Lionel Messi: More misery for Barcelona forward with Argentina
As the full-time whistle sounded in Argentina’s 2-0 Copa America defeat to Brazil, all eyes went to Lionel Messi. One word sprung to mind: dejection.
A glum looking Messi in an Argentina shirt? Where have we seen that before? This latest Copa America failure is another to throw on the pile of misery.
The 32-year-old has an U20 World Cup title and an Olympic gold medal to his name but that is a timid return for a footballing mad nation like Argentina with arguably the greatest ever footballer on the teamsheet.
Goals from Gabriel Jesus and Roberto Firmino ended what was probably Messi’s last chance to win some major silverware with his country.
Messi was just five-years-old when Argentina last won a major title.
There has been five final defeats – four Copa America and one World Cup, where Messi was quiet in a 1-0 loss to Germany. Messi was awarded the Golden Ball as best player at that tournament but he said: „The prize doesn’t interest me at all,“ as he reflected on a huge missed opportunity to define his legacy at international level.
Expectation to blame?
Athletes speak of ‘getting in the zone’ – it’s a place where everything both mentally and physically flows to perfection and a high level of performance is achieved.
Like when a cricketer is seeing it like a tennis ball or a golfer is sinking putts from every corner of the green. Sports stars can get into this place just once or twice in their careers, but Messi is constantly able to put himself in that zone to produce superhuman performances. On a weekly basis when wearing the Barcelona shirt, Messi is able to do extraordinary things. He looks at peace. He fits in. The crowd are on his side.
Getting into that zone when playing for his country has always proved more difficult. The weight of a nation has taken its toll.
One Lionel Messi? No. There’s two of them.
Succeeding is all about trying hard enough but failure can come of trying too hard.
Against Brazil, Messi’s body language told that story from an early stage. He looked constantly agitated, especially with the referee who bore most of Messi’s early frustration through his questioning of every foul on him not being worthy of a yellow card. Waving imaginary cards towards a referee never did anyone any favours. It’s not a good look for the one of the greats.
Of course, there were flashes of brilliance as the game wore on as Brazil tried to soak up pressure but Messi was taking one touch too many in and around the box and snatching, rather than caressing, chances. His levels have been uncharacteristically sluggish in all four games this tournament.
Brazil goalkeeper Alisson – beaten by a heavenly free-kick from Messi in the Champions League – easily dealt with two weak 25-yard efforts this time around. The magic just was not there.
Messi’s big moment came on 57 minutes but his half-volley finish came crashing back off the outside of the post.
He was alive to the rebound but again his clever cross across the six-yard box was not read by any of his team-mates. Fine margins.
Brazil never really look troubled after that moment with Casemiro and his midfield team-mates restricting the supply line into Messi. Argentina – not for the first time – lacked a Plan B.
The worry is that this result may have retired Messi from international football. For good this time.The lure of the 2020 Copa America, which Argentina is co-hosting with Colombia, could tempt Messi to carry on while hopes of him turning out for Argentina at the age of 35 at the 2022 World Cup look slim.
„Something new is on the horizon,“ Messi said.
„I hope we are respected and not criticised. They should let the team be and let them grow.
„The truth is I have got on very well with this group of players and if I have to help in some way I will. This is a great group which is growing and if I can join them I will.“
Argentina do have a third and fourth place play-off to contend with at the weekend. If Messi was to play it would be an underwhelming way to wave goodbye.
The little maestro is running out of chances to bow out in a blaze of glory. In fact, his last chance may have already gone.
Soccer Accumulator Bonus
Our fantastic Euro Soccer accumulator offer gives you the chance to earn a bonus of up to 100% on accumulators on the top domestic leagues in Europe along with the group and knockout stages of the Champions League.
This offer applies to returns on pre-match accumulators of 3 or more selections on Full Time Result or Result/Both Teams To Score markets for the English Premier League, Italian Serie A, Spanish Primera Liga, German Bundesliga 1 or UEFA Champions League.
The maximum bonus that you can receive is ˆ100,000 or currency equivalent. The bonus will not apply where a stake has been fully Cashed Out. Where a stake has been partially Cashed Out, the bonus will be calculated based .on the remaining active stake. If a qualifying bet is edited .using our Edit Bet feature. The bonus will be calculated based on the new stake. Where a bet has been edited to include or amend a selection for an event that is In-Play, the bonus will no longer apply. Double Chance bets or combination bets with bonuses. Such as Lucky 15’s or Lucky .31’s do not apply for this offer.
If your bet is successful, we will add the following bonuses to your returns:
Bet Type Bonus
14-folds and upwards 100% bonus
Terms and Conditions
Applies to straight pre-match accumulator bets on the Full Time Result or Result/Both Teams To Score markets for UEFA Champions League, English Premier League, Italian Serie A, Spanish Primera Liga, German Bundesliga .1 or Australian A-League matches. Maximum bonus ˆ100,000 or currency equivalent. Soccer Accumulator Bonus does not apply to Double Chance bets or combination. bets with bonuses such as Lucky 15’s, Lucky 31’s etc.
If any selections are postponed/void then the bonus will still apply, but the percentage bonus added will reflect the actual number of winning selections. For example, an 8-fold accumulator with 7. winners and 1 postponed match will receive a 30% .bonus to returns.
The bonus part of your returns will be added to your account within 24 hours of your final selection having played.
This bonus will not apply where a stake has been fully Cashed Out. Where a stake has been partially Cashed Out, the bonus will be calculated based on the remaining active stake.
If a qualifying bet is edited using our Edit Bet feature, the bonus will be calculated based on the new stake. Where a bet has been edited to include or amend a selection for an event that is In-Play, the bonus will no longer apply.
Where any term of the offer or promotion is breached or there is any evidence of a series of bets placed by a customer or group of customers, which due to a deposit bonus, enhanced payments, free bets, risk free bets or any other promotional offer results in guaranteed customer profits irrespective of the outcome, whether individually or as part of a group, bet365 reserves the right to reclaim the bonus element of such offers and in their absolute discretion either settle bets at the correct odds, void the free and risk free. bets or void any bet funded by the deposit bonus.
In addition bet365 .reserve the right to levy an administration charge on the customer up to the value of the deposit bonus, free bet, risk free bet or additional payment to cover administrative costs. We further reserve the right to ask any customer to provide sufficient documentation for us to be satisfied in our absolute discretion as to the customer’s identity prior to us crediting any bonus, free bet, risk free bet or offer to their account.
All bet365 offers are intended for recreational players and bet365 may in its sole discretion limit the eligibility of customers to participate in all or part of any promotion.
.
