The possible absence of Leo Messi would not be good for football, says David Trezeguet

The former French footballer David Trezeguet, World Cup champion in 1998, assured today to Efe that the possible absence of Argentine Leo Messi in the 2018 World Cup in Russia "would not be good for football."

"It would not be good for football if Messi were not in this World Cup, but I believe that Argentina has the capacity to move forward and qualify for a World Cup," he commented on the sidelines of the Luzhniki Stadium.

Trezeguet, who has Argentine ancestry and participated today in Moscow in the ceremony that kicked off the global tour of the Russia 2018 trophy, believes that Argentina "is looking for its identity, its philosophy of play with different coaching changes."

"It is true that in the last two matches they expected a different outcome, but now two emotionally very strong matches will come," he said, referring to the last two qualifying matches against Peru and Ecuador.

However, Trezeguet appealed to "the characteristics and history of Argentina," World Cup champions in 1978 and 1986.

"Let's hope they can be present at the World Cup in Russia, because Argentina is one of the great ones, one of the candidates" for victory, he emphasized.

Regarding the other candidates for victory, he recalled that "Germany has found a very important game identity. Spain and France are growing. Brazil is once again the feared Brazil of old times."

"And Argentina, if they qualify, has possibilities, since they have exceptional footballers," he added.

With two matchdays remaining in the South American qualifying phase, the Albiceleste is fifth with 24 points, a position that condemns them to play the play-offs against New Zealand.