BUENOS AIRES (AFP) - Argentinian media rounded on their national side on Saturday after the 14-time continental and double world champions just scraped a 1-1 draw in their Copa America opener against modest Bolivia.
The dropped points were front page news nationwide with home fans demanding a strong showing on home soil as the hosts chase their first silverware at senior level since a 1993 success in the competition.
The assessment was curt and often brutal.
"Argentina had neither patience, touch nor possession. It was pure confusion," stormed Clarin daily in a pithy editorial.
"They drew 1-1 on a night when they functioned neither as a team nor as individuals."
And once again the knives were being sharpened for Barcelona star and world player of the year Lionel Messi, who has to date never consistently managed to show his club form in the national shirt.
"Messi just didn't manage to make the difference," said broadcaster C5N while "Down to Earth" was a comment from La Nacion alongside a picture of a doleful Messi on his knees contemplating the pitch.
"The team lacked fluidity," La Nacion added.
Another Clarin editorial noted that Argentina could have no excuses as they failed to lift their historical home record against the battling Bolivians to a perfect 12, Sergio Aguero's stunning late strike rescuing a point after Edivaldo Rojas had scored for the visitors early in the second period.
On their last meeting two years ago the Bolivians had won a World Cup qualifier at a canter, 6-1 in the rarified air of La Paz.
But "this time, the stars did not shine," said Clarin.
"It was a night which failed to hit the heights," the paper added, in a play on words which could also be taken to read "a night without altitude," removing a potential excuse for their hiding in the Bolivian capital.
"Bolivia had no respect for the national side - and almost won," admitted sports paper Ole while Tiempo took time out to praise a shimmering 3-D sound and light show before concluding: "The only thing worth remembering was the inaugural fiesta."
Buenos Aires daily Perfil was even more fed up with the team's failure to make a winning start.
"The Copa America has got off to a flier. Argentina haven't."
The dropped points were front page news nationwide with home fans demanding a strong showing on home soil as the hosts chase their first silverware at senior level since a 1993 success in the competition.
The assessment was curt and often brutal.
"Argentina had neither patience, touch nor possession. It was pure confusion," stormed Clarin daily in a pithy editorial.
"They drew 1-1 on a night when they functioned neither as a team nor as individuals."
And once again the knives were being sharpened for Barcelona star and world player of the year Lionel Messi, who has to date never consistently managed to show his club form in the national shirt.
"Messi just didn't manage to make the difference," said broadcaster C5N while "Down to Earth" was a comment from La Nacion alongside a picture of a doleful Messi on his knees contemplating the pitch.
"The team lacked fluidity," La Nacion added.
Another Clarin editorial noted that Argentina could have no excuses as they failed to lift their historical home record against the battling Bolivians to a perfect 12, Sergio Aguero's stunning late strike rescuing a point after Edivaldo Rojas had scored for the visitors early in the second period.
On their last meeting two years ago the Bolivians had won a World Cup qualifier at a canter, 6-1 in the rarified air of La Paz.
But "this time, the stars did not shine," said Clarin.
"It was a night which failed to hit the heights," the paper added, in a play on words which could also be taken to read "a night without altitude," removing a potential excuse for their hiding in the Bolivian capital.
"Bolivia had no respect for the national side - and almost won," admitted sports paper Ole while Tiempo took time out to praise a shimmering 3-D sound and light show before concluding: "The only thing worth remembering was the inaugural fiesta."
Buenos Aires daily Perfil was even more fed up with the team's failure to make a winning start.
"The Copa America has got off to a flier. Argentina haven't."
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