Lionel Messi blamed the circumstances of the pitch Estadio Monumental de Maturín for Argentina‘s “ugly’ 1-1 draw in opposition to Venezuela on Thursday evening of their first World Cup qualifier of the October worldwide window.
The heavy rain in Maturin, Venezuela impacted the pitch earlier than kickoff, forcing an preliminary delay earlier than gamers had been in a position to return to play on the soaked area. Nicolás Otamendi opened the scoring for Argentina, however Venezuela’s Salomón Rondón levelled within the second half because the groups settled for some extent apiece.
“It was very tough, it makes for very ugly matches,” stated Messi to TyC after the sport. “We couldn’t full two passes in a row. Within the second half we did it on the proper a bit extra, however it’s tough to play like that. Little or no is performed.”
Midfielder Rodrigo De Paul echoed his World Cup-winning teammate’s frustration following the ultimate whistle.
“On this case, we could not play soccer,” De Paul stated.
Although Argentina at the moment lead the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying standings with 19 factors from 9 video games, Messi walked away pissed off by the disappointing consequence. The Argentina captain stated the state of the pitch did not enable his group to execute the sport it had deliberate to play.
“We tied as a result of the sphere did not assist us do what we wished, we needed to do one other sport than the one ready for,” Messi stated. “However we had been ready as a result of we fought, gained the battles, performed with the error of the rival. We could not danger a lot by enjoying with passes to the again. Within the first half we made a pair passes to the again and the water would cease it, and complex it. We did the sport we might with the water.”
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni stated after the match he did not suppose the pitch was match to be performed on for a sport of this magnitude.
“It [the pitch] didn’t meet the minimal circumstances for a soccer sport,” Scaloni stated. “You could not play.
“We did what we needed to do, however the circumstances of the enjoying area weren’t for a match in opposition to two groups of this type of degree.”
Messi returned to motion with Argentina for the primary time on Thursday after struggling a proper ankle harm throughout their Copa América ultimate win over Colombia on July 14, 2024 at Exhausting Rock Stadium in Miami. Messi spent two months on the sidelines as a result of harm, lacking matches with Inter Miami CF and the September worldwide window with Argentina.
“The wait to play once more [with Argentina] was too lengthy,” Messi stated. “I additionally missed many video games with my membership. I’m completely satisfied to return, to proceed including consecutive video games and to be right here once more.”
Messi rejoined Inter Miami on Sept. 14 within the match in opposition to the Philadelphia Union, narrowly lacking the September FIFA window with Argentina. Regardless of a need to be along with his nationwide group, the captain selected to keep away from any dangers.
“I hadn’t performed but and I had little coaching for the time being of the decision,” Messi stated. “I wasn’t at one hundred pc. From a bodily viewpoint, the ankle was bothering me. We each determined that I wasn’t prepared and it was greatest to remain and practice with my group to finish my restoration.”
Now, Messi and Argentina put together to host Bolivia on the Estadio Mâs Monumental in Buenos Aires for the ultimate match of the October window.
“I miss enjoying in Argentina, so now I’m completely satisfied,” Messi added.
The post Argentina’s Messi blames soaked pitch for Venezuela draw first appeared on AI Earth.