Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has said that he and his team accept striker Lionel Messi's call-up to the Argentina squad. 
 
He also said that it was a matter of time that Messi was called up for the Argentina squad.

''Look, we know that if Messi is active, there is a good chance he gets called up to the national team. He has not been in the Argentina squad because of suspension, but now that's over it's normal for him to be back for Argentina. It is something we accept, he accepts. I do not think it is a setback as such," Goal.com quoted Valverde as saying.

Messi will be making a return to Argentina's squad in November as the side prepares to take on Brazil in a friendly match in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia.

He last played a game for Argentina during the 3/4th playoff match in the Copa America and in the same game, he was given a red card for his clash with Chile's midfielder Gary Medel.

Messi was handed a three-month ban by CONMEBOL, South America's football governing body after his comments against the corruption and lack of respect shown by the football body. 
 
Messi and CONMEBOL first had a fallout during Argentina's semi-final against Brazil in the Copa America. As Argentina went on to lose the match, Messi alleged that the entire tournament was set-up for Brazil to take the win.

He even lamented upon the second goal that Brazil scored in the match. Aguero was fouled inside the penalty box, however, the match officials did not consult Video Assistant Referee (VAR). 
 
Argentina is scheduled to play two friendly matches against Brazil and Uruguay.

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has said that he and his team accept striker Lionel Messi's call-up to the Argentina squad. He also said that it was a matter of time that Messi was called up for the Argentina squad.

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has said that he and his team accept striker Lionel Messi's call-up to the Argentina squad. He also said that it was a matter of time that Messi was called up for the Argentina squad. ''Look, we know that if Messi is active, there is a good chance he gets called up to the national team. He has not been in the Argentina squad because of suspension, but now that's over it's normal for him to be back for Argentina. It is something we accept, he accepts. I do not think it is a setback as such," Goal.com quoted Valverde as saying. Messi will be making a return to Argentina's squad in November as the side prepares to take on Brazil in a friendly match in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia. He last played a game for Argentina during the 3/4th playoff match in the Copa America and in the same game, he was given a red card for his clash with Chile's midfielder Gary Medel. Messi was handed a three-month ban by CONMEBOL, South America's football governing body after his comments against the corruption and lack of respect shown by the football body. Messi and CONMEBOL first had a fallout during Argentina's semi-final against Brazil in the Copa America. As Argentina went on to lose the match, Messi alleged that the entire tournament was set-up for Brazil to take the win. He even lamented upon the second goal that Brazil scored in the match. Aguero was fouled inside the penalty box, however, the match officials did not consult Video Assistant Referee (VAR). Argentina is scheduled to play two friendly matches against Brazil and Uruguay.

We accept Messi's call-up to Argentina squad: Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde

Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona said his country's national team was going nowhere under the guidance of current caretaker head coach Lionel Scaloni.

Maradona, who has coached Mexican second-division club Dorados de Sonora to the semi-finals of the Apertura 2018 championship, the first of the 2018-2019 season, lamented that one Argentine manager he respects, Gerardo Martino, is expected to be signed by Mexico's national team.

Martino has led Atlanta United to the semi-finals of the 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs but has opted not to return to that team next season.

"I played with 'Tata' Martino at (Argentine club) Newell's (Old Boys), and he's a great person. They're now talking about him in Mexico, and we Argentines have this kid Lionel Scaloni. It's not his fault he's there, but the problem is he thinks he's a coach and wants to go to the World Cup. He can go, but to the motorcycle World Cup, not the soccer one," he said.

Maradona said it was particularly frustrating considering that Argentina has a lot of astute coaching minds.

"It's not easy to lead Mexico. Martino's going to have it tough. But in Argentina, we're so bad off that we're flailing around even though we have Cesar Luis Menotti, Ricardo Gareca, Gustavo Alfaro, Marcelo Gallardo, Guillermo Barros Schelotto. We have a bunch of good coaches and there Scaloni is," he said.

Referring to Dorados' 2-0 home victory over Juarez in Wednesday night's first leg of their semi-final series, Maradona said he was grateful that his team was one step closer to the Apertura title.

"Juarez and Dorados know each other well. We forced them to attack us in the second half and they weren't able to do it. On Saturday we'll play them based on the flaws we've seen. (Sinaloa assistant coach) Luis Islas and I have analyzed our opponent's strengths and weaknesses," he said.

Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona said his country's national team was going nowhere under the guidance of current caretaker head coach Lionel Scaloni. Maradona, who has coached Mexican second-division club Dorados de Sonora to the semi-finals of the Apertura 2018 championship, the first of the 2018-2019 season, lamented that one Argentine manager he respects, Gerardo Martino, is expected to be signed by Mexico's national team.

Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona said his country's national team was going nowhere under the guidance of current caretaker head coach Lionel Scaloni. Maradona, who has coached Mexican second-division club Dorados de Sonora to the semi-finals of the Apertura 2018 championship, the first of the 2018-2019 season, lamented that one Argentine manager he respects, Gerardo Martino, is expected to be signed by Mexico's national team. Martino has led Atlanta United to the semi-finals of the 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs but has opted not to return to that team next season. "I played with 'Tata' Martino at (Argentine club) Newell's (Old Boys), and he's a great person. They're now talking about him in Mexico, and we Argentines have this kid Lionel Scaloni. It's not his fault he's there, but the problem is he thinks he's a coach and wants to go to the World Cup. He can go, but to the motorcycle World Cup, not the soccer one," he said. Maradona said it was particularly frustrating considering that Argentina has a lot of astute coaching minds. "It's not easy to lead Mexico. Martino's going to have it tough. But in Argentina, we're so bad off that we're flailing around even though we have Cesar Luis Menotti, Ricardo Gareca, Gustavo Alfaro, Marcelo Gallardo, Guillermo Barros Schelotto. We have a bunch of good coaches and there Scaloni is," he said. Referring to Dorados' 2-0 home victory over Juarez in Wednesday night's first leg of their semi-final series, Maradona said he was grateful that his team was one step closer to the Apertura title. "Juarez and Dorados know each other well. We forced them to attack us in the second half and they weren't able to do it. On Saturday we'll play them based on the flaws we've seen. (Sinaloa assistant coach) Luis Islas and I have analyzed our opponent's strengths and weaknesses," he said.

Argentine national team going nowhere with Scaloni as head coach: Diego Maradona

Argentine coach Edgardo Bauza was unbowed after a 3-0 World Cup qualifying loss to Brazil and a fourth game without a win on Thursday but promised his misfiring team still have qualification for the 2018 finals in Russia in their own hands.

&quot;We still have a lot to do before the qualifiers end,&quot; he said after Brazil&#39;s easy victory in Belo Horizonte. &quot;We know that classification still depends on what we do.

&quot;The game against Colombia will be different,&quot; he said of their match against the third-placed side next week.

Argentina are sixth in the 10-team South American group on 16 points after 11 games, with only the top four automatically qualifying for Russia while the fifth-placed side faces a play-off with the Oceania winners.

Bauza is likely to be heavily scrutinised after recording just one win in his five games in charge while his players will also face questions after they were outshone by Brazil&#39;s three goalscorers Neymar, Philippe Coutinho and Paulinho.

Lionel Messi returned from three games out injured but was largely anonymous and there was little of note from strikers Gonzalo Higuain or Angel Di Maria.

Sergio Aguero replaced Enzo Perez at half time but with Brazil dominant in the second period he had little chance to change the game.

&quot;When they hit us hard we struggled to recover,&quot; Messi said.

&quot;We are more than aware that we have to change a lot. Of all the bad points, the good one is that we depend on ourselves but we can&#39;t be giving away any more points.&quot;

Argentine sports newspaper Ole called the performance a &quot;catastrophe&quot; and in a headline classed the side&#39;s current predicament as &quot;Russian Roulette.&quot;

Argentina have won the World Cup twice and reached the final of their last three major tournaments but not won a senior title since the 1990s.

Their next two games are against Colombia on Tuesday and then next March against Copa America champions Chile, who are fifth on the table on 17 points.

(Reuters)

The Argentines are currently sixth in the 10-team South American qualifying group, only the top 4 qualify automatically for Russia 2018

Argentine coach Edgardo Bauza was unbowed after a 3-0 World Cup qualifying loss to Brazil and a fourth game without a win on Thursday but promised his misfiring team still have qualification for the 2018 finals in Russia in their own hands. "We still have a lot to do before the qualifiers end," he said after Brazil's easy victory in Belo Horizonte. "We know that classification still depends on what we do. "The game against Colombia will be different," he said of their match against the third-placed side next week. Argentina are sixth in the 10-team South American group on 16 points after 11 games, with only the top four automatically qualifying for Russia while the fifth-placed side faces a play-off with the Oceania winners. Bauza is likely to be heavily scrutinised after recording just one win in his five games in charge while his players will also face questions after they were outshone by Brazil's three goalscorers Neymar, Philippe Coutinho and Paulinho. Lionel Messi returned from three games out injured but was largely anonymous and there was little of note from strikers Gonzalo Higuain or Angel Di Maria. Sergio Aguero replaced Enzo Perez at half time but with Brazil dominant in the second period he had little chance to change the game. "When they hit us hard we struggled to recover," Messi said. "We are more than aware that we have to change a lot. Of all the bad points, the good one is that we depend on ourselves but we can't be giving away any more points." Argentine sports newspaper Ole called the performance a "catastrophe" and in a headline classed the side's current predicament as "Russian Roulette." Argentina have won the World Cup twice and reached the final of their last three major tournaments but not won a senior title since the 1990s. Their next two games are against Colombia on Tuesday and then next March against Copa America champions Chile, who are fifth on the table on 17 points. (Reuters)

Argentina avoid crisis talk but slump worries players and coach