Messi, one week away from his World Cup debut: the 10 sentences of Argentine crack that fuel the illusion in Qatar

Only five days left until the start of Qatar World Cup 2022. The 32 coaches already have a full squad to prepare for their debut. The illusion is great and everyone dreams of playing all seven matches, but only two teams will have the privilege of reaching the final.

The Argentina national team allow illusions. For the large group that was formed, for the consecration in Copa América 2021 and Finalissima 2022, for the 35 games without defeats and for the high flight of football that demonstrates Lionel Messiwho at 35 says he is present with a hierarchy from another planet.

The captain of Albicelestial released an exclusive interview for the official CONMEBOL website where he talked about everything: the present of the national team, the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the departure of Barcelona, ​​his arrival in Paris and much more…

When asked by the paddock, that characteristic that distinguishes the South American player, Lionel Messi He confessed: “The Argentine player in general has always been characterized by street games. I had to go to Barcelona at 13 and you realize how different it is growing up there. In Barcelona it was very difficult to see street football matches, groups of friends playing on either side of the road, on small fields, you don’t see many small fields. And this is everywhere in Argentina.”

In the interview carried out by the journalist Cecilio Flematti and also by the former footballer Ezequiel Lavezzi, in his new role as interviewer, the Flea He referred to the great present that is experienced on a group level indoors: “We are very enthusiastic. We have a good group, who are looking forward to it, but we intend to go there little by little. We know that the World Cup groups are never easy, we hope to start in the best way to face everything that comes next, but we can’t wait”.

And he assured that he sees similarities with the process that Alejandro Sabella has carried out as DT of the Albicelestialwhere they managed to reach the final of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil: “After the World Cup in Russia, a generation that had been unfairly criticized left and a new generation came with a few more matches. And all the new people have argued and took it differently, it’s like starting over. Reminds me of the 2014 World Cup group stage.. That whole process up until the World Cup we were the same way. Even the two Copa América, what happens is that we weren’t lucky enough to win. Winning decompresses a lot, makes you work differently, and people see you differently too.”

The 10 of the national team did not hesitate when it came to giving their candidates the possibility of lifting the World Cup: “Every time we talk about candidates, I think that in all the World Cups we always say more or less the same thing. There is always some aspects, some surprises, but in general the big teams are the candidates. Today, if I have to put one above, I think Brazil, France, England today I’m a little above the rest. But then the World Cup is so difficult, so complicated that anything can happen,” she said.

America’s Cup 2021

​Lionel Messi was the bishop of Argentina national team who won a title after 28 years after beating Brazil by a minimum at the Maracana. That Copa América cut a drought for the Albicelestialbut it was also the thorn that Rosario wanted to remove: to win something with his Selection.

“All cups are important and are beautiful. In those parts, the Copa América was the one I wanted most after a long time, the one that cost me the most because I had had so many beatings on the street.“, said the Argentine.

And he added: “I had lost many finals with the national team, and I had been lucky to win everything in Barcelona on a personal level and I hadn’t been able to do it with the national team. This makes it more special because that’s what I was missing.”

The Flea He also referred to his reconversion as a footballer over the years: “I started playing in one way when I started, as time went by I grew as a player. Today it takes me bigger and I think I have added different things compared to first because of It hasn’t been that long since. I think I had some very good years, but I don’t know which one I would be with or which one I felt the best with. I’ve had years where I was lucky enough to win everything and I felt spectacular, and other years of earning nothing or little and feeling better or the same.”

He also highlighted the unjustified criticism suffered by the players of the national team during the previous cycle: “I think it was very unfair to that generation that reached the final of the 2014 World Cup and the two Copa América. Besides failing to win, he’s been all the way around.”

“I remember the World Cup in Brazil, that those who enjoyed that World Cup had never seen it, filling the pitches, being there until the last day in all the matches we had to play. It was unfair because the criticisms already went beyond football , the comments were very damaging and hurt not only us, but our family as well.”

And when do I hang up my boots?

When asked if he would continue to be associated with football after hanging up his boots, the Rosario man replied: “I suppose so because I love football, I like playing it and I enjoy it. It’s the only thing I’ve done all my life, I play football and I guess I’ll be related. But in what, I don’t know and I can’t even stop imagining.”

The Argentina national team captain has stressed that he is dedicated to living in the moment and does not plan what to do once he retires. Will he wear the DT Diver? “I always say that as a coach I don’t see myself, he doesn’t call me. But that’s where everything changes and I start from that side“, He answered.

On the possibility of playing in Argentine football: “Many things are happening that I don’t know about. It’s difficult to know what will happen tomorrow. It was a dream I always had as a kid and something I always have there. Being able to play in Argentine football is what I saw as a kid. I was on my way to court and wanted to be there. But today it depends on many things, I have a family, I have three children. I just had a very big change that cost me a lot, not just me but my entire family. Today I got over it and we adapted.”

Leaving Barcelona and his new life in France: “Today I enjoy the city much more. The first year was a very big change for me, I was denied everything because it was all sudden and it wasn’t a decision that I tried to leave Barcelona. But today I’m happy where we live and have fun, both me and my family, Paris.”

GL