Lionel Messi spoke about Argentina losing 2-0 vs. Uruguay in the World Cup qualifiers.

Messi and the Argentina national team remain first in the South American World Cup qualifiers with four wins and one loss. Messi spoke to the media about the intensity of the match against Uruguay. Here is what he had to say:

“It’s normal. It is part of these matches, qualifiers. Against Uruguay, it’s always like this. I prefer not to say what I think.

“The young people need to learn respect from the older ones. This clasico is always intense, hard but always with a lot of respect. They have to learn a little bit.

“We had a hard time playing. They are intense. They play one on one, they have physical and fast players in the middle. It was hard for us to find out game.

“We never felt comfortable. We never found a way to have the make and keep it for long possessions. Maybe their game makes us speed up and we get caught up in their rhythm. They are a physical team, that works well and that is very dangerous on the counter attack.

“You can see Bielsa’s hand in the team. They have a good team that plays well. We lost, this could happen. We have to get up and play a good game in Brazil.”

Argentina lost 2-0 vs. Uruguay in the World Cup qualifiers.

Lionel Scaloni’s team lost their first match since losing 2-1 against Saudi Arabia at the World Cup. Argentina had one opportunity in the first half off a free kick with Uruguay getting the better chances.

Uruguay created more goal scoring opportunities and would score before the end of the first half. Nahuel Molina lost the ball on the right side and it was the Uruguayan Ronald Araujo who scored to give Uruguay the 1-0 lead.

It was the first goal Emiliano Martínez let in after 752 minutes, the first goal since the World Cup final. Scaloni would make a substitution at half time, bringing in Lautaro Martínez for Alexis Mac Allister.

Ángel Di María started the match on the bench but was substituted in for Nicolás González. Di María saw much of the ball when he was substituted in and was fouled on the edge of the penalty area.

Messi took the free kick and hit the crossbar. Scaloni made three more substitutions with Exequiel Palacios being substituted in for Rodrigo De Paul, Gio Lo Celso for Julián Álvarez and Marcos Acuña for Nicolás Tagliafico.

With Argentina seeing more of the ball and attacking, Uruguay had one counter attack as the ball fell to Darwin Núñez and he scored.

The World champions remain first in the South American World Cup qualifiers as they play Brazil on Tuesday.

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni has named his starting XI for Thursday’s World Cup qualifier and Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez and Nicolás González all start.

Lionel Scaloni is going with a front three of Messi, Álvarez and González against Uruguay in the World Cup qualifier. Here is the staritng eleven:

Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister; Nicolás González, Lionel Messi and Julián Álvarez

Ángel Di María could play his last home match with the Argentina national team tonight.

Di María could be playing his last match in Argentina with the national team against Uruguay in Thursday’s World Cup qualifier. Argentina play Brazil after their match against Uruguay and their next two matches would be in March.

The two friendly matches in March would be played in Europe and Argentina’s next matches would be the 2024 Copa America which is where Di Maria is expected to retire from the national team.

Already 35 years old, Di María played his first match with the Argentina national team against Paraguay at home in September 2008, a 1-1 draw. His first goal with Argentina at home was in a 5-0 win vs. Canada before the 2010 World Cup.

Lucas Ocampos felt discomfort and will not play for Argentina in their World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay.

Ocampos felt discomfort in Wednesday’s training session and will not play on Thursday. According to TyC Sports, Ocampos was not going to start for Argentina and will now not make the bench.