RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Uruguay and Colombia are trending the right way in their bids to qualify for next year’s World Cup.
But headed the wrong way is Argentina, the runner-up three years ago in Brazil.
Argentina’s new coach Jorge Sampaoli was supposed to bring an attacking style. Instead, a team led by Lionel Messi scored only one goal in two recent World Cup qualifiers — and that goal was an own-goal in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with lowly Venezuela in Buenos Aires.
“We have it in us, the players are top-rank,” Sampaoli said. “We have to be convinced of our own qualities and face what’s coming with lots of strength.