Argentina started with the left foot... from Messi!

2023-09-08 04:34:22

09/07/2023 11:34 p.m. Updated on 09/07/2023 11:50 p.m.

Argentina started the Qualifiers towards the 2026 World Cup on the wrong foot. Yes, of course, with Lionel Messi. Which other? With that boot specially designed for the occasion, Leo unlocked a tough, tough game, at times lackluster due to the lack of fluidity in the National Team’s game. But There he was to take that free kick with the smell of a goal. The faithful present at the Monumental suspected the new work of their God. It was enough to look towards the stands and observe the number of fans with their cell phones focused on Messi ready to record what was going to happen. And the left foot of the 10, again, did not fail. Goal, great goal, sung. And recorded. On cell phones and also in the eyes of almost 80,000 witnesses of another performance of the best in the world.

Messi’s great goal:

Lionel Messi – 7-9-2023

Great goal from Messi from a free kick against Ecuador

It wasn’t easy to get the three points in this debut. The internally associated game that distinguishes this National Team so much, and that was key to the consecration in Qatar, practically did not appear in the first half. There were own shortcomings but also other people’s virtues. With its three centre-backs behind, Ecuador took care of Lautaro and jumped to pressure on Messi. On the outside, Hurtado took Nico González on one side and Estupiñan controlled Molina’s rises on the other. And in the middle, it was a three against three but Argentina could not lose level in those duels due to a striking dose of imprecision in the circulation. Erratic Enzo, content From Paul, only Mac Allister seemed to be “in the game” but it was not enough: the elaborate game did not appear. The momentum that the team showed at the beginning, with a participatory Messi who almost opened the scoring at 15′ with a shot from outside the area, was diluted as the minutes passed. Ecuador, thanks to these inaccuracies, found ways to launch some counterattacks in the direction of Enner Valencia and Plata. But both clashed with a solid, although always playing to the limit of the cards, Romero’s holiday.

While, ScalonI asked “play, play” from the bench and also made positional adjustments: Alexis of 5 and Enzo of interior left. Messi gravitated less but he seemed to be the only one who could break the monotony from an individual point of view. At the end of the first stage, a cross from De Paul was deflected by Lautaro and the ball hit the post. An isolated play, almost from another game. But a warning about what would happen in the complement.

At the beginning of the second stage, while people began to ask “Fideo, Fideo”, Argentina stopped a little further forward, with greater intensity when putting pressure on the rival field. There was greater decision to break lines, to attack the spaces from behind. De Paul plugged in, Enzo stepped further into the area and the ball began to roll closer to the goal defended by Galíndez. A shot from outside by Tagliafico, a cross that Lautaro could barely deflect… Argentina dominated and now it arrived. He warned. It was not little.

At that point, Argentina was something else. Bursts, flashes, of the world champion Scaloneta appeared. A Romero wall behind to cut and anticipate, Di María electric when he entered the field to play on the left wing as in the World Cup final against France and De Paul in assist mode for Messi, constantly looking for an advantage pass for Leo. About 24′, when both combined and the shot from the 10th was stopped by Galíndez.

With more pride and will than with good play, Argentina was running over Ecuador. With the monopoly of possession (76% in favor in the ST), with Di María also going on the right side, with the income of Paredes and Julián, he had him cornered. Until that free throw came and the cell phones turned on.. Messi rubbed the lamp that is that left foot and with a perfect shot he put in the result what at that point was already a football superiority of the National Team.

Yes, here we go World Cup 2026. With the left foot.