Thank God for Messi, say Argentina

2018 QUALIFIERS Talisman’s hattrick gives lastgasp win against Ecuador to seal World Cup berth

BUENOS AIRES :

A win seemed a little too fanciful to most, exasperated by a series of underwhelming performances by the national side. Only a win would do in Quito, where Argentina hadn’t won since 2001. The nation held its breath.

Nobody here, or anywhere else, wanted to contemplate the unthinkable but very real prospect of Argentina losing.

That would mean next year’s World Cup in Russia would go ahead without Messi, arguably the world’s greatest player.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man, and now Argentina will bask in the fact that the “Messiah” will lead them to the World Cup finals. Team coach Jorge Sampaoli said he had told his players: “Messi doesn’t owe the World Cup to Argentina, football owes the World Cup to Messi.”

The nation yearns for a return to the glory days of 1978 and 1986 when Argentina won the World Cup.

Over to you, Mr Messi.

REUTERS Lionel Messi scores his third goal under pressure from Ecuador's Robert Arboleda (left) and Jefferson Intriago (right).