Targets of PSG criticism, Lionel Messi and Neymar are back in Argentina and Brazil. Both teams, already classified for Catar-2022, appear as the refuge of the pair of friends in the face of one of the worst sports storms of their careers.
For the last double day of the South American qualifier this week and next, the Argentinian and the Brazilian are reunited with theirs in moments of scrutiny following the failure in the Champions League, repeated absences and few goals in France.
“I think it's going to be a good spiritual break for both 'Ney' and Messi to get away from Europe right now,” Juan José Buscalia, commentator for Fox Deportes and DirecTV Sports, tells AFP.
“I have no doubt that it will be good for both of them to return to their national teams, to be with their coaches, to be with their teammates, to get away from that hostile climate a little,” he adds.
Undefeated leader with 39 points, Brazil will close the qualifier by hosting Chile this Thursday and visiting Bolivia the following Tuesday. Argentina, second with 35, will host Venezuela on Friday and then travel to play against Ecuador.
The classic that was to be played in São Paulo in September 2021 is still pending, suspended due to invasion of the playing field of Brazilian health authorities for alleged violations of the Argentine team to the anti-covid protocols.
- Messi's paradox -
Messi, 34, needed to win a title with his country, the Copa América-2021, for his compatriots to get drunk with the spell that made him a deity in Barcelona.
After the conquest in Maracana, precisely against 'Canarinha', Messi reconciled with the passionate Argentine fans and established himself as captain of the reborn cast of Lionel Scaloni with a view to what may be his last World Cup.
But there is no complete peace.
Now that there is peace of mind in his national team, which has not lost 29 matches (20 wins, nine draws), the turbulence is in his club, where so far in 2022 he barely scored a goal in ten games, although he stood out in creation.
“Every individuality needs a context, a collective performance. And that collective performance, not only Messi, but also Neymar, is not being found at PSG,” says Buscalia.
Although they dominate the French league, despite two defeats in the last three games, the elimination in the second round of the Champions League against Real Madrid filled the patience of the Parisian fans, who in the next league match, on March 13, whistled the duo, especially Neymar.
“For me, he is not enjoying (...) Right now, Leo is out of place” at PSG, Dani Alves, former teammate at Barça, told ESPN.
The coach 'culé', Xavi, left to plan on Saturday the doubt about a possible return to Camp Nou of the seven-time Golden Ball, despite his contract with the French.
- Close ranks for 'Ney' -
Messi and Neymar will premiere in 2022 with their selections, after missing from the double date of January and February. 'La Pulga' was afflicted by covid-19, while the 30-year-old Brazilian spent almost 80 days outside due to an injury to his left ankle.
“He has an extraordinary quality. It comes from a normal recovery process, the search for better performance, and time will give it to him,” said Tite on March 11.
Since taking office almost six years ago, the coach of the five champions has played a fatherly role with his top star, so many times the protagonist of controversies that have sullied his image on and off the pitch.
And the '10' usually responds to it by adding magic in a selection of records, but questioned by its supposed defensive character.
Although this season 'Ney' has the worst numbers since he was a professional (five goals in fifteen league games), he is close to beating Pelé as the top scorer of the Brazilian team: 70 goals against 77 for 'O Rei'.
On the way to Catar-2022 he has been absent from five of the fifteen matches. Even so, he is the second gunner (7), behind Bolivian Marcelo Martins Moreno (10), and the biggest assistator (8) in the world championship.
“He is our big crash,” says Monique Danello, journalist for TNT Sports. “That's why that reception in the national team, that support, that attempt to rescue the best Neymar, because he is the best that Brazil can have to play a competition at the World Cup level.”
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