Messi didn't play but there is guarantee Argentina would have won if he played either. Plus, they got a red card in the first half you know. It was still going to be a tough game for them.
Apart from that, they already secured their lead in the group in the end. They didn't need the win. Maybe they beat Venezuela anyway but Ecuador are much more powerful. They benefited from it well.
Yes, Argentina has already secured their spot in the World Cup. So the result of the match against Ecuador is no longer important for Argentina. In fact, I didn't even see Argentina playing at their full strength in that match. But for Ecuador, the result was crucial. They fought very hard in that match. And we must admit, Ecuador is indeed strong, especially in defense.
But am I the only one who feels this way? Argentina doesn't seem as strong as before. So I'm not sure if they'll go far in the upcoming World Cup.