Copa America: Messi desperate to avoid 'crazy' elimination against Qatar

Qatar could eliminate Argentina from the Copa America when they tussle on Sunday and Lionel Messi finds the situation incomprehensible.

Published : Jun 22, 2019 17:29 IST

Lionel Messi is struggling to comprehend how Argentina is in danger of Copa America group-stage elimination as it prepares to face Qatar in a crucial clash on Sunday.

Argentina lost to Colombia in its first game and could only draw with Paraguay last time out, leaving it bottom of Group B, below Qatar on goal difference.

La Albiceleste have been in turmoil for 12 months, having endured a miserable World Cup campaign that cost Jorge Sampaoli his job, and they have rarely looked like a cohesive unit since Lionel Scaloni stepped up to the position.

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Failure to get out of the group at the Copa America would be a new low, particularly given third place could be enough to see it progress.

"We have to think positively and keep our confidence," Messi told reporters. "We need to improve and arrive in the best shape possible for the next match... and we have to win.

"It would be crazy if we couldn't progress from the group given there are practically three teams that go through.

"We knew it wasn't going to be easy playing in a Copa America, we're searching for a team, for a performance.

"Venezuela made it hard for Brazil. At the moment, we're not winning any more in the [Argentina] shirt and we have to put things right to earn the three points against Qatar."

Tournament guest Qatar has given a solid account of themselves so far, with the 2019 Asian Cup champion drawing 2-2 with Paraguay in its opener before suffering a slender 1-0 defeat to Colombia, one of the favourites to lift the trophy.

Qatar defender Tarek Salman was particularly impressed by the side's showing against Colombia, but hopes it learns from its mistakes against Argentina.

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"We are proud with our display against Colombia. Hopefully we will do well against Argentina also," he said.

"It was a tough match against Colombia. We deserved a draw. We had a lot of chances to score while the Colombians played one of their best matches.

"These are the games you see now, and we have to forget this clash and look to our meeting against Argentina."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Qatar – Almoez Ali

The star of the Qatar side and its biggest threat in attack, Ali will surely be crucial to its hopes of securing a spot in the next round. It is difficult to see Argentina drawing a blank, meaning the goalscoring burden will be on Ali.

Argentina – Lionel Messi

As ever, all eyes will be on Messi, regardless of how well the rest of the team plays. As its talisman and captain, all of Argentina will be hoping Messi can weave his magic to avoid humiliation.

KEY OPTA FACTS

- Argentina has lost only two of their last 23 games against Asian countries in all competitions (W18 D3). Both were friendlies, against China in 1984 (0-1) and Japan in 2010 (0-1).

- Argentina has won its last six games against Asian countries on neutral venues: three in World Cups, one in the Confederations Cup and two in friendlies.

- The last time Argentina failed to progress from the group stage of a Copa America was in 1983, when only one of three teams per group was advancing.

- Argentina has earned only one point in its first two matches of the tournament, its worst Copa America start since 1979, when it lost its first two games.

- Messi was the only player from Argentina to have more than one shot on target (two) in the draw against Paraguay. Both came from set-pieces (a direct free-kick and a penalty).

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