Messi, Neymar head for World Cup qualifiers
LIONEL Messi and Neymar return to national team duty this week to launch World Cup qualifying campaigns that the South American superstars hope will lead to glory in Qatar in 2022.
If Messi leads Argentina to its third world title and first since 1986, it would finally win him a place in the hearts of Diego Maradona’s faithful. At odds with Barcelona, the 33-year-old Messi will be the key for his team, beginning when they host Ecuador on today. Though younger than Messi, Neymar could also be approaching his final opportunities to lead Brazil to a sixth World Cup. Neymar will be 30 when Qatar hosts the tournament in November and December of 2022.
Neymar, celebrated at Paris SaintGermain after a Champions League runner-up campaign but still criticized by local fans, has a chance to start regaining their love when they host Bolivia tomorrow. Brazil last won a World Cup in 2002.
Ten teams are battling for four direct berths. Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Colombia, in that order, start as favorites for those spots. The qualifying phase ends in March 2022. Messi will have more liberty under Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni than he has had at Barcelona with new coach Ronald Koeman. He was not expected to play due to a red card during the 2019 Copa America, but the punishment was erased because it was supposed to be carried out within one year. Lautaro Martinez, who is in great form at Inter Milan, and Sevilla’s Lucas Ocampo will play supporting roles to Messi.
Meanwhile, Brazil’s first training with the full squad Tuesday suggests an old partnership will be revived. Philippe Coutinho, a European champion with Bayern Munich and an improving player at Barcelona, looked set to be back in the starting lineup for Tomorrow’s clash in Sao Paulo.
Coutinho and Neymar have played together since Brazil’s youth teams, but the midfielder had struggled to get a place since the 2018 World Cup in Russia.