Messi says he switched off after Argentina World Cup exit

BUENOS AIRES, July 28 (Reuters) Argentina forward Lionel Messi said he could not face watching the rest of the World Cup after his team went out in the quarter-finals to hosts Germany on penalties.

''After we lost to Germany, I didn't watch any more World Cup games,'' he told Argentine television. ''I didn't know about anything that was going on.'' ''The final? I didn't watch it.'' The speedy teenager was surprisingly left on the bench for the Germany game by coach Jose Pekerman and did not even come on as a substitute when the German defence was flagging. Argentina lost on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

''You'll have to ask Pekerman why I didn't get to play more,'' he said. ''There were 23 very good players.'' But Messi said he did not bear a grudge against Pekerman, who resigned following the tournament.

''I had no problem with Pekerman, he took me to the World Cup and gave me my debut. He's a very good coach, he's very good at leading a group. I wouldn't be unhappy if he continued.'' Messi said the 2006 World Cup was overall a positive experience for him.

''I played my first World Cup, I made my debut at the age of 18.

On the personal side, that was positive.

''It was a strange World Cup in which the best teams got knocked out. Argentina were eliminated when we were playing the best football.'' Reuters PM DB0904