Sampaoli's four attackers formation turned out incompatible with Argentina's original system. Without Icardi, the team couldn't realize Sampaoli's intention to make effective attacks. To make things worse, the team couldn't defend their goal with the absence of another key player.

Sergio Romero injured his knee last month in the run-up to the tournament. The No. 1 Argentinean goalkeeper said he could recover before the World Cup, but the team went without him. When Willy Caballero's poor play contributed the first blood to his opponent on Thursday, Romero was missed by all Argentinean fans.

The last straw seemingly happened to be the core of the team -- Lionel Messi, who has been considered as the king to bring his people to victory. However, football is not a one-man game. It is probably the team's awe of him that has torn the team apart.

When Messi lost a penalty chance in Argentina's 1-1 draw with Iceland, he was reportedly too frustrated to talk to anyone after that match. To cheer him up, Argentina Football Association invited Messi's wife Antonella Rocuzzo to Russia to console the team's No. 1 star. However, his overwhelming emotion kept him from carrying out his duties as a captain to encourage his teammates who were just as upset as he was.

Crespo once told Italian media that Icardi couldn't be named on the final 23-men list because the forward isn't Messi's friend. Whether it is true or not, the 2017 World Cup runners-up seem to have locker room problems.

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