Qualifying for the World Cup out of the CONMEBOL area, regardless of Argentina’s comparatively easy passage this time spherical, is sort of by no means an easy prospect.
In 2011, the Albiceleste had made a distinctly underwhelming begin to their marketing campaign, shedding for the primary time to Venezuela after which dropping factors at residence to Bolivia. A go to to Colombia adopted, and Alejandro Sabella’s costs feared the worst when Dorlan Pabon fired the hosts in entrance simply earlier than half-time.
Colombia had been nicely on prime earlier than the break however, led by Messi and helped by some savvy tactical adjustments on Sabella’s half, Argentina got here out a special workforce, levelling via the brand new nationwide workforce captain earlier than Sergio Aguero clinched three factors seven minutes from time.
Not solely did that recreation put Argentina again on monitor, nevertheless it was additionally the start of Messi, Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain’s partnership up entrance, a potent trident that will fireplace them to the brink of World Cup glory inside three years.