Sampaoli convinced young players can take Argentina back to the top

Under-fire Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli is convinced the country has the young talent to once again be a force on the international stage after their disappointing World Cup exit at the hands of France on Saturday.

In what will surely go down as one of the games of the tournament, France ran out 4-3 winners in Kazan – Kylian Mbappe starring with a double.

It ended an underwhelming campaign for Argentina which has been blighted by bizarre team selections, costly errors and off-field drama.

But a frustrated Sampaoli, who faces an uncertain future with Argentina, is looking ahead, with one of his team’s main weaknesses being a core that lacks youth.

“I don’t like the word failure, but it’s very frustrating because in every training I try to develop an identity for my team,” Sampaoli told reporters in Kazan.

“I don’t think there were many differences in the development of the game between the teams. They went for counters and we went for possession.

“I think Argentina really fought, France scored three in the second half, but we fought and had opportunities and almost equalised.

“It’s not ideal and I’d have maybe preferred them to work differently, but that’s the way it is.

“Maybe the reason [for a lack of cohesion] is because we didn’t have so much time, but I’m convinced Argentinian football has very good players and very good young players and we must work with them to be one of the best again.”

Despite failing to get beyond the last 16, Sampaoli thinks the failure will help him improve as a coach.

“I feel very frustrated because I was very excited to be here,” the former Sevilla coach said.

“I had many expectations, I wanted Argentina to go as far as possible, we had an exciting project.

“I really want to move everyone with this idea. I always believed Argentina could win, so of course I feel a certain frustration, but it’ll make me stronger as coach, it’ll help me grow and learn.”