A squad brimming with talented heavy weights like Messi, Aguero, Higuain, Di-Maria, Mascherano etc should not be associated with such abject displays but they have been so poor that Argentina are in danger of missing out on the 2018 World Cup in Russia. To put that into perspective, last time Argentina failed to make it to a World Cup was way back in 1970.
Quite frankly a lot is just not right with the National team, there is the Failure at the Institutional level (The AFA), tactically inept Coach, constantly under-performing players etc.
1) The AFA (The Argentine football association) have to put their house in order: Their troubles have been well documented in recent time. In 2015, a presidential election to elect a new president for the body was organised. 75 presidents of different Argentine clubs voted, final count resulted in a draw of 38 to 38 (76 votes in total). The explanation was that one of the electors put a double vote and that the mistake was not reported. The elections were postponed and due to hold in June 2016. In June 2016, the AFA president Luis Segura was charged with aggravated administrative fraud. Segura has since been replaced on an interim basis by the AFA's executive secretary, Damien Dupiellet. The AFA is currently without a president and in total disarray.
2) The need for a tactically astute coach: Edgardo Bauza has inspired little confidence in his short reign so far. Not only have Argentina been unable to garner points, but their displays have been insipid and purposeless. The Albiceleste are a footballing power house and are definitely not lacking world class coaches. Coaches like Diego Simeone, Mauricio Pochettino, Jorge Sampaoli, Marcelo Biesla spring to mind. It is about time a world class manager is put in charge under a stable working environment, then the required results will follow.
3) A tactical set-up and identity: In the Super-Clasico, Bauza set his team up in a rigid 4-4-2 formation. Romero, Zabaleta, Otamendi, Funes Mori, Mas, Mascherano, Biglia, Enzo Perez, Di Maria, Messi, Higuain. The plan was obviously to contain the Brazilians, induce mistakes and hit on the break when Dani Alves and Marcelo had pushed forward. It was an overly cautious and timid approach but on another day could have paid off. The problem was after Brazil took the lead, Argentina looked totally bereft of ideas. Bauza was shown up, no tactical reshuffle, no plan B, no inspired substitutions, absolutely nothing was forthcoming. An identity has to be created for example a possession based high pressing all action approach, or defensive astuteness and ruthless counter
attacking football etc. Also they have to work on their passing combination and movements. It made for painful watching seeing superstars like Messi, Aguero, Higuain, Di-Maria unable to string 3-4 passes together.
4) Blood in new players to challange or phase out the old players: It is clear to see that the team is in dire need of a revolution, a shake up of some sorts. How Genorimo Rulli, the 1st choice goalkeeper of Real Sociedad does not make the squad is baffling, Mateo Mussachio, the Villarreal Center Back has to be given a chance to stake a claim for a spot in the lineup, Matias Kranevitter of Atletico Madrid should be given a fair shot at making the team, Ever Banega, Leandro Parades, Erik Lamela, Javier Pastore, can provide much needed creativity from the midfield, Dybala, Icardi and Angel Correa, Vietto, Lanzini should battle strikers like Higuain and Aguero for a starting berth. Players like Romero, Zabaleta, seem to make the squad based on reputation and Lavezzi (way past his best) being called up shows how much Argentina have lost their bearing.
Also there has to be a change in the mentality, build a mental fortitude and march on from the disappointment of losing 3 consecutive finals in 3 years.
Only then can Argentina pick themselves up, salvage what is left of a lackluster qualification campaign, look ahead and build towards the future.
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