Javier Zanetti claims Mauro Icardi ‘deserved’ to be in Argentina’s World Cup squad but assures the Inter striker ‘will get another opportunity’.
Icardi was the biggest name overlooked by Jorge Sampaoli for the Russian showpiece, and calls for the Inter hitman were doubled after Argentina could only draw 1-1 with Iceland in their World Cup opener.
Javier Zanetti claims Mauro Icardi ‘deserved’ to be in Argentina’s World Cup squad but assures the Inter striker ‘will get another opportunity’.
Icardi was the biggest name overlooked by Jorge Sampaoli for the Russian showpiece, and calls for the Inter hitman were doubled after Argentina could only draw 1-1 with Iceland in their World Cup opener.
“I’ve already said it and I repeat it: Mauro deserved a chance for what he did and is doing,” Zanetti, who played 144 times for the country but managed just two World Cups himself, told reporters in Russia.
“I’d have liked to see him here with us in Russia. It wasn’t like that, but he’s very young and he has a great future ahead of him. He’ll et another opportunity to be part of the Argentine national team.
“Sampaoli? This team have great players, but it takes time because qualification was tough, there was a change of Coach and not everything can be achieved overnight.
“The next match [against Croatia] is an important test.”