Will Lionel Messi return to victory with Argentina? Absent during his team’s last meeting due to injury, the captain was present for his team’s disappointing draw against Venezuela (1-1) last Friday. He now hopes to follow up with a victory against Bolivia, on the night of Wednesday to Thursday, to consolidate the Albiceleste’s place at the top of the South American qualifiers for the next World Cup.
As it stands, it’s difficult to imagine a World Cup without the title holders, since they already have 19 points in nine games and are eight points ahead of Venezuela, currently 7th and in a play-off position. The meeting has almost more at stake for Bolivia, 6th, which was rather successful in its qualifying debut but must now confirm to hope to secure a qualification, which has eluded it since 1994.
The Argentina-Bolivia kick-off is scheduled for the night of Wednesday October 16 to Thursday October 17, at 2 a.m. The match will be followed live on L’Équipe live football, available to L’Équipe subscribers.
