Messi hits back over his poor Argentina performances
- Source: Global Times
- [02:10 September 24 2009]
- Comments
Lionel Messi hit back on Wednesday over criticism of his Argentina performances and said they would reach the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
"We have to get together and go forward because Argentina can't stay out of the World Cup," he said.
Coach Diego Maradona's team, who lost their last two qualifiers 3-1 to Brazil and 1-0 in Paraguay, are in fifth place in the South American group, which is a playoff berth.
"I alone won't win a match… this is down to all of us who are in the team," noted Messi.
Argentina face Peru at home and Uruguay away in their last two qualifiers in October, looking to climb into the top four for an automatic World Cup berth or remain fifth for a two-leg playoff with the CONCACAF's fourth-placed team.
Messi also denied reports in Argentine media that he and Maradona did not speak to each other by saying that "the relationship with Diego is great. There are no fights [in the squad], on the contrary."
