Messi enjoys training session with Di Maria and Aguero as Argentina prepare for vital Chile qualifier

Argentina may be facing their biggest game of the next 15 months on Thursday but that did not seem to be dampening the spirits of Lionel Messi and Co as they trained in high spirits.
Lionel Messi, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Angel di Maria and Sergio Aguero were all involved in the session at their Buenos Aires training base on Tuesday and they appeared to be enjoying themselves in the southern hemisphere's summer sunshine.
However, they will each know the serious situation they could soon find themselves if they do not perform at their best in front of home crowd later this week. A string of poor results has seen Argentina at risk of failing to qualify for next year's World Cup in Russia. Currently, they sit fifth in the South American table, good enough to earn them a play-off match against the Oceania group winner. But on Thursday they come up against Chile, the side placed directly above them in the table and need to win to make sure qualification remains in their own hands.
While three points could see them move all the way up to third, anything but could also see them overtaken by sixth-placed Colombia, who face Ecuador. They will be buoyed by the fact that they have already claimed three points from Alexis Sanchez and Co in this qualifying period. The Albiceleste beat Chile 2-1 away from home almost a year to the date of the return fixture.
The crowd at Argentina's El Monumental will also be baying for revenge against a side who beat them in two Copa America finals in 2015 and 2016, the latter of which inspired Messi to retire from international duty albeit only for a few months.
No doubt the players will want exactly the same thing and will be inspired by the opportunity to put a dent in Chile's World Cup qualification chances.