Chile’s national team coach, Ricardo Gareca, has expressed a mix of relief and caution regarding Lionel Messi’s absence from Argentina’s lineup in their upcoming World Cup 2026 qualifier match. ‘I prefer that Messi not be there, but that doesn’t invalidate the category or resources that the Argentine team has,’ Gareca stated in a pre-match press conference. He emphasized that Argentina has demonstrated their ability to perform well even without Messi, noting, ‘When Messi hasn’t played, they’ve had good results and performances; we’ve analyzed that’.Chile, currently sitting in eighth place with five points, faces an uphill battle in the qualifiers. Gareca remains optimistic about his team’s prospects, saying, ‘We are in a position to surpass ourselves’. He hopes to see an improvement from their previous encounter during the Copa América, aiming for ‘a more fluid game’.On the Argentine side, coach Lionel Scaloni is grappling with the challenge of preparing his team without both Messi and Ángel Di María, who are absent due to injury and retirement, respectively. This marks the first official match without both players since 2013, signaling a new era for the Argentine national team. Scaloni acknowledged the difficulty, stating, ‘I have to think about the best way to replace them’.As both teams prepare for this crucial qualifier, the match promises to be a test of depth and adaptability. With Argentina leading the qualifiers with 15 points and Chile fighting to improve their standing, the upcoming game at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on Thursday will be closely watched by football fans across South America.
Key points
- Chile’s coach Ricardo Gareca acknowledges Argentina’s strength even without Messi.
- Chile, currently in eighth place, aims to improve their standing in the World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
- Argentina faces the challenge of playing without both Messi and Di María for the first time since 2013.
