Pedestrian Argentina on the brink

This is a last chance at the tournament that is a last chance for Lionel Messi, made more profound by many of the men who have won the World Cup – Mario Kempes, Ricardo Villa, Jorge Burruchaga and Jorge Valdano among them – gathering in Doha on the second anniversary of Diego Maradona’s death.

Head coach Lionel Scaloni, center, talks with players during Argentina official training on the eve of the group C World Cup soccer match between Argentina and Mexico, in Doha, Qatar, Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz)

There’s no pressure,” Lautaro Martínez said, but no one was buying that. Dozens of cameras pointed his way and the question had been direct. Sure, it started, this team lifted Argentina’s first trophy in 28 years, winning the Copa América at the Maracanã, but go out of the tournament on Saturday night and it would be the worst catastrophe in World Cup history. Had they discussed that, his interrogator wanted to know. “No, no, that’s not been talked about,” the striker replied, and why would they? It’s the kind of thought probably best kept to yourself.

Which doesn’t make it go away. It’s some statement – the worst catastrophe in their World Cup history – and it may sound absurd, as well as still being avoidable of course, but it may not be so far off. Just framing it like that said something of the fear; what’s at stake. Since they won their first title in 1978, Argentina have been knocked out of the group stage once in 11 World Cups. That was in 2002, when they finished below England and Sweden. Now they have lost to Saudi Arabia, falling a single step away from a joint-record 37th game unbeaten. Mexico, their opponents on Saturday, and Poland do not offer an easy way out.