MESSI FACTFILE Despairing Argentina Fans Urge Messi to Keep Playing
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FUTSAL | Page 8 CCRICKETRICKET | Page 9 Al Rayyan Amir can still in semis of be the world’s To Advertise here Intercontinental best bowler, Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 championship says Misbah Tuesday, June 28, 2016 FOOTBALL Ramadan 23, 1437 AH Italy outclass GULF TIMES Spain to reach Euro quarters SPORT Page 3 Heart-broken Messi quits internationals Argentina star says ‘it’s hard not to be champion’ after being booked and missing penalty in Copa America final defeat to Chile AFP Martino said. Higuain had time and space but opted to lift East Rutherford, United States “Certainly to lose again is too painful to act his shot over the advancing Claudio Bravo any diff erently.” and it rolled wide of the post in a huge let- It was a carbon copy of last year’s Copa off for Chile. ionel Messi sensationally an- America final, also won by Chile on penalties It was a nightmarish case of deja vu for nounced his retirement from inter- after a goalless draw. Higuain, who missed potentially match win- national football here Sunday after “The final result is all that counts and the ning chances in both the 2014 World Cup LArgentina crashed to defeat against final result is Chile winning by penalties final and last year’s Copa America. Chile in the Copa America Centenario final. so there’s not much to analyse,” Martino Seven minutes later Chile were left rocking A crestfallen Messi confirmed his decision to said. “We lost the game and we left empty- when Messi burst forward only to be body- quit after yet another agonising near-miss handed.” checked blatantly by Diaz, who collected a with Argentina, who have now lost three Jubilant Chile coach Juan Antonio Pizzi second yellow to see red. major tournament finals in a row since 2014. meanwhile said he hoped his side would It ought to have been a warning to both “It’s a hard moment for me and the team, continue to improve after clinching back-to- sides but the spiteful tone continued for the and it’s diff icult to say, but its over with the back Copa America crowns. remainder of the half, with Javier Mascher- Argentina team,” said Messi, who was also “We’re going to enjoy this,” said Pizzi, an ano and Arturo Vidal next into the book in on the losing side in the final of the 2007 Argentine. the 37th minute. Copa America. “I hope the team will continue growing and The next flare-up came on 40 minutes “I’ve done all I can, I’ve been in four finals evolving. This group of players has been when Messi darted into the box at high and it hurts not to be a champion,” the really pushing the ceiling of its abilities – speed and tumbled over following a colli- 29-year-old five-time world footballer of the let’s hope we continue to keep pushing sion with Jose Pedro Fuenzalida. year added. ourselves to achieve more.” Chile’s players surrounded Lopes demand- Messi had earlier been left distraught after As well as sending Messi into retirement, ing a yellow card for a dive and Messi was missing Argentina’s opening penalty in the the defeat ensured Argentina’s 23-year wait duly booked. shoot-out at MetLife Stadium after the two for a major title continued. Two minutes from half-time and Lopes was teams had finished extra-time deadlocked The final had gone to penalties after finish- reaching for a red card, this time sending at 0-0. ing level at 0-0 after 120 minutes. off Manchester United’s Marcos Rojo for a Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero had Both sides were reduced to 10 men in the reckless tackle on Vidal. got the shoot-out off to a dream start by first half as Brazilian referee Heber Lopes The cards continued in a fractious start to saving Chile’s opening spot-kick but Messi struggled to get a grip on an ill-tempered the second half, Jean Beausejour booked for then surrendered the initiative by blazing contest played in front of a crowd of 82,026. hacking at Gabriel Mercado. wildly over the bar. The first yellow card of the match came in A cynical foul on Messi by Charles Aranguiz A further miss by Lucas Biglia put Chile in the 16th minute when Marcelo Diaz brought resulted in another yellow card. the box seat and they duly held their nerve down Messi with a cynical hack across the Chile striker Eduardo Vargas went close on to win 4-2. thighs as the Barcelona star advanced on the 80th minute, thumping a fierce low shot Argentina coach Gerardo Martino had given the Chilean goal. that Romero did well to block at his near no inkling of Messi’s decision in a post- Argentina should have taken the lead on post. match press conference but sympathised 21 minutes when a defensive blunder from Sergio Aguero had a chance to steal victory with his captain. Gary Medel, miscontrolling a back pass, al- in the 84th minute when he was worked “He feels the way any football player must lowed Gonzalo Higuain to go clean through into space on the right of the box but he feel when he gets to a final and then loses,” on goal. blazed his shot high and wide. Top: Messi reacting after Argentina were beaten by Chile in the 2015 Copa America final. At bottom, Messi showing his disappointment after Argentina’s defeat to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final. With the latest loss in the Copa America Centenario final on Sunday, Messi has failed to deliver a trophy for his country for the third time in two years. Deja vu: Lionel Messi reacts after missing his shot in the penalty shootout against Chile in the Copa America Centenario final on Sunday. Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, June 28, 2016 FOOTBALL ACHIEVEMENT Chile prove a hard nut to crack for S America’s best A second successive victory on penalties in the final against their trans-Andean rivals, this time in the centenary tournament in the United States on Sunday, has cemented Chile’s status as one of the world’s top teams Reuters Messi has now lost four major fi nals East Rutherford with Argentina, three in the last two years including the 2014 World Cup decider against Germany in Rio de Ja- hile have never beaten Ar- neiro, leaving them still looking for gentina in open play in 27 their fi rst major trophy since 1993. Copa America meetings in He often looked cut off from his team C100 years yet have twice in at a packed Metlife in East Rutherford, 12 months dashed the hopes of Lionel New Jersey and cut a dejected fi gure at Messi’s team of lifting a major trophy. the end after his penalty miss and amid A second successive victory on pen- Chile’s victory celebrations. alties in the fi nal against their trans- Bielsa, who was Argentina coach Andean rivals, this time in the cente- from 1999 to 2004, revolutionised nary tournament in the United States Chile’s training methods and tactics on Sunday, has cemented Chile’s sta- and led them to the 2010 World Cup in tus as one of the world’s top teams. South Africa after being absent from A further irony is that the revolu- the tournament since 1998. tion that has transformed the team is He and successor Jorge Sampaoli the work of Argentine coaches start- were instrumental in developing mid- ing with the visionary appointment fi elder Arturo Vidal and forward Alexis in 2007 of Marcelo Bielsa, who has Sanchez as world class players while earned cult status in Chile. Claudio Bravo has proved a top notch “(Chile) have become audacious goalkeeper. in the way they impose their game on Sampaoli improved his mentor any fi eld, against any adversary,” Di- Bielsa’s work on a high pressing game, ego Latorre, who was in the Argentina steered Chile to the round of 16 in Bra- squad that won the Copa America in zil and masterminded their fi rst ever Chile in 1991, said on Saturday. Copa America success at home a year “This was unheard of in previous ago. Chile teams prior to the Marcelo Bielsa Argentina had never lost a competi- era,” he wrote in his column in the Ar- tive match to Chile until 2008 and had gentine daily La Nacion. beaten the team now coached by Juan Argentina, boasting one of the Antonio Pizzi twice in the last three world’s top players in Messi and ranked months – in a World Cup qualifi er in number one in the world, were expect- Santiago in March and their opening ed to avenge last year’s loss to Chile in group game of this tournament in San- Santiago having already beaten them ta Clara three weeks ago, both times twice this year. 2-1. Chilean players celebrate with the Copa America trophy on Sunday. SPOTLIGHT MESSI FACTFILE Despairing Argentina fans urge Messi to keep playing AFP Buenos Aires/Santiago rgentines begged Lionel Messi yesterday not to aban- don the national team before Factbox on Barcelona and Argentina of 2014. Has since been overtaken Athe 2018 World Cup after he forward Lionel Messi, who said he by current Real forward Cristiano tearfully announced his retirement in was quitting international soccer Ronaldo. frustration at another last-gasp inter- after Sunday’s loss on penalties to * Turned in a series of scintillating national defeat.