Ahead of Argentina's crucial qualifier today, under-fire striker receives support from 1978 world Cup-winning captain Cesar Menotti Cesar Menotti has hit out at Lionel Messi's critics, stating that the Barcelona star is able to play for his club but has to run and run for his national team. 
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Troubled Times: Argentina striker Lionel Messi </td></tr></tbody></table>Diego Maradona's side take onu00a0 Uruguay tonight in a do-or-die World Cup qualifier where a victory will seal a spot for 2011 WC but a loss would put them in a tricky play-off against the CONCACAF play-off winner. Different roles The veteran trainer, who led the Albiceleste to World Cup glory in 1978, thinks that blaming the diminutive Blaugrana forward is unacceptable because of his differing roles with club and country. Despite helping Argentina to a crucial win at the weekend, Messi was again highlighted as under-performing, and that has drawn Menotti's ire. "Argentina do not yet have a functioning team. They have not had the time to find that unity and team play," he told Sport. "That is completely different from the way that Messi does things with Barcelona. He started at the club, then was on the bench and then began to play for a few minutes before claiming a regular place. "Messi is not responsible for the strategy at Barcelona. That is [Andres] Iniesta, Xavi and [Yaya] Toure. "Messi is the one that completes the moves. "When it comes to Argentina they expect Messi to cope with he strategy of the team, to create goals and score them, to do everything. "The team runs around a lot because they play badly. There they need to run more. But this is a football team, not a marathon club. Messi plays for Barcelona, but with Argentina he runs."

Ahead of Argentina's crucial qualifier today, under-fire striker receives support from 1978 world Cup-winning captain Cesar Menotti

Don't blame Messi for Argentina's misery

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Don't blame Messi for Argentina's misery

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