Argentina's Lionel Messi blames soaked pitch for Venezuela draw

Posted Friday, October 11, 2024 by ESPN

Lionel Messi blamed the conditions of the pitch Estadio Monumental de Maturin for Argentina's "ugly' 1-1 draw against Venezuela on Thursday night in their first World Cup qualifier of the October international window.

The heavy rain in Maturin, Venezuela impacted the pitch before kickoff, forcing an initial delay before players were able to return to play on the soaked field. Nicolas Otamendi opened the scoring for Argentina, but Venezuela's Salomon Rondon levelled in the second half as the teams settled for a point apiece.

Lionel Messi and Argentina were held to a draw against Venezuela in World Cup qualifying.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said after the match he didn't think the pitch was fit to be played on for a game of this magnitude.

"It [the pitch] did not meet the minimal conditions for a football game," Scaloni said. "You couldn't play.

"We did what we had to do, but the conditions of the playing field were not for a match against two teams of this kind of level."

Messi returned to action with Argentina for the first time on Thursday after suffering a right ankle injury during their Copa America final win over Colombia on July 14, 2024 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Messi spent two months on the sidelines due to the injury, missing matches with Inter Miami CF and the September international window with Argentina.

"The wait to play again [with Argentina] was too long," Messi said. "I also missed many games with my club. I am happy to return, to continue adding consecutive games and to be here again."

Messi rejoined Inter Miami on Sept. 14 in the match against the Philadelphia Union, narrowly missing the September FIFA window with Argentina. Despite a desire to be with his national team, the captain chose to avoid any risks.

"I hadn't played yet and I had little training at the moment of the call," Messi said. "I wasn't at 100 percent. From a physical point of view, the ankle was bothering me. We both decided that I wasn't ready and it was best to stay and train with my team to complete my recovery."

Now, Messi and Argentina prepare to host Bolivia at the Estadio Mâs Monumental in Buenos Aires for the final match of the October window.

"I miss playing in Argentina, so now I am happy," Messi added.