Hey, Argentina, you are stinking up the World Cup

Argentina continues to struggle

Argentina are proving that talent does not a great team make. A great team starts with a manager who has command over his players, and then a group of players willing to work together for a common cause. Watching Argentina be ripped apart by Croatia on Thursday night was evidence enough to show that this side is far from a team. Simply not good enough.

'Simply not good enough' is a strange thing to say when Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, and Angel di Maria are in your ranks, but if those superstars are not prepared to work as a team and fight for each other, then the battle is already lost.

Argentina looked like a side just starting out in the game we love, rather than one filled with star names who are constantly performing at club level. It is a really weird situation, as the paper the teamsheet is written on should be striking fear into the eyes of the opposition, but when it comes to the crunch, those same names are nothing more than an obstacle, rather than a challenge.

Head coach Jorge Sampaoli does need to shoulder a lot of the blame for his side's pathetic performances to date at the World Cup, and there was even talk on Friday morning that the Argentine players wanted him out before they take on Nigeria in their final group match in Russia. That is hardly surprising, given what we have seen, but then again, these players should be professional enough to stand up and be counted themselves, rather than looking for a scapegoat. If this is true, it is a cowardly stance from the players.

The World Cup is far from over for Argentina, though. They can still make it into the knockout stage - if a small miracle happens, but do we really want them there? Messi looks like a player on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and he will sadly not add anything of value to the tournament going forward - his international career is over. As for the others and their coach, time to hop on that plane back home - you are not longer needed for this illustrious tournament.

An Argentina without a strong unit is an Argentina that doesn't deserve to have a shot at the World Cup trophy. Simple.

France going through the motions

At the World Cup, all that really matters is getting out of the group. There is no need for you to play out of your skin unless you really need to. That is exactly what France have done, and they have booked their spot in the knockout round.

However, it is sad to see a side with such talent just going through the motions. They will more than likely raise their game to the next level for the last 16, but for fans of football, just a bit more would have been appreciated. Take nothing away from their opponents Australia and Peru, who both put in great shifts, but a talented France should be doing much better. Here's hoping their attitude towards the group stage is as I mentioned above, as I can't see them getting much further if they continue to play like they have been.

Japan fans show their class

We first saw this from Senegal's fans, and now a video of Japan fans cleaning up after themselves has emerged. This is what I want to see more of in the world - people taking responsibility for things. Awesome job, Japan fans.

Also read: Farewell, Morocco and Egypt. Maybe next time?