Adrian Maladesky
09/10/2021 8:44 PM
Clarín.com
sports
Updated 09/10/2021 8:44 PM
Messi's triplet on the cinematic night of the Monumental suggests an almost obvious link to Lionel's three other goals, although those had another effect: they served to prevent a huge fire.
From Núñez to Quito.
From this Thursday, September 9, 2021 with the team enjoying a carpeted road to Qatar to that Tuesday, October 10, 2017 with an overwhelmed National Team jumping through rubble to scratch the agonizing passage to Russia.
It was 3-0 against Bolivia to leave the passport half sealed to Doha.
It was a 3-1 against Ecuador to get through a window that was disguised by the final third place, but that predicted future tremors.
Now that the planets seem to be aligned, that Messi paid a debt that he did not have and divested himself of a backpack that his back did not deserve to support, the differences are shown with the naked eye.
Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul with the Copa América.
Photo: AFP
That traumatic tie heading to the 2018 World Cup had all the spices to end in disaster.
But the scriptwriter did not count on Messi and his heavenly night.
Argentina had three coaches (Gerardo Martino, Edgardo Bauza and Jorge Sampaoli), he achieved the passage on the last date, which he had reached in sixth place, that is, far from the Repechage.
In seven of the 18 dates the National Team was out of the four qualifying places and in another six, in fifth place, sighing for the play-off.
He sailed the entire tie in anguish.
Tata resigned, Patón was thrown out and Pelado lost his way, later.
Argentina finished with 28 points in 18 games;
today it adds up to 18 in eight.
And he has 30 units left in play.
He closed that statistic with 7 wins, 7 draws and 4 losses, 19 goals for and 16 against.
Today he has 5 wins, 3 equalities and no falls.
The goals?
15 and 6.
Lionel Messi and the Copa América at the celebrations at the Monumental.
Photo: AFP
They seem like two different teams, beyond some names (Otamendi, Acuña, Di María and Messi among the starters) in common.
They are two different teams.
The most evident common point is Messi, but this Messi is another.
Beyond putting his absolute left foot at the service of the cause as almost always now, an integral conviction is noticed.
Believe as few times in the project of this Selection.
He believes in Scaloni as perhaps he never believed in previous technicians.
In addition, the role of leader, of complete captain, no longer weighs on him.
His commitment to the game also seems greater, taking full advantage of the fact that he understands it better and better.
And that everything revolves around him but with the idea that not everything depends on his inspiration.
There is a team behind Messi.
It is not great, but it is reliable.
You know what he plays.
The names are repeated, he lives calmly and the Copa América won in Brazil allows the team to enjoy their honeymoon with the fans.
Messi is right when he recycles the famous "we were not the worst before and now we are not the best."
Only the diabolical successism can maintain that a runner-up is the worst.
The last generations of our National Team have suffered that madness, Messi especially, which turns madness into an injustice and a nonsense with consequences.
Lionel Messi celebrates one of the goals against Bolivia.
Photo: AFP
The other side of the coin then demands not to believe what this Selection is not, at least for now.
It is not the best in the world.
For South America maybe over, but the impossibility of competing with European teams (fault of the egocentricity of UEFA) opens a parenthesis of doubts.
In the 36 games that the Scaloni cycle has been running, there was only one test of that level, against Germany (2-2) in 2019.
Everything indicates that the next dates of the Qualifiers will confirm the evident supremacy of Argentina and Brazil and that they will assert it in the standings.
But the other is missing, a healthy habit that since Menotti's time was inalienable in the National Team. Play against France, Italy, England, Germany, play against the best, measure forces, make mistakes, correct. To make conclusions. Keep growing. Messi, in his maturity, also seems to be clear that this is the way to go.