Lionel Messi, who remained on the bench until the 75th minute of Argentina's victory against Uruguay on the night of Friday to Saturday (1-0) in qualifying for the World Cup-2022, entered "to put himself in the rhythm ”, declared after the meeting the coach of the Albiceleste Lionel Scaloni.
"We decided that he should not play from the start because he was coming out of a period of inactivity and that the match was going to be like that", unbridled and intense with constant pressure from Uruguay, a said Scaloni.
According to the Argentinian coach, his captain was scheduled to come into play in the second half "to get into the rhythm, thinking of the game against Brazil" on Tuesday in San Juan, Argentina. Messi was uncertain ahead of this meeting, after missing PSG's last two games with a thigh and knee injury. Thursday, after the start of a controversy initiated by Leonardo on the presence of Messi in Argentina, Scaloni had left the doubt, indicating that the former Barcelona was "well and operational", saying however that his participation in the match was not certain .
⚽️🇦🇷Lionel Messi on the bench to kick off an Argentina match for the first time since 06/15/2016.
La Pulga entered the second period in the victory over Bolivia (3-0) at the Copa América in the USA.
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- Georges Quirino Chaves (@georgesquirino) November 12, 2021
With this victory, the Albiceleste second in the single pool with 28 points - 8 wins, 4 draws) - is virtually guaranteed to qualify for Qatar and join Brazil who got their ticket Thursday against Colombia (1- 0).
Even in the absence of their strategist until the 75th minute, Argentina presented themselves in Montevideo without departing from their traditional attacking arguments in a 4-4-2 with Paulo Dybala and Lautaro Martinez at the forefront.
🏆 #Eliminatorias
💙⚽ Nuestro Ángel del gol 🤍⚽
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- Selección Argentina 🇦🇷 (@Argentina) November 12, 2021
A recovery ball lost by the defense and Lautaro Martinez served Angel Di Maria in the right angle of the box.
Control of the right, left foot open wonderfully, the PSG striker promoted captain deposited the ball in the opposite window (1-0, 7th).
Faced with the Uruguayans the knife between the teeth which remained on a draw and two defeats, the Argentines however spent most of the time defending.
In a riot of unbridled but muddled energy, the high Uruguayan pressing has long proven to be sterile because of the lack of realism approaching the goal.
Only Luis Suarez, friend of Messi and orphan of his liner Edinson Cavani, injured, was really dangerous, an instant recovery from 20 meters hitting the base of the post (30th).
Roll on Tuesday and the Messi-Neymar duel
Matias Vecino, yet alone at the entrance to the surface crushed his shot low to the ground (41st) and Julian Alvarez placed his head above the crossbar (84th) in what will remain the clearest opportunities for the Celestial.
Messi's entry in place of Giovani Lo Celso in this Rio de la Plata derby coincided with an Argentine offensive surge, while Uruguay began to pay for the efforts.
Despite his meager minutes of play, Messi had the opportunity to showcase himself but his recovery from a center back perfect on his left foot flew into the stands (92nd).
Strongly Tuesday with the reception of Brazil from Neymar for the revenge of the Copa America final, won this summer by Argentina (1-0).
The first leg in Sao Paulo had been stopped by health authorities and no decision to postpone or win on the green carpet has yet been taken.