Football
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Argentina can't depend on Lionel Messi, says Tata Martino

Argentina coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino said he is concerned about the Albiceleste's poor start last month in 2018 World Cup qualifying and their struggle against Ecuador as they get ready to host Brazil on Nov. 12, followed by a trip to Colombia five days later.

The World Cup 2014 runners-up, missing Lionel Messi due to injury and forced to cope with the early exit of Sergio Aguero, began their journey to Russia with a shock 2-0 defeat to Ecuador in Buenos Aires.

Messi hasn't played since suffering a knee injury on Sept. 26 and is fighting to be fit for Barcelona's game against Real Madrid on Nov. 21.

"We are worried about this start in the qualifiers. Against Ecuador, we did not expect the team to play so poorly," Martino told Super Mitre Deportivo on Tuesday.

Martino rejected suggestions that the team are struggling without the Barcelona star.

"It is not good for the team to depend on Messi," Martino said. "It is not fair to fall back on the creation of our play around one single player. We have had good matches without Messi. It is no justification that his absence translates to poor performance."

Regarding the return of Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain for the first time since this summer's Copa America, Martino said his absence in the first two qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay was not any form of punishment.

"It was a decision I made because I understood that he did not have to come. To miss a penalty kick is not a reason to leave a player off the team," Martino said. "The damage from the Copa America [loss] was much bigger than what I first thought."

Higuain missed a chance at goal in the 92nd minute during Argentina's Copa America final against Chile. Higuain and Ever Banega also both missed their kicks in the penalty shootout and Chile ended up winning the regional test for the first time. 

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