Messi, Argentina Lose 2-1 to Paraguay in World Cup Qualifier: Here's What It Means

Argentina's World Cup Hopes Take a Hit

Argentina's hopes of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup took a hit on Thursday night as they were defeated 2-1 by Paraguay in Asuncion. The result leaves Argentina in sixth place in the CONMEBOL standings, five points behind leaders Brazil.

Scaloni's Team Struggles

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni made several changes to his team for the match, but they struggled to create chances against a well-organized Paraguay side. Lionel Messi, who scored a hat-trick in Argentina's previous match against Bolivia, was well-marshaled by Paraguay's defense.

Paraguay's Tactical Masterclass

Paraguay coach Eduardo Berizzo set his team up to defend in numbers and hit Argentina on the counterattack. The plan worked perfectly, as Paraguay took the lead through Angel Romero in the 20th minute. Miguel Almiron doubled Paraguay's lead in the 45th minute, and although Nicolas Gonzalez pulled one back for Argentina in the 59th minute, it was not enough to prevent a famous victory for Paraguay.

Argentina's Qualification Chances

Argentina's defeat leaves them in a difficult position in the CONMEBOL standings. They are now five points behind leaders Brazil and four points behind second-placed Ecuador. With just four matches remaining, Argentina will need to win all of their remaining matches and hope that other results go their way if they are to qualify for the World Cup.

Conclusion

Argentina's defeat to Paraguay was a major setback in their quest to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. They will need to improve their performance significantly if they are to have any chance of reaching Qatar next year.