Argentina captain Lionel Messi received a four-match suspension from FIFA on Tuesday, just hours before a World Cup qualifying match against Bolivia. Manager Edgardo Bauza’s work got a whole lot tougher with Messi set to miss official FIFA dates through Oct. 5.
Life has already been difficult for the defeated 2014 World Cup finalist. The Albiceleste sit third in CONMEBOL qualification standings with a slim lead on Colombia, Ecuador, and Chile. High-flying Brazil has all but locked up the No. 1 spot, and without Messi for much of the remainder of 2017, Bauza needs to come up with some new answers to ensure qualification.
But will Messi’s absence prove a fatal blow to Argentina’s efforts?
Certainly, historical precedent shows this Argentina side is miles better with the Barcelona star in its ranks than without. When Messi was absent through injury or in his protest retirement, Argentina picked up just one victory out of seven 2018 World Cup qualifying tilts, earning four draws and losing twice. Worse yet, those results came against minnows like Peru, Venezuela, and Paraguay …read more