The concern in Argentina after the sensational loss today (Tuesday) 2:1 to Saudi Arabia, is not only from the painful result that endangers the team's continued path in the World Cup, but mainly from the ability and attitude of the players.
The Argentinian sports newspaper "Ola" wrote immediately after the end of the game: "This blow will leave a mark for a very long time, because the result is the least concern. What is much more worrying is the lack of reaction, the lack of team play and the high pressure."
Without saying it in explicit words, the finger is pointed mainly at the person who is supposed to be the leader of the Albiceleste: His Highness Leo Messi.
The flea is the responsible adult of this team, not just the captain.
He is 35 years old, this is his fifth World Cup, and due to his age, experience and the aura that surrounds him as the greatest world player of all time (according to many), he should be the inspiration of the younger and less young people around him.
So Messi started the game well against the Saudis.
Already after a minute and a half he kicked towards the goal.
And then he scored from the penalty spot, and everything seemed to be under control.
But, little by little, the Saudis took control of the game.
They were faster, more determined, and didn't take into account the famous names they played against.
The team that comes from the only country that has a land border with Qatar - which explains the huge amount of fans in the stands - took a justified lead with two goals of the turnaround within five minutes.
Salem Al Dusari, who put Saudi Arabia up 1:2 in the 53rd minute, with a goal that will surely compete for the title of goal of the tournament, looked like everyone else at the clock which showed that there were still 37 minutes to go.
In a world of monstrous stoppage time, it is doubtful that he believed his team would last.
Like everyone, he also knew that this was the time when Messi was supposed to prove his leadership, precisely after the double blow that Argentina suffered.
But it didn't happen.
Messi continued to do what he knows with the ball, but it didn't seem like he was doing more than that.
There was no encouraging the members, there were no pats on the back, applause, raising one's voice, and in short everything a leader is supposed to do.
Messi.
Did not live up to expectations, photo: AP
The story is not over
In these moments I remembered Diego Armando Maradona, which is the first World Cup since 1978 that is not related to him in one way or another.
Over the years, Messi and Maradona have not stopped being compared.
Many are convinced that the current number 10 is a greater and more complete player than the late number 10, but when it comes to leadership there is no comparison.
It's just a matter of character.
In the 1986 World Cup, Argentina had difficult games, such as the second game in the group stage against the world champions Italy, who were in the lead, but Diego was there to equalize and show everyone who is the home team.
who is the boss.
Maradona.
He has already shown everyone who is the boss, photo: AP
And if against the Saudis, Messi's Argentina conceded twice in five minutes and lost, let me remind you that then, in Mexico, 36 years ago, it was Maradona who scored two goals in five minutes to decide the quarter-finals against England, goals that will never be forgotten.
Along with this, it should be remembered that Argentina already lost in its opening match of the World Cup, 1:0 to Cameroon in Italy 1990, but then it had Diego Armando Maradona and it reached the final (where it lost to the Germans).
The story of Argentina in Qatar is not over yet.
She has two more games, against Mexico and Poland.
But in order not to be eliminated already in the group stage, Messi must take leadership - and be Maradona.
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