Argentina tried everything to help Lionel Messi, says Jorge Sampaoli

Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli said his team tried everything they could to help Lionel Messi during their 4-3 defeat to France on Saturday.

La Albiceleste’s World Cup hopes are over after they were beaten in a thrilling game as Les Bleus go into the quarter-finals.

Messi came up with two assists in the game and Sampaoli explained how his team tried to help the Barcelona star.

“We have the best player in the world and we had to try to create collective situations to really use that player who can have many brilliant moments.

”We tried many different tactics, surround him, create space for him, so we tried to use everything we had to allow him to do what he can do. Sometimes we managed it, sometimes we didn’t.

”[The players] fought until the end and they nearly equalised at the end and that’s what I really, really value. They worked very hard and I want to say thank you.”

Source | FIFA

Sampaoli also said he wouldn’t be quitting after the game although Javier Mascherano has announced his international retirement.