Messi lives a nightmare in an Argentina stripped naked by Arabia: "It's a very hard blow"

• Chronicle Messi's Argentina suffers a historic collapse against Saudi Arabia (1-2)

• Group B Classification of the group stage

Many things have changed in

.

He no longer bows his head in storms.

He also does not take refuge so much in his thoughts and looks for someone to share them with, even if they are dark.

Even after winning the Copa América in the Maracana, he understood that he could be the great leader that Argentina, whose fans proudly wear the

with his name, was waiting for.

As if that town that for so long considered him suspicious had finally accepted that the time had come to take over the emotional baton from

.

But five minutes of torment and 85 minutes of impotence in the Lusail vessel against a superior Saudi Arabia in order, body and soul returned Messi to a recurring nightmare.

And to Argentina, to the memory of all those traumas experienced during the last 36 years.

An hour and a half passed until the footballers of the Argentine team prepared to start the

before the mass of journalists who were looking for answers to what had happened.

A current of opinion that had been extolling the albiceleste good fortune for its streak of 36 games without losing.

It happens, however, that football does not admit predictions.

Even less with that Argentina trapped in a straitjacket since the

deeds of the Azteca Stadium.

The gesture of

's footballers did not reflect sadness.

His demeanor was hard, typical of incomprehension.

Argentina, which dreams of Messi's ultimate success in his fifth World Cup, which he promised to be happy after the man from Rosario woke up in Lusail scoring from a penalty, exhibited many more shortcomings than expected.

It did not matter that

scored his seventh goal in a World Cup, thus equaling

.

The two midfielders who must support the invention,

and

, signed a praise for inconsistency.

's partner

in the center of defense, was evident in

's 1-1 draw , that he ran so wide down the throat until he took the shot.

What to say about Salem

, who nobody knew how to bother before his epic beating.

and

, both 34 years old, pleaded for a rhythm that no longer exists.

While

had to curse his bad leg with the offsides.

Tata on the horizon

"We didn't expect to start this way.

We were confident that we would start well, that we could win, just as we had been talking about before the game.

It was important to have peace of mind."

Messi did not want to hide.

He attended the journalists in the basement of the stadium.

He tried to act as a captain, offering a calm speech that, in the case of Argentina, can only be fictitious.

The story lurks.

The forward, yes, could not put aside the deep regret of a team that, after starting the World Cup losing, is exposed to risking its life against

's Mexico on Saturday, and

's Poland.

next Wednesday.

“We know that it is a very hard blow.

It is a defeat that hurts."

Messi looked ahead.

Before, in the locker room, he had already tried to calm some players to whom the responsibility of turning history came upon them.

"But we have to keep trusting.

And that people also trust, that this group will not leave them stranded, "continued

, who must have come to mind what happened in the World Cup in Russia, when extreme madness took over the team then coached by

, that ended up succumbing in the round of 16 against France.

“It is a moment to be united.

To turn the page

Not to think about this anymore.

Although yes for us to reflect and improve the things we did wrong.

Because anxiety had its weight.

But the game too.

And that is the big problem.

Mystique doesn't win games.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

• Argentine Soccer Team

• Saudi Arabia national football team

• Leo Messi