Argentina star Lionel Messi reportedly told head coach Jorge Sampaoli to drop two players during La Albiceleste's disappointing 208 World Cup campaign.
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After scraping through the group stages, Argentina were dumped in the Last 16 by France, who will face Croatia in the final on Sunday.
According to Argentine publication Clarin, the FC Barcelona supersar told Sampaoli not play Federico Fazio and Giovani Lo Celso, who reportedly did not impress the captain.
Fazio only made one appearance at the World Cup after coming on a substitute in the loss to France, while Lo Celso did not feature at all.
Messi, meanwhile, only registered one goal during the competition as Argentina disappointed on the world's biggest stage.
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Javier Mascherano and Lucas Biglia confirmed their retirements from international football after the loss in the round of 16.
Who do you think is to blame for Argentina's early World Cup exit? Have your say in the comment section below.
