Messi injured on return as Argentina lose to Venezuela
MADRID: Lionel Messi returned to Argentina duty for the first time since the World Cup on Friday but it was a disappointing outing for the forward as they lost 3-1 to Venezuela and he was ruled out of their next match with a groin problem.
Messi showed flashes of brilliance but it was not his night as Venezuela put three past their more illustrious rivals for the first time with goals from Salomon Rondon, Jhon Murillo and Josef Martinez. Lautaro Martinez got Argentina’s consolation.
Messi finished the match but felt some pain in his groin and will sit out Tuesday’s friendly against Morocco in Tangier, the Argentine Football Association said after the game.
VENEZUELA COACH IN POLITICAL STORM
The coach of Venezuela’s national team said on Friday he had offered to resign after meeting with opposition leader Juan Guaido’s envoy to Spain, in the midst of a power struggle between Guaido and socialist President Nicolas Maduro.
“We have been living through very complicated times, and we are very politicised,” Dudamel told reporters after the win over Argentina. “We respectfully received the visit of the ambassador, Mr. Antonio Ecarri ... just as we have received the ambassador of President Maduro.”
He later accused Guaido and Ecarri of “politicising” the visit. Guaido had earlier tweeted a video of Ecarri speaking with the players. “Today was denigrating, it’s unfortunate how they have acted,” Dudamel said.
MOURINHO EYEING MANAGERIAL RETURN
BASEL: Jose Mourinho is gunning for a return to top level management and a third Champions League title, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United manager revealed on Friday in an interview with AFP. “If I can win a third Champions League, great,” said the 56-year-old, who won the title with Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 2010.
“I can go back to a country I’ve been before and to be honest, I have enjoyed working in every country I did. I can (also) try something very important, which is to work in a fifth country and try to win everything in the fifth country,” he added.
SUPER CUP DISPUTE
NEW DELHI: The dispute between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and I-league clubs over the Super Cup took a turn for the worse after the federation told clubs it wouldn’t meet their demand of replaying the qualifiers. After deciding to boycott the tournament, seven I-league clubs had looked set to play after the AIFF agreed to meet them and discuss their issues.