2018 Argentina Away – Paulo Dybala #21 Medium

The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia was a difficult and dramatic tournament for Argentina.

• Qualifying Storyline: Argentina barely qualified for the World Cup, with Lionel Messi scoring a hat-trick in the final qualifier vs. Ecuador to secure their spot. The team entered the tournament under immense pressure.

• World Cup Group Stage: Argentina were drawn into Group D with Iceland, Croatia, and Nigeria. They drew 1–1 against Iceland, lost 3–0 to Croatia, and narrowly beat Nigeria 2–1 to qualify for the Round of 16.

• Knockouts: In the Round of 16, Argentina faced France in a thrilling match, losing 4–3. Despite flashes of brilliance, the defense was exposed by Kylian Mbappé. Argentina were eliminated early, marking a disappointing campaign.

• Managerial Situation: Jorge Sampaoli led the squad but faced criticism for constant tactical changes and lack of stability.

• The Kit: The 2018 Argentina away jersey was a striking black design with sky blue and white accents forming a sash of three stripes — one of the most modern and stylish Argentina away shirts in recent memory.

2. Player’s Impact – Paulo Dybala (2018 World Cup Year)

Paulo Dybala, at the time a Juventus star, entered the World Cup highly regarded as one of Argentina’s most talented attackers. However, his impact at the tournament was minimal due to tactical decisions.

• World Cup Appearances: Dybala played just 22 minutes in the group stage (vs. Croatia). He did not feature against Nigeria or France.

• Reason for Limited Role: With Lionel Messi occupying a free role and Argentina struggling for balance, Sampaoli rarely used Dybala, believing the two could not fit into the same system effectively.

• Club Form: Despite his limited role with Argentina, Dybala had enjoyed a prolific 2017/18 season at Juventus, scoring 26 goals across all competitions, entering the World Cup as one of Europe’s most exciting forwards.

• Overall Influence: While Dybala’s direct impact on Argentina’s 2018 campaign was minimal, his presence symbolized the under-utilization of a golden generation of talent in a chaotic setup.

3. Full Squad List – Argentina 2018 World Cup

Manager: Jorge Sampaoli

Goalkeepers:

• Willy Caballero (Chelsea)

• Franco Armani (River Plate)

• Nahuel Guzmán (Tigres UANL)

Defenders:

• Gabriel Mercado (Sevilla)

• Nicolás Otamendi (Manchester City)

• Marcos Rojo (Manchester United)

• Federico Fazio (Roma)

• Javier Mascherano (Hebei China Fortune)

• Nicolás Tagliafico (Ajax)

• Marcos Acuña (Sporting CP)

• Cristian Ansaldi (Torino)

Midfielders:

• Éver Banega (Sevilla)

• Lucas Biglia (AC Milan)

• Giovani Lo Celso (PSG)

• Enzo Pérez (River Plate)

• Ángel Di María (PSG)

• Eduardo Salvio (Benfica)

• Maximiliano Meza (Independiente)

Forwards:

• Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

• Paulo Dybala (Juventus)

• Sergio Agüero (Manchester City)

• Gonzalo Higuaín (Juventus)

• Cristian Pavón (Boca Juniors)