There are still a couple of players from the Argentina 2014 squad who are hoping to win their country a first World Cup title since 1986.
Argentina will play in the final of the Qatar 2022 World Cup against France on Sunday.
The last World Cup final Argentina played was in Brazil in 2014, when they lost in the final against Germany. There are still a couple of players from that squad who are looking to win their country a first World Cup title since 1986, but most of them have already hung up their boots.
Of the 23 players called up by Alejandro Sabella for the tournament in 2014, Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria remain in the Albiceleste squad. Sabella’s side lost 1-0 in extra time against Germany at the legendary Maracana Stadium.
Argentina 2014 World Cup final XI
Argentina lined up as follows against Germany:
Sergio Romero; Pablo Zabaleta, Martín Demichelis, Ezequiel Garay, Marcos Rojo; Javier Mascherano, Lucas Biglia; Enzo Pérez, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Lionel Messi; Gonzalo Higuaín.
Di María’s World Cup nightmare
It was later confirmed that Real Madrid, Di María’s club at the time, sent a letter requesting he should not play in the match if he was not fully fit. Shortly afterward, the winger gave details of his level of fitness for the final.
“I honestly wanted to play that day, even if it was the end of my career. But I also didn’t want to make things more difficult for the team. So I woke up very early and went to see our coach, Alejandro Sabella. We had a very close relationship, and if I told him I wanted to play, he would probably feel the pressure to put me in. So I told him honestly, with one hand on my heart, that he should put in the player he felt he had to put in,” Di María said.
“‘If it’s me, it’s me. If it’s someone else, then it’s someone else. I just want to win the Cup. If you call me, I’ll play until I break down,’ I told him.
“And then I started crying. I couldn’t help it,” he added.
Copa America success
Most of the Argentina team from 2014 have retired, however, Sergio Romero and Marcos Rojo are currently at Boca Juniors. Enzo Pérez is captain of River Plate and Martín Demichelis recently became head coach of River.