surprise-package Ivory Coast in a 2-1 win and mauled Serbia & Montenegro with a 6-0 victory, their joint-largest ever win at a World Cup. Barcelona wonderkid Lionel Messi came on and scored his first World Cup goal to justify the hype…I wonder what happened to him?

A 0-0 draw with the Netherlands meant Argentina topped the group and set up a contest against Mexico. It took until extra-time for Argentina to knock off Mexico as Maxi Rodriguez scored the solo-goal of the tournament with a volley from outside the box…still not as good as their team goal against Serbia & Montenegro.

Their 2006 World Cup dream would come to an end at the hands of Germany and, more specifically, Jens Lehmann as he denied Cambiasso from the spot. The penalty shootout defeat was Argentina’s first and only penalty shootout defeat to date (won 4, lost 1). Many Argentinians put the loss down to the absence of Messi, he hasn’t missed a World Cup match since (16).

2010

For once, Argentina didn’t have the expectation to win it all. The national side had been in shambles since 2006 and with Maradona, at the helm, they were in for a circus ride off the pitch. They just about qualified and the slimmer of hope they had was all on Messi, unfortunately, he couldn’t deliver what his manager had 24 years before.

A 100% record in their group and Argentina had surprised themselves. The hope and belief was starting to grow and it grew even greater when they beat Mexico, again, in the last 16 to make the Quarter-Finals. All that faith came crashing down in a 4-0 defeat to the Germans. The chaos off the pitch worked its way onto it and Argentina were powerless to the German machine. Messi failed to score in the tournament and it raised the question would he be able to perform for Argentina on the biggest stage.

2014

That question would be answered with intent. Messi’s magic took over the group stage as he struck four times to see the white and sky blues top the group. Di Maria’s late winner against Switzerland sent Argentina to a third straight Quarter-Final appearance. This time, with no Germany in sight (not until the final at least) they squeezed past Belgium and would enact revenge that had been brewing from 1998 with a penalty victory over the Netherlands. The semi-final win meant Argentina retained their unbeaten record in World Cup semi-finals (won 5/5).

Despite all the hope, the daunting sight of Die Mannschaft proved too much for Argentina again. The injury to last 16 hero, Di Maria forced coach Alejandro Sabella into bringing in Enzo Perez who lacked the creative ability of Di Maria. Missed chances from Messi, Higuain and Palacio cost them dearly as Gotze’s chested down volley clinched Germany’s fourth World Cup victory. It was their fourth straight World Cup win over Argentina, two of which have occurred in a World Cup final.

2018

Now onto Argentina’s most recent World Cup heartbreak. Much like the 2010 campaign, Argentina had an enigmatic hot-head coach, Jorge Sampaoli, and his style was questionable, to say the least. The lack of quality defensive options was apparent and the exclusion of Serie A top-scorer Mauro Icardi raised questions from the very start.

Nonetheless, Argentina eked their way through the group stages after Marcos Rojo expertly guided volley found the bottom corner that saw them beat regular World Cup opponents, Nigeria. Who they faced off against in the last three World Cups.

La Abliceleste came up against eventual winners, France, in one of the greatest World Cup matches of all-time. Incredible goals from Pavard and Di Maria, the crowning of Kylian Mbappe as football’s next big thing and a seven-goal thriller…what more can you want?

Once again, turmoil off the pitch resulted in turmoil on it and Argentina’s defensive worries proved true. Mbappe was too much to handle and calamitous defending at times from Rojo and Otamendi spelt the downfall. Some solace can be taken from the fact they bowed out to eventual winners, but Argentinians aren’t known for seeing the positives and the 2018 World Cup will be looked back on in the same way the 2002 exit was.

What’s next for Argentina?

Qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was supposed to have started in March 2020, but like most other things coronavirus has put that on hold. If you were to look at how the Argentina national side is going to be in 2022 it’s hard to gauge. Experienced names of Di Maria, Otamendi and Rojo all may be past it by the time 2022 rolls around. The overwhelming factor will be if Messi is still going to be at his footballing best. Although he will have most likely declined in two years time, a 34-year-old Messi is more than capable of hoisting Argentina on his shoulders.

Then, it is also important to consider where the current young talent will be in two years from now. Montiel, Foyth and Palacios will all be important players for Argentina in the years to come. The exciting future of Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez and what level he will be at that time. He might be the difference if the Argentina success pendulum swings one or other.

Whatever happens for Argentina in 2022 the passion for La Seleccion mustn’t be turned into expectation and instead, it should be the fuel for Argentina’s success like it was in 1978 and 1986.