Kolkata: “Messi is the best. There must be life out there somewhere, on some other planet. Because he is too good and we are just too bad for him,” were the words spoken by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp. Yet, the Argentine’s World Cup hopes lies in jeopardy with La Albiceleste in danger of missing out the flight to Russia, if they fail to win their match against Ecuador and other results don’t go their way.
Brazil have already clinched its place in Russia, while Uruguay (28 points), Chile (26 points), Colombia (26 points) and Peru (25 points) are all ahead of Argentina (25 points) on the table. Top four CONMEBOL teams earn automatic qualification, while the fifth team will face New Zealand in a November qualifying playoff. It means Argentina go 2,850 metres against Ecuador in Quito searching for a win. A win that will guarantee them a play-off place and may even help them seal a World Cup, if other results go their way.
He may have numerous trophies for club Barcelona in his one decade with the club but Messi has failed to deliver a single major trophy for Argentina. Considered to be the best player in this generation, Russia might be his last chance – but only if he gets there.
But Messi is not the only one to blame, he has been his in natural flamboyance in all the matches but lack of support has been an area of concern for Argentina since the last decade, which saw Argentina qualify for three back to back finals but lose all. Change of coaches has not helped either, with Jorge Sampaoli the third manager to coach Argentina in the qualifiers. Having failed to win in the last three fixtures against Bolivia, Uruguay and Venezuela, La Albiceleste went into the match against Peru needing a win to qualify for the World Cup. Messi tried with everything and even hit the post in the 46th minute, but to no avail. Hitting the post is considered as a bad omen in football and it was to be as Argentina failed to win yet another match.
On Wednesday morning, they face Ecuador in an away fixture at Quito, the last place they would want. Argentina last won a match against Ecuador at Quito in 2001 in a similar World Cup qualifying match. Taking inspiration from it the 2014 World Cup finalists will hope to repeat the same feat.
“Our situation is not very comfortable,” manager Jorge Sampaoli said, via ESPN. “But it depends on us,” said Sampaoli to ESPN. He also added, “I remain confident we’ll be in the World Cup. We are in this situation.”
Sampaoli continued, “If we confront it with the conviction that we had against Peru, we will win at Ecuador. In the changing room, there was a feeling of enthusiasm when we found out that if we win in Quito, we will qualify. I’m going to take advantage of that chance and so are the players. Our group of players competed to the standard required by me and that allows us to be optimistic heading into our next game.”
The prospect of a World Cup without Messi edges near into reality as Argentina prepare to play against Ecuador who are already disqualified from the World Cup, in a crucial encounter and only a win can bring new hopes that have disappeared into obscurity.