Argentina have hardly
been as poor as they have been this Copa, with already two shaky performances
in their two group games. Matchday two, Argentina vs Paraguay, Richard Sanchez
gives Paraguay the lead in the 37th minute, firing into the bottom corner after a lung-bursting run from
Miguel Almiron down the left wing. Messi then salvages Argentina with a goal
from penalty in the 57th minute after a hand-ball by Paraguay's Ivan Piris is
spotted by VAR review. Derlis Gonzalez would then take on a spot-kick for
Paraguay but his shot is saved by Argentina keeper Franco Armani. He is also to
be credited for saving a free kick from Matias Roja.
Argentina who sit at the bottom of Group B with
only a point from two games must beat third-placed Qatar in their final group
game on Sunday in order to progress to the knock-out stage. Group B leaders,
Colombia, are already qualified for the quarter-finals, after beating Qatar 1-0
earlier yesterday. Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni told reporters after
the game, "Our first half was not good, we played with desperation at
times and we couldn't control the play or create attacks. We had a very clear
plan but couldn't execute it as we kept losing the ball.
"They scored with their first attack and that
caused us a lot of uncertainty. For a team like Argentina, which feels
like it always has to win, the first blow is hard to take, but we assured the
players at halftime that it was just one goal."
The future sure does look bleak for Messi and co in this tournament.
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