THE KIDS AREN’T ALRIGHT

Argentina’s under 20-team cleared a weak Group A but then crashed out of the World Cup by losing 2-0 to Nigeria in San Juan in midweek with an active but ineffective forward line and a sloppy defence. Javier Mascherano’s squad thus missed out on their good fortune after failing to qualify but then hosting the tournament instead of Indonesia, disqualified for refusing to admit Israel (who did reach the quarter-finals this week). On the same day England lost 2-1 to Italy.