Messi Win Over Chile for Argentina

Lionel Messi’s return sparked Argentina to a 2-1 win over Chile in Santiago on Thursday, breathing new life into their South American qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup.

Messi, who had missed the first four games last year with a knee injury, laid on the 24th-minute winner for defender Gabriel Mercado after Angel Di Maria had cancelled out Felipe Gutierrez’s opener for Chile.

Argentina, beaten finalists at the last World Cup in Brazil, moved up to fourth in the 10-team group on eight points from five games. The top four qualify automatically for Russia with the fifth-ranked team going into an intercontinental playoff.

“We had to win in whatever way we could,” Messi told broadcasters TyC Sports. “I was glad to be back to help this group of players who fight for every point to the death.”

Chile, who had beaten Argentina in the Copa America final in Santiago last July, took the lead after 10 minutes when Gutierrez took advantage of poor defending at a corner to head past goalkeeper Sergio Romero.

The home side dominated the opening quarter of an hour as Argentina struggled to find their feet but the tide turned when Di Maria curled a right-footed shot past Claudio Bravo for the equaliser 10 minutes later. Argentina then pulled ahead when Messi won a tussle for the ball inside the box and lifted it over to right back Gabriel Mercado, who hooked the ball home past Bravo.

Chile drove forward in the second half searching for the equaliser, keeping Messi in check and Argentina on the back foot. Fabian Orellana forced a diving save from Romero, substitute Mauricio Pinilla hit the side netting and Alexis Sanchez hit a 90th-minute free kick over the bar but the home side were unable to break through.

The defeat leaves Chile in sixth place on seven points, six behind leaders Ecuador, who needed a stoppage-time goal by Angel Mena to rescue a 2-2 draw at home to Paraguay. The draw ended a run of four straight wins for Ecuador but they remain the only unbeaten team in the group.

Joining Chile on seven points are Colombia, who got an injury-time winner from Edwin Cardona to beat Bolivia 3-2. Venezuela, bottom of the group and without a point, are currently in action against next-to-last Peru in Lima. Second-placed Uruguay play Brazil, who are fifth, in Recife on Friday.

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Max Kruse Drops to New Low

Joachim Löw has confirmed Max Kruse has been dropped from the squad to face England and Italy after behaving “unprofessionally”.

Kruse is reported to have grabbed a mobile phone from a woman who was taking pictures of him in a night club in Berlin, where he was celebrating his 28th birthday.

The Wolfsburg forward apologised for his actions but after being given a warning by his club over his future conduct, Low has now told him not to show up for international duty.

“I made it clear to Max Kruse last week what I expect from him, both on and off the field,” said Löw on the German Football Association’s website.

I want players who focus on football and the European Championship, even between matches.

“Last weekend’s incident goes against my expectations. Max has once again behaved unprofessionally and I don’t accept that.

“Euro 2016 is on the horizon and we have big goals as a team there. We need players who are focused and aware of their status as a role model.”

The Germany squad is due to congregate in Berlin on Tuesday with 26 players rather than the originally summoned 27 expected.

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Dominance Now Over - Xabi Alonso

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Xabi Alonso says his country's dominance of world football is over after the defending champions' shock World Cup exit in Brazil.

Defeat by Chile after a 5-1 thrashing by the Netherlands means the Euro 2012 winners cannot qualify from Group B.

"We didn't know how to maintain our hunger or that conviction needed to win a tournament," said the 32-year-old Real Madrid midfielder.

"The joy and success we've experienced is over."

On Tuesday, the former Liverpool man claimed media reports that the current generation were past their best were "a little exaggerated", but speaking after their latest loss, he said: "Normally cycles come to an end after a defeat.

"Maybe it would be best to think about making changes."

Spain manager Vicente Del Bosque says there will be consequences of his side's exit and hinted his six-year reign as national boss may be coming to an end.

"It's true that when such things happen during a World Cup or a tournament such things have consequences," he said.

"We have time to analyse that and it is not the right time now. There will be time to think and reflect what we are going to do.

"I think this team is good but we have to take a decision about what is good for Spanish football and that applies to myself as well."

He said his side were "sluggish and not brave enough" in the 2-0 loss to Chile, while captain Iker Casillas admitted that "the commitment wasn't there".

"From the very first moment everything went awry," said the goalkeeper.

Spain went into the tournament having triumphed at their last three major tournaments - the European Championships of 2008 and 2012, and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

But La Roja's campaign in Brazil got off to a humiliating start when the Dutch came from behind to rout them in their opening game and when they succumbed to two first-half goals by Eduardo Vargas and Charles Aranguiz at the Maracana on Wednesday, their reign as champions came to an abrupt halt.

On Monday, Spain face Australia, also eliminated after a 3-2 defeat by the Netherlands, in a battle to avoid finishing bottom of the group, while conquerors Chile take on the Dutch for top spot in Group B.

The South American side's coach Jorge Sampaoli had some sympathy for Spain and described his side as the "rebels" of the tournament.

"In football everything changes," said the Argentine.

"Spain has played very well over the years and had wonderful performances but today that generation of players couldn't keep that success going, and that's normal because success is not forever."

He added: "We have a chance to see if this is the best Chile team ever but that is something we can only say after the tournament is over.

"We were very courageous in the way that we played and you could say that we are the rebels of this tournament."

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