Messi Says Argentina Must Qualify for World Cup 2010

Argentina have given World Cup fans some of the most memorable soccer moments in history over the years and are used to being a force to be reckoned with at every World Cup competition. But on the road to South Africa 2010 things are not going very well.

The team coach is Argentinean and World Cup legend Diego Maradona. Their star player is the man many consider to be the best soccer player anywhere in the world right now, Lionel Messi . But this has just not been enough so far. The team has lost their last two qualifying games, a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Paraguay and a 3-1 loss to Brazil.

Brazil and Paraguay’s wins over Argentina qualified both teams for South Africa 2010. In addition, Argentina is still lagging behind other teams in their group in the quest for the last automatic qualifying place. Chile are well ahead with 27 points to Argentina’s 22, and Ecuador have a one point advantage over Diego’s boys as well.

However, Lionel Messi told reporters yesterday that he is not that worried, that he and his countrymen and teammates will indeed by jetting off to Johannesburg next June. "We have to get together and go forward because Argentina can't stay out of the World Cup," the Barcelona forward said. But he also admitted he can’t do it alone “I alone won't win a match...this is down to all of us who are in the team,"

He also took the opportunity to dispel rumors that he and Maradona, to whom he is often likened, just do not get along. "The relationship with Diego is great. There are no fights (in the squad), on the contrary.”

Despite Messi’s confidence, he is right, he can’t get the team to the World Cup by himself, and the play of his teammates has been lackluster to say the least of late.
Only time will tell if Argentina will be among the final 32 but one thing is for sure, it’ll be a real loss for World Cup soccer if they don’t make it.