Messi v All Whites edges closer after Argentina lose
Suspended superstar Lionel Messi could be eyeing a World Cup football playoff with the All Whites if Argentina’s fortunes do not improve in the South American qualifiers.
Hours after Messi was suspended by Fifa for four World Cup qualifying matches, Argentina lost 2-0 to Bolivia in high altitude at La Paz yesterday and heightened the risk of missing an automatic qualfying spot at Russia 2018.
Argentina - ranked No 1 in the world - dropped from third to fifth place in their qualifying group, remaining on 22 points in South American qualifying with four games to play and putting coach Edgardo Bauza under intense pressure to step aside.
South America has four direct spots at the World Cup, and the fifth-ranked team goes into an inter-continental playoff against the Oceania qualifying winner for another spot at Russia next year. The All Whites - ranked 112th are favourites to win the Oceania group.
Argentina received a lifeline when neighbours and next-up opponent Uruguay lost 2-1 to Peru in Lima.
The Argentines’ best chance of qualifying for the next World Cup seemingly relies on winning an appeal to have Messi’s suspension shortened. The Barcelona star made offensive remarks to a Brazilian linesman in the 1-0 victory against Chile last Thursday and, if the Fifa ruling prevails, will only return to the team in their last match for qualifiers in October against Ecuador.
Argentina’s next games will be in August at Uruguay and in Buenos Aires against Venezuela.
Brazil lead the group by nine points after a 3-0 win over Paraguay in Sao Paolo.
When Anthony Hudson named his All Whites squad for the two matches against Fiji there was one player he thought should be talked about most.
Having balked at questions about the return of Tommy Smith from a long absence, the All Whites coach proffered Michael McGlinchey was the key player returning to the squad.
McGlinchey missed his team’s two battling performances against New Caledonia in November through injury, but the 30-year-old pulled the strings as a holding midfielder in the 2-0 wins over Fiji on Saturday and Tuesday.
Hudson said he was the clear difference in the improvement in performance from his team.
‘‘It’s interesting because whenever Mikey comes in I always want to push him higher because he does so well with the Phoenix playing higher up the pitch, but I just find in our group the deeper he comes with us, he’s just able to dictate the play.
‘‘I think we missed him against New Caledonia in the last tour. He was the one person who really could have helped us do what we did tonight and on Saturday, but he really fits that role.
‘‘He’s so composed on the ball, and he understands how we want to play. His work ethic off the ball, I think that can go unnoticed at times because he really does work hard off the ball as well.’’
McGlinchey formed a cohesive midfield trio with Clayton Lewis and Ryan Thomas as the latter grabbed the headlines on Tuesday with his match-winning brace. All three worked hard both on and off the ball, which will be important come June when the team plays at the Confederations Cup in Russia.
Hudson said the biggest task he has between now and then was ensuring his squad would be fitter than their opponents Russia, Portugal and Mexico.
That shouldn’t be too much of a problem for the Europe-based members of his squad with their long seasons, but roughly 10 of his 23-man squad will come from the A-League and Stirling Sports Premiership, which finish in early and mid-April.
Luckily, three of the A-League players should be playing finals football as May approaches, while Auckland City may be competing in the OFC Champions League up until May 7.
‘‘The key for us as a smaller nation in the tournament, we have to be so fit, we have to be fitter than all the teams we play against,’’ Hudson said.
‘‘Players who are playing regular first-team football, players who are fit, players who are ready to come in and be able to compete for 90 minutes is a big thing for us.
‘‘It’s a challenge now. I left some really good players on the bench tonight and I also left some players out of the squad who we all know are very, very good players. It’s a really good position to be in. Now I have a period of time to keep watching players, and then make some decisions.’’
The selection decisions looming largest appear to be if Kosta Barbarouses and Storm Roux can force their way into the squad, although they will be hurt by their A-League teams (probably) not making the playoffs.