Argentina kept the romance with its fans on fire by thrashing Venezuela 3-0 on Friday for the penultimate date of the South American qualifiers for the World Cup.
Captain Lionel Messi, on his return to the team after being absent on the last date, scored one of the goals. Nicolás González and Ángel Di María scored the others at the La Bombonera stadium, in what was probably the last match for the Argentine team in front of their fans before the World Cup.
And Messi’s?
The star reappeared in the Albiceleste at a high level after missing the double date of January-February and after stormy days at Paris Saint Germain, where his fans reproached him with whistles for the elimination in the Champions League.
“I’ve been happy here for a long time, since before winning the Copa América. It’s a wonderful group. People love me a lot and every day they show me more. I am very grateful. It does me good every time I come to Argentina”, he declared after the victory.
But in the midst of so much joy, Messi questioned his continuity in the national team after the World Cup: “After the World Cup I’m going to have to rethink a lot of things, whether it goes well or badly. Let’s hope it works out for the best.”
Argentina, with 38 points and qualified for the World Cup a long time ago, extended its unbeaten record to 30 games under the leadership of Lionel Scaloni. Venezuela, the only South American team that has never played in a World Cup, has a meager harvest of 10 units and continues in last position.
Until the first goal, the game had a training rhythm, in part because the locals were slow to settle into the field with a different formation than usual due to the absences of several starters: goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, Cristian Romero, Giovanni Lo Celso (suspended) , Marcos Acuña (injured) and gunner Lautaro Martínez (COVID).
The visit, led by the Argentine José Pekerman, in turn appealed to tactical fouls to keep the Argentines at bay, although without offensive ambition.
The zero was broken when Alexis Mac Allister, Lo Celso’s replacement, recovered the ball and touched for Rodrigo De Paul, who launched a cross for González to intercept the ball with the tip of his left boot and push it into the net.
At 61 Mac Allister had a clear opportunity to increase the score after an overflow and pass behind right back Nahuel Molina, but the English Brighton midfielder had no precision to define.
Shortly after, Messi left Joaquín Correa — he played for Martínez, the top scorer of Scaloni’s cycle with 19 goals — in scoring position, but the Inter striker got involved and squandered the opportunity. He was later replaced by Ángel Correa.
Di María, who did not play from the start because he came from a tear, woke up the team with his entry.