Two finals loss in one year for year Argentina. First in 2014 FIFA World Cup and now, in 2015 Copa America. The Argentinian club lost to hosts Chile in dramatic penalty shootout, 4-1.
It was a disastrous shootout for coach Gerardo Martino's side as it was only Lionel Messi who converted a penalty.
All through out the 2015 Copa America, Lionel Messi struggled with his lone regular time goal coming from a penalty kick. Everyone in Argentina is hurt by the loss and surely, they will look for someone or something to blame. Unfortunately for the Barcelona star, he was the one fans counting on the most and the loss and his lack of goal just gave them the right, or courage, to chastise him.
Local newspapers probably have the harshest criticisms on Lionel Messi's 2015 Copa America performance. They did not only hit out his play but also wants him out of the national team.
Ole editor Leo Farinella wrote "the team weren't up to it in the final: principally the captain Messi, who spent the game wandering around the pitch."
Farinella continues:
"It's time to grind our teeth and prepare a team more in the image of Mascherano next time. The captain's armband is wrongly placed. Enough of this. The best player in the world doesn't represent us in the important moments. His performance yesterday (Saturday) was unworthy. Sure, there are times when you can play well, and others not so well. But a player can never allow himself to walk around the pitch absently while his teammates fight for the cause."
For another news site Telam, he thinks Lionel Messi failed to overcome the pressure put on him by Chile.
"Lionel Messi, open on the right, always succumbed to the pressure of double-marking that was planned by the management of Jorge Sampaoli," Telam wrote.
Before the 2015 Copa America finals loss, Lionel Messi lead his team by providing three assists in their 6-1 win over Paraguay in the semis.
