Selección Argentina

The match was decided in the round of penalty kicks (5-4) after a good performance from the star Barca beats Colombia Peru (2-0) in overtime and goes to semifinals

All over for an Argentina who dreamed of glory and had a bitter awakening. Despite having had a fantastic Lionel Messi for the first time, was America's Cup for the difference in a penalty. Fell 5-4 against a hardened Uruguay, after a draw in a goal in 120 minutes. Fernando Muslera, goalkeeper born in Buenos Aires, Uruguayan parents, gave his team a pass to the semifinals after stopping the firing of Carlos Tevez. Peru will play Uruguay, which beat Colombia 2-0 and became the other surprise of the tournament.

The Argentina team went to pay the high price of being favorite and take too seriously the predictions. He had done things better, had moments of good play, especially when the ball went through the feet Messi, but not quite enough to subdue an opponent who knows his script memory and punchy supplies what is lacking in imagination.

He knew it was a sort of "early end" of the Cup's classic "River Plate" has always been unpredictable because one side is more at stake than the party. A rivalry. One way to understand and live the game.

Uruguay was the one who struck first, five minutes. Diego Forlan's free kick. Martin Cáceres with its head in the area, with an unflinching defense, which always was overtaken at the top. Goalkeeper Sergio Romero reached out and deflected the ball. But there was Diego Perez to make things 1-0. The stage of Colon de Santa Fe was speechless.

Many feared the worst imagined the worst. The Phantom of the German rout in South Africa over the city of Santa Fe, however, Messi got the team on his shoulder and carried him closer to Muslera. The public Santa Fe had abused during the match against Colombia. At this time, there was unanimous praise. "Leo, thank you for so much and so little forgiveness," read one banner. "Messi, thanks for Argentina," read another. The Flea was inspired. He played down the right and caused severe headaches for the Uruguayan defense, which only he could stop it with kicks. Leo got up without complaining, and still making the rounds. The Barca star Higuain left in scoring position over once. A half-hour average, was served on a platter to the attacker's mother chooses where to place it on its head. It was a tie, the best time of the premises.

Uruguay lost to Perez, after several failures, but its performance is not weakened. Moreover, Argentina was never able to take advantage of the numerical difference. In each center or contratagolpe, selecting "celestial" defense ravaged Argentina.

Argentina does not keep pace the first stage. Messi might not be as gravitating, and without the Flea, the group of Batista is devalued. Coach Sergio Batista decided the entry of Javier Pastore, who had a good understanding with Leo and Carlos Tevez. Uruguay, with obvious signs of fatigue, he tried to hang on and get to penalties. "We fought more than what we played," admitted the defender Lugano. But that determination was its fruit. Upon closing of the supplement, Mascherano was sent off and the game ended balancing.

Extra time was closer to Argentina to victory. The good performance of Muslera put a stop to that thirst for victory. Then came the definition from the Twelve Steps. Messi was the first penalty kick, with one supreme tranquility. In Argentina also became Burdisso, Higuain Pastore. However, Tevez failed. Took race and fired hard, as if to pierce the network. Muslera said no. Uruguay had been shot by Forlan, Suarez, Scotti and Gargano. Martín Cáceres sealed a spot in the semifinal. On the streets of Montevideo took to celebrate. Argentina became a collective wake.

Post-match reaction

"I do not call it failure. We did everything possible to win this Cup have to keep working, knowing the players. I do not think about quitting. I have a project and a contract that I will fulfill whatever the outcome," said Batista . According to the technician, "Lionel played 30 minutes exceptional in the first half. And in the second we lower the intensity. "

Again the Flea was left with nothing to selection. On the court he shut the mouths of the opponents. "Olé, olé, Leo, Leo," he sang. Could not be. "Messi is a great player, as much of the history of football, but we worked a lot. They relied on their individual potential," said Uruguay coach Oscar Washington Tabarez. "Now we have to celebrate much and go for more," he said.
Messi returned to the dressing in silence. And quietly left the stadium. "I play with Barcelona won, now I want to win something with the team," he said upon arriving in Buenos Aires, weeks before the tournament began.'d Imagined another outcome. You must wait until the World Cup in Brazil. "What frustration," stammered Mascherano . 'We are hurting. We had the illusion of winning the Cup did not expect this phase, "said Pastore. "Now we must look ahead," he resigned Huiguain. "We leave with our heads held high because we life," he said.

Tired of criticism of Leo Messi, the president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), Julio Grondona, believes the solution would be that Barca did not play more with their selection

Pulling irony, Grondona Messi recommended not to play with the selection 'albiceleste' to escape the criticism in his country. "The solution would be to say` I do not come Messi again, I'm in Spain ', "said Grondona, tired of complaints by Argentine fans to their compatriot.

"What everyone recognizes, Argentines want to throw down. Messi was born in Rosario, lived and played in Rosario, had growth problems. Follow your path, find a place in Barcelona, ​​where you care for him like he was born there . And despite that, he says `no 'to Spain because he wants to play with Argentina. You have to think about it," argued the president of the AFA to "Radio Cooperativa."

Although in the last match of Argentina Messi received the love from the stands, in the first two games of the Copa America was hostile albiceleste the fans with `10 'Barca. Will have to see what the public reaction in the next quarter-final match against Uruguay, in which Argentina will not have it all easy to beat Forlan, Luis Suarez and company.

Argentina, situated on the edge in the Copa America, has vertigo. Sparked panic attack is actually safer value, Messi

And then you do not remember the Camp Nou Lionel beep will never "asks almost a point of despair the Argentine colleague across the phone. "No, here he idolizes Leo" is the succinct answer from Barcelona. The football world is living with a curiosity about the tortuous relationship that exists much of the criticism and the fans with the best Argentine player in the world, Leo Messi. Curiosity becomes a concern and even outrage from the perspective of Barca's supporters can not understand how hard that is judged 'The Flea', sometimes even to contempt.

Argentina questioned the patriotism of Messi for not singing the anthem, a boy is found on the door of a restaurant and yells 'chest cold' (coward), after a bad game the albiceleste, ruled that Leo does not have the character of Diego Maradona to `throw the team on his back, 'and his teammates yell' stupid 'for not running the last ball of the final play some even reproached him that mark and celebrate too much! the goal against Estudiantes de La Plata in the Club World Cup final of 2009.

In Barcelona joke that Leo, an Argentine to the core, his accent still intact Rosario a decade after arriving in Catalunya. In the league, Quique Sanchez Flores surrenders to his fighting spirit because he steals the ball to 'Kun' Agüero after a career of fifty meters, Josep Guardiola smiles as 'ten' leads Barca's defensive pressure at the tip of the attack , and idolized by his peers because his goals, put the icing on a football dream and decides the finals of the Champions League in Rome or London.

The repeated success with Barca Messi led and lead brainy analysis of the uprooting of Leo course, without a hobby nor a patriotic journalism to defend him when he crosses the Atlantic puddle. One way to underestimate and undervalue justify how a player some single, double FIFA Golden Ball for 24 years and winner of almost everything. Because, unfortunately, the current Argentina fails to select the level of excellence achieved at the club of clubs.

Perhaps one of the problems, but the reality is stubborn: Messi is a natural talent, he could be born anywhere but luckily for Rosario was born in Argentina and Barcelona's fortune was refined in La Masia. His soul football has set foot on every continent. Apparently, an Argentine football sector is unable to understand and interpret the silences of football or should be a national hero who has been blessed by two geniuses such as Alfredo Di Stefano and Diego Maradona.

Frank Rijkaard, Josep Guardiola knew the best out of a Leo gifted as anyone to understand the language of football. It is easy to learn and play football association, touch and reach space, exchange of positions that the club practices. It requires a Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta a, a Sergio Busquets ...

When the coach Sergio Batista looks at his list of midfielders Javier Mascherano just proves that, also a member of Pep 'Team' and intelligent footballer and supportive-he holds the pull.

The crowd, frustrated by draws against Bolivia (1-1) and Colombia (0-0) living with terror the hours before the decisive Argentina, Costa Rica where you play the pass to the quarterfinals. Brazil brushed ridicule against Paraguay, but Argentina, organizer of the event, a real catastrophe would be eliminated in the first round.

Leo is desperate because his sole obsession is to get your country has achieved everything for the club. His competitive spirit and his pride wounded a number help you address the meeting Tuesday morning (2.45 Spanish time) as it is an all or nothing. He knows that in those ninety minutes the fans dictate whether Messi is Argentina's new hero or the villain of the albiceleste eternal.

No one remembers that the ultimate success of Mayor `Select 'from 1993, when they won their last Copa America, either, the last two fiascos in the South American tournament against Brazil (2004 and 2007). Or that the latest title, is the gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Indeed, with Messi as a team leader after the Barca granted special permission to 'The Flea' could defend his country's shirt ...

Javier Pastore reviewed the current state of Argentina's national team after the draw against Bolivia Gray has triggered criticism of the combined albiceleste.

Pastore Javier analyzed the current state of the Argentina after the gray tie against Bolivia has triggered criticism of the combined albiceleste. The Palermo playmaker also wanted to relieve pressure on Messi face of this Copa America. "The selection does not have to play for Messi. You have to take speed and the play of others. Messi is not only ... It's a plus that we have, yes, it is the best in the world, but you have to find a good collective performance. "

Argentine footballer, told the Argentine newspaper "Olé", wanted to make clear that Argentina can not play like Barcelona and asked not to try to offer the same game, because it is impossible. "It is not possible to reach the Barcelona game. Sure we will not get to play like them. Because play and from Lower: the look and play alike. Reaches first after so much time together as a systematic game. The selection is just now putting together. In addition, Barcelona has other quality players. We should try to imitate them, yes, because we also have players who can get a good start. Not 100% but like ...".

Pastore, who has yet to debut in the tournament, wanted to make clear not impatient, and he knows his time will come. "I I am calm. The mere fact of having been called and I am more than happy. But try to earn a spot on the team during training. "