If any one player embodied the nation’s spirit during Argentina’s run to the World Cup Final in Brazil it was Javier Mascherano. El Jefecito was the beating heart of the side, the general behind captain Lionel Messi, driving the team forward and when La Albiceleste eventually succumbed to Germany in the Final, no one appeared more crushed than the 30-year-old. Speaking with Olé ahead of the friendly against Portugal, Mascherano discusses the disappointment and how he considered retiring.

Asked if he had considered retiring after the match against Germany, Masherano said:

“There was the possibility of retiring. To retire as a world champion, as Philipp Lahm did. It was an opportunity to leave in a positive light perhaps but I also believe that I have something left.”

It would appear that had it been Lionel Messi lifting the World Cup trophy then perhaps it would have been the final time we would have seen Mascherano in the central midfield but the hunger to win something is obviously still strong.

“I see the faces in the group which want to win something. There is still time for this generation to win something for Argentina and I want to try and be a part of that.”

One of the notable things about the squad in Brazil was how close it was and the bond between the players, something which Mascherano touched on when explaining just how close he came to calling time on this international career.

“We had such a strong World Cup, we were such a good group of players, a tight group and it is hard to get away from that. We are all still in contact with the guys, even those who are not being called. Leaving the national is not easy, it is not a decision you make overnight. You have to be very sure of it because there’s no turning back. I was 50-50 about it.”

So why decide against it? “Again I still feel that this generation could win the Copa America and why not, even fight for the World Cup.”

Mascherano admits that this was something which he discussed with Lionel Messi in addition to several others.

“I spoke to him (Messi) about retirement but not only with him, with others. We even discussed it before the Final. It is also about how the others make you feel and my teammates make me feel like I am important to them.”

While many at times question Messi’s role as a leader within Argentina given that he is not as demonstrative as someone like Mascherano or even the most common point of comparison, Diego Maradona, this exchange does shed some light on his responsibilites as captain.

Messi it would seem certainly played his part in persuading Mascherano to stay on, “Leo told me, ‘we have the Copa America.’“

The World Cup does appear to have given this Argentina squad a renewed confidence and a determination to lift the trophy after the disappointment of 2011.

However, there is no getting away from the heartbreak of losing in the biggest match in world football. This topic is not lost on Mascherano who admitted that, “We talk about it every day. We’ll be drinking mate and it will come up. It hurts to know how close we were.”

Like the most passionate fan Mascherano’s reponse to the question of whether losing any match could hurt more was unequivocal.

“It is impossible that there is another that hurts more. There’s nothing better than being world champion with your country. We weren’t just content with being finalists and for this reason no other match will hurt more than this one in the Maracaná.”