Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano retires from international football after loss to France

VETERAN Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano has announced his retirement from international football after Albiceleste were knocked out of the ongoing World Cup by France yesterday following a 3-4 defeat in the second round.

Yesterday, at Russia's 45,000 Kazan Arena, France proceeded to the quarter finals of the World Cup thanks to four goals from Antoine Griezmann, Benjamin Pavard and Kylian Mbappé, who scored twice. Argentina also got on the scoresheet through Angel Di Maria, Gabriel Mercado and Sergio Aguero, who scored in injury time to set up a grand finish but it was not enough to save the Argentines, who are now heading back to Buenos Aires.

Following the defeat, Mascherano, whose inclusion in the team has caused a lot of consternation, announced that he is quitting Albiceleste. It was Mascherano who gifted Nigeria a spot kick when Argentina met the Super Eagles, after he dragged Leon Balogun down in the penalty area, allowing Victor Moses to equalise.

Mascherano said: “This story has ended but we gave it our everything until the end. It was a crazy match, in which we didn’t start well but we recovered and we turned it around but their tying goal did so much damage to us.

“It cost us so much to lift ourselves up again. From this point on I will be just another fan of the Argentina national team, it is over, the illusion is shattered and it's time to say goodbye and for the younger players to step in.”

Now Argentina's most ever capped player with 147 appearances in the blue and white, Mascherano, 34, played the full 90 minutes in the match against France, with the 2018 World Cup allowing to overtake Javier Zanetti, who has 143 caps. Mascherano, who has played at four World Cups, made his debut for Argentina in 2003 when he still had not played professionally for River Plate.

He is now ending his illustrious time with Argentina without winning a major tournament. His closest shot at silverware was when he helped Argentina reach the final of the 2014 World Cup and the 2015 and 2016 Copa Americas.

Another Argentine midfielder Lucas Biglia also announced his retirement in the post-match news conference. Biglia made 57 appearances for Argentina, scoring one goal since making his debut in a 2011 friendly against Portugal.

It is not yet clear if other veterans like Willy caballero, Nicolas Otamendi and especially Lionel Messi, will be making similar decisions. Messi, 31, had previously retired from international football after Argentina lost in the final of Copa Americas but was lured back for the World Cup.