Football
ESPN staff 7y

Edgardo Bauza refutes claims that Lionel Messi decides Argentina XI

Head coach Edgardo Bauza refuted claims that Lionel Messi has a strong hand in the Argentina national team selection.

Messi scored a free kick and assisted two goals in Argentina's 3-0 CONMEBOL victory over Colombia last week in a World Cup qualifier, before leading the teammates to a media boycott after the game.

The reason given by the team was allegations from the media that Ezequiel Lavezzi was left out of the Colombia match because he was caught smoking cannabis.

Despite speculation that the Barcelona forward has a strong influence in the starting XI, Bauza held firm that it is all untrue.

"They say that Messi puts his friends in the Argentina team and it's all lies," Bauza said, according to Marca.

"It's an invention of the media."

Following the Colombia win, Argentina sit in fifth place, a point behind Chile and Ecuador in the automatic qualification spots.

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