Argentina manager Jorge Sampaoli claims that Germany are one of the potential candidates for the World Cup 2018, despite being the defending champions. Argentina come into the tournament after having been almost knocked out. Only a late run of results were able to see the team into the finals. Lionel Messi was able to come in with a brilliant hat-trick against Ecuador to rescue Argentina. As a result, Argentina are not regarded as one of the favourites for the title success – despite coming close to the finals in the previous edition in Brazil.

The national team have been without a World Cup success for several decades. Even then, the popular options for the 2018 edition happen to be France, Spain, and Germany. Even Brazil are likely to be considered as a potential candidate after having come up with an impressive set of results since the appointment of Tite. Germany, though, are not regarded as a team capable of winning the event by Jorge Sampaoli. The Germans were able to win the previous edition with classic type of German football along with the presence of several young players in the squad. Those young players still remain in the peak of their powers and it will take a lot of effort from Argentina to overcome the defending champions – if they come up against the same at the event.

“I don’t mention Germany not because I forgot them, but because I don’t like the way they play. In the short term, the Higuain issue was complicated for us. In the medium term I think he can be an important player. I spoke with him [Benedetto], now his priority has to be to return. Unfortunately, he will not be able to compete in the same conditions as the other attackers,” said the Argentina national team boss.