Javier Mascherano admits Argentina’s penalty-shootout defeat to Chile in the Copa America final is “torture” and “a karma that we must accept”.
The Barcelona midfielder lost his third Copa America final on Saturday as La Albiceleste crashed out to the tournament hosts on penalties, and he struggled to come to terms with yet more heartbreak.
“Losing is torture, a huge sadness, but it’s a karma that we must accept,” he said after the game.
“Hopefully Argentina win something in the future, but I’ve played in three Copa America finals [2004, 2007 and 2015] and lost all three. I can’t find an explanation.
“We had a very good Copa America and rose to the occasion, but again we lacked that bit of luck needed in a final.
“[Talk of international retirement] is too far away right now. I think that I’m one of the biggest players in the squad and must accept whatever comes my way.”
