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Copa America: Messi No-Show for Argentina In Draw Against Bolivia
The opening game of the Copa America featured Argentina against Bolivia. With all eyes on Lionel Messi to reproduce his form for Barcelona in the Blue and White of his national team, he failed to show up again...
In football, some colours are stronger than others – but sometimes, history is even stronger than colours. That is the case with Lionel Messi, Barcelona’s superstar but while playing for the Argentine national team he looks like an ordinary player.
For many people, he should be treated as he is at Barcelona. Molly coddled and with the team moulded to play around him. For other people, Messi, as Diego Maradona did, has the task of leading the Argentine national team to nothing less than glory. However Lionel Messi is not Maradona and he definitely does not have his personality. Detractors claim that Messi has won everything but the World Cup, which is said to be the ultimate goal for a professional footballer.
Argentina and Bolivia opened the Copa America and the entire world was expecting to see Lionel Messi at his best, but he never appeared. Batista’s team could’ve lost the match, and the cold in the Unico’s Stadium caught Messi on another off day. If it was difficult to beat Bolivia, what would’ve happened if the rival were Brazil or Uruguay?
Today, the newspapers are asking why Messi isn’t the same in an Argentine shirt? Perhaps the problem is not Messi. Perhaps the problem is that the team does not suit Messi because it is overloaded with stars. As so happens when there are a lot of stars in a football team, they crash and burn.
“We need calm. We must win both games we have left.” said Messi after finishing the game.
“We need calm. We must win both games we have left.” said Messi after the game. Sergio Aguero instead changed the face of the game. He scored the equaliser and was the clear attacking difference. The Atletico Madrid player wants to make the headlines, although it is unimaginable that Messi will be sent to the bench.
It is noteworthy that the only applause generated by Messi from Argentine fans on the night wasn’t down to his football. It was prompted by a heated verbal exchange with the Bolivian Ronald Raldes.
As Bolivia celebrated the draw, Argentina were left to ask questions of the coach and the team. Especially Messi, the best player in the world today.
It’s now up to Messi to prove himself . If he can ignore what is being said off the field, and focus on doing his best – the world will see the real Messi play for the national team. There is nowhere better for him to show his best than in America’s Cup, which began yesterday in Argentina. Here he can prove himself in preparation for Brazil 2014.
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COMMENTS
mediocre, 4/10 for effort (Messi). Coach has problems with his set-up needs Pep advise!
Bolivia should take some credit
@ hans You could say he needs a Pep talk
messi played good he had solid runs and runs and good passes he didnt play bad argentina did
This article is very unfair. Firstly, I thought Messi played quiet well. Sure, he didn't score but he did created chances and carried the ball very well. Secondly, it is false to suggest Messi has never reproduced the form he has showed for Barca to name just a few examples; in the last Copa America his goal against mexico, Olympic gold medal winner, goals against Brazil and Spain. He was Argentina's best player in the last World Cup. The Copa America has always been a slow burner with each team only needing one win to get to the knock out stages. I believe it would better to analyse the performance rather than create a narrative which does not reflect reality. Also, I don't it is true Messi needs to prove himself because European club football is the highest level of football, better than the standard in international football.
This is by far the worst article i have ever read.Messi played quite well, but it was the Argentina team which couldn't do it! It's the same problem they've had for some time now: they are to selfish and everybody seems to want to prove something. Messi was perhaps the only player trying to send passes to other players, but he himself never seemed to get a good pass from the other players! Aguerro scored a goal, but that was a pure luck, ...he got the ball at the right moment and at the right place! The worst player of the game:lavezzi!
Poor article considering he played quite well, if he was playing in Ever Banega's position people would have thought he played well because Ever did nothing and so Messi had to take up the creative role. However, there is one small thing right in this article where you say Messi has to ignore what is being said, he has to ignore articles like this.
Awfully written article. he can't be expected to win a game of 11 vs 11 on his own in todays football and he's generally their most creative player and play's a different role for argentina than barcelona. The person who wrote this article is clueless and I personally think they need to learn more about the game. To say he needed to be subbed off is an absolutely ridiculous statemate. Tevez runs around like a headless chicken and lavezzi tryed but wasn't good enough. The team needs to play messi and aguero and drop tevez.
horrible article, what game did youw watch
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