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Another international tournament, another loss for Argentina. The 2-0 loss to Colombia was expected, and only the most benighted of Lionel Messi or La Albiceleste fans could expect more from this mediocre team.
The national team and the nation's football culture, in general, has been in steep decline for a number of years and it is likely to get worse. Like the colossal failure that was Jorge Sampaoli at the World Cup last year, his replacement, Lionel Scaloni has looked just as inept in his time as the team's manager.
The line-up, the tactics and substitutions against the Colombians were too much to cope with and La Albicelesete got what they deserved: absolutely nothing.
Wholesale changes in administration, tactics and especially the playing squad were needed after last year's debacle. But, the incompetent and mismanaged Argentine Football Association (AFA) have shown zero understanding of how to fix the problems.
Javier Mascherano, Lucas Biglia, Gonzalo Higuain and Willy Caballero had resigned from the national setup after Russia 2018. Unfortunately, there are still some in the present Copa America squad who should have left alongside the aforementioned five.
Whatever the outcome of the tournament (in keeping with the theme of incompetence and corruption in South American football, another one is scheduled for next year), its clear that some players need to resign/be shown the door for the team to evolve.
Here is a look at five of the biggest names who should have no business wearing the blue and white jersey once this edition of Copa America is done.
#5 Matías Suárez
One of the many occupying-space players in the Albiceleste side, its amazing that players such as Suarez (and Dario Benedetto) have continued to find themselves involved in national assignments.
The journeyman striker has had a nondescript career with stints at Belgrano (twice), Anderlecht and currently River Plate, the sum total.
At the age of 31, it is unclear what purpose Scaloni thought having him in the squad would fulfill. For one thing, the side is not set up to play to his strengths. He has always been more of a poacher in the penalty area and not the most technically gifted.
With the Albiceleste lacking natural width (players like Rodrigo de Paul are inverted wingers) and crossing ability from the fullbacks, it makes no sense to have a player like Suarez in the squad.
Having a youngster like San Lorenzo forward, Adolfo Gaich would have been better as it would help in building with an eye to the future (Ronaldo de Lima at the 1994 World Cup comes to mind).
The twice-capped player's contributions are not of the quality needed, the team can do without him.
#4 Ramiro Funes Mori
How bad is the center-back situation in Argentine football that a walking calamity like Funes Mori keeps getting called up?
No one in his senses who had witnessed the calamitous defending he exhibited at Villarreal in the just concluded LaLiga season would have deemed it fit to invite the 28-year-old to a tournament like Copa America.
Yet, such is the general incompetence of the entire Argentine set-up that the former Everton man finds himself in the squad. His clumsiness, lack of awareness about what is going on around him, rashness in the tackle and regular lapses in concentration should have proved enough evidence for Scaloni to steer clear.
He was a big part of why Villarreal went from 5th in the 2017/2018 season to barely surviving relegation last season. In La Abiceleste colors, he has done nothing of note in his 24 appearances. Given his age and issues, he is one that the team can do without for the future
#3 Nicolas Otamendi
Erratic, rash, easy to get past and poor decision maker; these are just a few of the many problems that have sadly become associated with the Manchester City man
To show just how great Pep Guardiola’s work with Otamendi was, he was named in the PFA Team of the Season for having a stellar campaign in the 2017-2018 Premier League season.
Away from the Catalan genius’ well-structured team set-up, Otamendi's reckless side has shown up at possibly the worst time for Argentina. Slow, ponderous and uninspiring, he was at the heart of the defence that was rubbish during the World Cup.
Paired with the relatively inexperienced German Pezzalla for the game against Colombia, Otamendi, once again, failed to lead by example. Too many times, he made wrong decisions which allowed players like James Rodriguez and Luis Muriel to drift into dangerous areas
Given his age, it is too late to believe he has anything else to offer; Argentina would be better off saying Gracias! and keeping him away from the national set-up forever.
#2 Angel Di Maria
Such promise, such potential but Alas! So little in terms of the end product.
This has been the story of Di Maria's stint as an Albiceleste player and the time has come to sever the relationship for good.
A member of the gold-plated generation of exceptional talent (at youth level), for a short while, it seemed that the Rosario-born player would be the answer to Argentina's longstanding problems on the wings.
However, the last meaningful thing that di Maria has done for his national team was to score the goal that beat Switzerland (last minute of extra-time) in the 2nd round at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
His decline has been a rapid and an absolute train wreck. From star man in Real Madrid's 2014 UEFA Champions League title win to flop at Manchester United and bench-warmer at PSG, di Maria's career has unraveled badly.
If call-ups were to be judged on club form, the 31-year-old should be nowhere near the national setup as he has become an expensive bench-warmer for the French champions (alongside Julian Draxler).
The extended playtime he got last season was as a result of Neymar's injury issues and despite being decent in Ligue 1, he showed his true mettle in the UCL where after a great display in the first leg against Manchester United, he was invisible in the return leg,
He was abysmal against Colombia as he failed to deliver any cross or make any incisive run of note in the time he spent on the pitch. The biggest surprise was that he even lasted until halftime as he was the worst player on the pitch.
The Di Maria train has run its course and is of no use to anyone in the national set-up anymore.
#1 Sergio Aguero
It will be difficult for even the most ardent Aguero fan to say his time at the national side has been anything but disappointing.
Much was expected of Diego Maradona's former son-in-law following Argentina’s triumphs at youth level; winning the U-20 world title in 2005 and 2007 and Olympic gold in 2008.
To be fair, the national team's setup; lack of width and poor delivery from wide areas does not really suit him. He has struggled to impose himself in a system too reliant on Lionel Messi creating magic all on his own (a lack of a Xavi-esque controller in midfield has not helped as well).
However, players like Hernan Crespo and the much-maligned Gonzalo Higuain have done better even with such limitations.
His tally of 37 goals in 86 matches for his nation sounds like an okay record but masks the fact that for too long, he has never delivered for his country and has had to be carried by the brilliance of players like Lionel Messi.
In too many games for his country, he has failed to affect play. He has stood passively and shown little of the hunger and fight he routinely displays in Man City colors.
Of his 39 goals for the nation in 89 matches, only 8 goals have come in international competitions. With the likes of Lautaro Martinez already stepping up, now is the time to bid Aguero a fond farewell.
