Image: Source

Lionel Messi is depressed. Lionel Messi is the greatest in the world. Lionel Messi is the greatest ever. Lionel Messi is nothing when compared to Maradona. Messi is making Argentina look bad. Argentina are making Messi look bad. Messi can only succeed in the Barcelona system, with the Barcelona players surrounding him. Batista needs to find a way and sort of copy the Barcelona system so Argentina can finally win a game. So many expectations from such a little (5’6) man.

This Copa America has been depressing so far. There’s a certain limit to how much underdog success you can bare. With Brazil looking like a group of unconnected players playing something that combines English and Italian tactics. Argentina just look lost, frozen, afraid. More than everyone, and with the media riding his back and narrow shoulders, Lionel Messi.

The camera got out the worst from fans in the stands, telling the people at home how its a disgrace that Messi is compared to Maradona. Diego would have never let something like this happen, they say. Messi not singing the anthem gets them even angrier. Messi in Spain uniform. Messi incredible with Barcelona. The Argentinian fan can’t take it it seems.

Image: Source

Sergio Batista’s attitude and behavior isn’t helping – staying stubborn with a defense that doesn’t work, a midfield with no one creative and an attacking threesome that looks out of sync. Messi has to drop too deep, which isn’t helping anyhow. Mascherano told the media to lay off no. 10. It’s us as a team that are playing bad, not because of Messi. Batista can’t keep playing with the lineup that we’ve seen in the first two games. If ever there was a time to change, it’s now.

Lionel Messi won’t save Argentina. Only a team effort, an excellent team effort will. Problem is – this isn’t Barcelona, and I’m not sure Batista has the soccer chops to know what to do so the host nation can stay on for a little longer.