Lionel Messi takes on Renato Tapia of Peru. Photo: EPA
Source:
https://scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2114339/unthinkable-now-grim-reality-world-cup-could-be-without-lionel-messi Football
Unthinkable is now a grim reality – World Cup could be without Lionel Messi
Argentina head to Quito in desperate need of three points at a venue which has been unkind in the past
Lionel Messi feels the strain as Argentina face a real reality of missing their first World Cup since 1970. Photo: AFP
Argentina awakened on Friday to the horrifying possibility of a World Cup without the “world’s best player”, Lionel Messi.
The Albiceleste drew 0-0 at home to Peru on Thursday to fall not only out of the four automatic South American qualifying places for next year’s finals in Russia, but also the fifth place that offers a play-off spot against New Zealand.
Sitting sixth, Argentina now almost certainly need to win their final pool game away to Ecuador or miss out entirely on the global footballing showpiece, a prospect that had newspapers in the country retching with horror.
“Will there be a World Cup without the world’s best player?” asked Clarin newspaper on its website.
La Nacion, like much of Argentina, have given up faith in Messi and his teammates, saying they are now looking for a helping hand from another source: “We’ve got to this final match, begging for a miracle.”
But one area where all media were agreed was that should Argentina miss out, it won’t be Messi’s fault.
Some even went as far as to suggest the diminutive Barcelona forward, a five-time world player of the year, is practically playing on his own alongside hapless compatriots.
It’s not quite a win or bust scenario in an incredibly close qualifying campaign that sees six teams – behind Brazil who have already booked their Russian ticket – still in contention for the remaining three automatic qualification spots and separated by just four points.
Ecuador have already been eliminated and lost their last five matches in a row.
But strangely, even in defeat, Argentina could yet secure the play-off berth, while victory would not guarantee a top-four finish.
Lionel Messi is comforted by Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli after the draw at home to Peru. Photo: AP
Coach Jorge Sampaoli, Argentina’s third of the qualification campaign, remains confident – publicly at least.
“All that was missing was a goal,” he said after the Peru draw, adding that he was “very confident in the fact that we’ll be at the World Cup”.
He also moved to deflect pressure from Messi, who while winning everything possible in club football and shining brightly for Barcelona, has had a largely disappointing international career – winning the 2008 Olympics is his only major honour.
“We cannot ask more of Lionel Messi. He had chances, created them,” added Sampaoli.
“Messi was very intense, the way we need him.”