Newly appointed Argentina coach Edgardo Bauza, who traveled to Barcelona to try to convince Messi to return to the national team, included Messi for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay on September 1 and Venezuela on September 6.
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Argentina and Brazil forward Lionel Messi reverses his decision to retire from worldwide football. I don’t want to cause any harm.
Barcelona star Lionel Messi insists he made a U-turn on worldwide retirement due to his love for Argentina.
‘We need to fix many things in Argentinian football, but I prefer to do this from inside and not criticise from outside’.
Despite Messi’s concerns about ongoing problems at the national federation, Bauza said: “There is no doubt in my mind that he wants to return to play for the national team”. But I love my shirt and my country too much.
Messi says he loves his country too much to give up on them at this point, and hopes to give the nation more to cheer about in coming tournaments.
Lionel Messi has been named in Argentina’s squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers hours after reversing his decision to retire from worldwide football. “It was the thing I wanted the most, but I couldn’t get it, so I think it’s over”.
Their first opponents, Uruguay – who they face at home on September 1 – are top of the table, while their away match five days later comes against a Venezuela side who sit bottom.
A frustrated Messi announced his retirement from worldwide football after finishing as runners-up for the second year in a row at the Copa America.
The Barcelona forward said he would not play for Argentina again after the team lost to Chile in the final of the Copa America in the United States. “I want to explain to Messi what my (tactical) idea is. I will talk to him today and finish my list”.
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Messi had spoken out against the AFA, Argentina’s governing soccer body, leading up to the Copa America.
