Argentina have arrived in Ecuador ahead of their crunch World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, with the country in real danger of missing out on qualification.
Jorge Sampaoli’s side need to win to guarantee at least at play-off spot, while anything else would almost certainly see them miss out on a place in Russia.
Lionel Messi and his team-mates arrived at their team hotel in Guayaquil on Sunday, under heavy protection from armed police, as they take one last throw of the dice in their bid to avoid the unthinkable.
Lionel Messi arrives in Guayaquil in Ecuador as he checks into the Argentina team hotel along with his team-mates
The Barcelona forward will be charged with leading his nation to victory in their crunch qualifier with Ecuador on Tuesday
There was a heavy police presence as the Argentina team arrived, with armed guards escorting the players from the bus
That outcome could spell the end for Messi’s own hopes of lifting the World Cup, as they visit a country where they have failed to win since 2001.
Argentina currently sit sixth in the South American standings, behind Peru, who occupy the play-off spot, on goals scored.
With Peru set to face fourth-placed Colombia, who themselves are only a point ahead of their opponents, Sampaoli’s men have the opportunity to leapfrog at least one of the sides above them with victory.
Messi will be key to any victory at the Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa in Quito which has proven a tricky venue for Argentina in the past. The ground sits at 2,782 metres above sea level and they have lost two of their last three visits.
While not quite at the same height as Bolivia’s Estadio Hernando Siles, the ground that forced Neymar and Brazil to reach for the oxygen masks last week, the elevated stadium is certain to make their task even tougher.
It will be a tall ask for Messi and an Argentina side that have struggled for goals during the campaign, and Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez does not think failure to drag his side out of their current predicament should be held against the Barcelona star.
Javier Mascherano makes his way into the hotel past an armed policeman, ahead of Argentina’s do-or-die fixture
Angel Di Maria waves to a set of supporters as he enters the complex alongside a couple of team-mates
‘I don’t see it as a stain and it shouldn’t be like that,’ Tabarez said when asked what effect missing the World Cup would have on Messi’s career.
‘There are a lot of great players in football’s history that weren’t world champions and they’re not stained by that, at least for me. Besides that, Messi is still playing, you can’t tell what will happen.
‘Argentina are having problems to qualify but if they do, they’ll be favourites to win the World Cup. He’s a huge player but he can’t do it all, this is a team sport.’
‘He is usually heralded as the best when he plays, but while being held at fault when things don’t go well, even when he’s not responsible,’ added Tabarez, whose Uruguay side are second in the table and are already guaranteed of at least a play-off place ahead of hosting Bolivia.
‘Football is not easy and not always the best players can handle everything. The statistics are meant to be interpreted but if you take a look at Messi’s statistics, during his whole career, they’re impressive, you can’t believe it.
‘And that’s enough to enter football’s history. But sometimes it is not enough… In that history, it has either to be champion of the World Cup or he’s not worthy and I don’t agree with that.’
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THE STADIUM THAT COULD LEAVE MESSI BREATHLESS
The Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa in the Ecuadorian capital Quito is one of the highest stadiums in the world, sitting 2,782 metres above sea level.
Argentina have a poor recent record at the ground, having failed to win their since 2001. Lionel Messi has never experienced victory with his national team there and they have lost two of their last three visits.
However, despite the altitude problems, it has not proved impossible for teams to come away with results from Quito during the campaign, with both Colombia and Brazil enjoying victories over Ecuador.