Lionel Messi hit back on Tuesday over criticizm of his Argentina performances and said they would reach the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

"We have to get together and go forward because Argentina can't stay out of the World Cup," the Barcelona forward said.

Coach Diego Maradona's team, which lost its past two qualifiers 3-1 to Brazil and 1-0 in Paraguay, is in fifth place in the South American group, which is a playoff berth.

"I alone won't win a match ... this is down to all of us who are in the team," Messi told a radio station in Rosario, the city of his birth.

Argentina face Peru at home and Uruguay away in their last two qualifiers in October, looking to climb into the top four for an automatic berth or remain fifth for a two-leg playoff with the CONCACAF's fourth-placed team.

Messi also denied reports in Argentine media that he and Maradona did not speak to each other, saying: "The relationship with Diego is great. There are no fights (in the squad).

"When we started with Diego (as coach) we won all the friendlies, we played well. Now it's important to win these two remaining (qualifying) matches."

Brazil and Paraguay have qualified. Chile are third with 27 points, Ecuador have 23 and Argentina 22. Behind them, Uruguay and Venezuela have 21 points and Colombia 20, while Bolivia and Peru are out of the reckoning.

(Reuters via China Daily September 24, 2009)