Messi, Argentina on verge of World Cup catastrophe
RIO DE JANEIRO — It’s getting late for Lionel Messi, who’ll be 31 during next year’s World Cup in Russia.
He’s yet to deliver a major trophy for Argentina, his country of birth. And it may not happen next year. In fact, Messi and Argentina may not even get there.
Argentina is on the verge of missing the World Cup for the first time since 1970 after stumbling to a 0-0 draw against Peru before a capacity crowd on Thursday at Boca Juniors’ Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires — one of the dominant home-field advantages in all of world soccer.
Only one day of qualifying games remains in South America, and Argentina is off the pace for direct qualification.
“Our situation is not very comfortable,” Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli said, “but it depends on us.”
Argentina, the runner-up to Germany three years ago in Brazil, plays Tuesday against Ecuador in the thin air of Quito in the Andes. The Argentines are in sixth place, with the top four teams advancing automatically to Russia 2018. The fifth-place team can advance by winning an intercontinental playoff against Oceania champion New Zealand.
Brazil, which has already qualified, drew 0-0 against Bolivia on Thursday. Brazil has 38 points, followed by: Uruguay (28), Chile (26), Colombia (26), Peru (25), Argentina (25) and Paraguay (24).
Uruguay is expected to get through the final round on Tuesday. After that, it’s too close to call, with four teams chasing the two automatic spots.
That will leave two teams trying to reach the playoff, which looms as Argentina’s most probable route. The Argentine squad must win at 2,850 meters (9,350 feet) in Quito and get some help.
In other results Thursday: Paraguay beat Colombia 2-1, Chile beat Ecuador 2-1 and Uruguay was held to a 0-0 draw at Venezuela.
The last matches next Tuesday feature: Uruguay vs. Bolivia, Peru vs. Colombia, Ecuador vs. Argentina, Brazil vs. Chile and Paraguay vs. Venezuela. Ecuador, Venezuela and Bolivia are already out of contention.
No Argentina?
It’s almost unthinkable. No Messi. No Argentina in Russia. But it could happen.
Several generations of Argentines have no idea what it’s like to be out of the World Cup. And that includes Messi, who will turn 31 when the Cup in being played next year in Russia.
Argentina had all the possession. Messi had a handful of good chances and hit the post in the first minute of the second half. In a fair world, Argentina would have won by several goals. Dario Benedetto had several chances, too.
In three qualifying matches under new coach Sampaoli, Argentina has scored just one goal.
Sampaoli tried to sound upbeat.
“I remain confident we’ll be in the World Cup,” he said. “It would really be unfair if a group that put it all out there — like they did — does not advance.
“Throughout the game we had a marked advantage again them, but we could not break through.”
Peru’s Argentina-born coach Ricardo Garcea was happier.
“Getting a result in Argentina is really difficult,” he said. “But qualifying now depends only on us, which is important.”