ARGENTINA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - It remains uncertain if Argentina's Lionel Messi will suit up to face Colombia in what is certain to be a tough World Cup qualifier as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury

Record ID: 187265

  • Title: ARGENTINA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - It remains uncertain if Argentina's Lionel Messi will suit up to face Colombia in what is certain to be a tough World Cup qualifier as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury
  • Date: 6th June 2013
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (JUNE 06, 2013) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF THE ARGENTINE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (AFA) HEADQUARTERS ARGENTINE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION FLAG ARGENTINA COACH, ALEJANDRO SABELLA DURING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARGENTINA COACH, ALEJANDRO SABELLA, SAYING: "I think Messi is such an extraordinary player that it is a challenge for any team in the world when he's not there. If Barcelona, which is the best team in the last 30 years, was hit by it when they did not have him, any team can be hit by it. I think that answers the question. We all have to try and give a little more to try and make up for him missing out if he is not there. We will determine that this afternoon." VARIOUS OF SABELLA AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARGENTINA COACH, ALEJANDRO SABELLA, SAYING: "It (Colombia) is a very good team. (With) a great coach who has grown a lot soccer-wise. A team that plays really well, with good ball handling and it has gained some confidence." VARIOUS OF SABELLA AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARGENTINA COACH, ALEJANDRO SABELLA, SAYING: "We have to watch very carefully. He [Falcao] is a very intense player who doesn't leave any ball alone. He is the first defender when we try and go out and play. He is a player that when his team-mates have his back, he is always looking for a goal. He is a goal animal if you will, who plays very intensely, so we can't be distracted even for a minute." JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARGENTINA COACH, ALEJANDRO SABELLA, SAYING: "We have to qualify. We are optimistic. I think Spain and Germany are a little ahead of the rest. After that, there are a lot of good teams that are close. But we just have to think about the qualifiers to qualify the team for the World Cup in Brazil." BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (JUNE 04, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ARGENTINA TEAM PRACTICE
  • Embargoed: 21st June 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA6EIQCLQFV3AY7OU9G1TMQ21AK
  • Story Text: Argentina may face a tough home qualifier against Colombia without world's best player, Lionel Messi, who is recovering from a hamstring injury.
    On Thursday (June 6), Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella said Messi had been given the okay to play in Friday's (June 7) World Cup qualifier, but that it was still not clear if the Barcelona star would enter the fray after a three-week recovery process.

    "I think Messi is such an extraordinary player that it is a challenge for any team in the world when he's not there. If Barcelona, which is the best team in the last 30 years, was hit by it when they did not have him, any team can be hit by it. I think that answers the question. We all have to try and give a little more to try and make up for him missing out if he is not there. We will determine that this afternoon," Sabella said.
    Colombia is expected to come to the Monumental in Buenos Aires hungry for a win that would put it within two points of South American group leaders Argentina.
    It will fancy its chances, too, if Lionel Messi is not fit enough to start for Argentina, bringing back memories of Diego Maradona watching from the stands as Colombia tore apart the home side 20 years ago.

    "It (Colombia) is a very good team. (With) a great coach who has grown a lot soccer-wise. A team that plays really well, with good ball handling and it has gained some confidence," Sabella said.
    Third place Colombia is led by striker Radamel Falcao Garcia who the Argentine coach said players will look to neutralize.

    "We have to watch very carefully. He [Falcao] is a very intense player who doesn't leave any ball alone. He is the first defender when we try and go out and play. He is a player that when his team-mates have his back he is always looking for a goal. He is a goal animal if you will, who plays very intensely, so we can't be distracted even for a minute," he added.
    Argentina, that won 2-1 away to Colombia early in the qualifiers, is on the threshold of next year's finals in Brazil and would like to clinch its place as soon as possible.
    If it loses, second-placed Ecuador could move to within a point by beating Peru in Lima.

    "We have to qualify. We are optimistic. I think Spain and Germany are a little ahead of the rest. After that, there are a lot of good teams that are close. But we just have to think about the qualifiers to qualify the team for the World Cup in Brazil."
    Argentina leads the table with 24 points from 11 matches. Ecuador has 20 points and Colombia 19, both with a match in hand.
    The top four teams at the end of the qualifiers in October will go through to the Brazil finals. The fifth-placed team, at present Venezuela, will enter a playoff against an Asian qualifier in November for another berth.
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