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Messi hat trick sends Argentina to 2018 World Cup

Lionel Messi struck form when Argentina needed it the most as they qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup to be held in Russia

 

Quito (Ecuador): Lionel Messi delivered for Argentina when it mattered and when the pressure was most intense.

Messi’s three goals lifted Argentina into the World Cup on the last day of South American qualifying, keeping the Albiceleste from missing out for the first time since 1970.

On the brink of being eliminated from World Cup qualifying for the first time in almost five decades, Messi scored all three goals in Argentina’s comeback 3-1 victory on Tuesday in Ecuador, overcoming the thin air in the Andes.

“It would’ve been crazy if Argentina didn’t play the World Cup,” said Messi, adding that the team “will change, will grow a lot, will be stronger after this.”

But there’s still work to do for Argentina, the two-time champions, who lost the final three years ago to Germany 1-0.

Messi has yet to hoist a major trophy for his country of birth, a contrast to the laurels he’s brought Barcelona.

He’ll turn 31 during the World Cup in Russia, so this may be his last chance.

“Messi does not owe Argentina a World Cup, but rather football owes him a World Cup,” Argentine coach Jorge Sampaoli said.

The top four teams in South America get automatic spots at next year’s tournament in Russia.

Brazil has 41 points and clinched the spot months ago. The other three advancing Tuesday went in this order: Uruguay (31), Argentina (28) and Colombia (27).

Uruguay beat Bolivia 4-2, Argentina won 3-1, Colombia drew 1-1 with Peru and last-place Venezuela beat Paraguay 1-0.

Peru (26) placed fifth and will keep alive its bid for a first World Cup appearance since 1982 after edging Chile for the South American spot in the inter-continental playoff next month against Oceania representative New Zealand.

It looked easy for Argentina. But it wasn’t, particularly after Romario Ibarra gave Ecuador a 1-0 lead in the first minute at 2,850 meters (9,350 feet) in Ecuador’s capital.

“Even with a goal against us you could see the certainty of a team that knew how to play the game,” Sampaoli said.

Messi for sure, and running mate Angel di Maria. Messi scored off a pass from Di Maria in the 12th, left-footing home from close range. In the 20th, Di Maria slipped a pass through to Messi, who drove the ball into the top corner from 15 yards.

Messi got his third in the 62nd, weighing a perfect 18- yard shot that went in just over the fingers of Ecuador keeper Maximo Banguera.

Argentina had scored only one goal in its last four qualifying games, and only 16 in 17 qualifiers entering the final.

“I won’t make any promises,” said Sampaoli, the third coach in this qualifying cycle for Argentina. The Argentine was successful as Chile’s coach and at Spanish club Sevilla.

“The nationality of the best player in the world is luckily Argentine,” he said.

 

(With inputs from PTI)

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