France wary it could all turn Messi
said. “It’s going to be a little bit different, a little bit more of a challenge. But you know us. We never turn away from a challenge.”
Aziz Behich backed the pathway set by van Marwijk, and the playing group he assembled, to show Arnold the way. “We’ve got a good group coming through and a few of them got a taste of what it is to be around our group in a big tournament.” THE name of Lionel Messi (right) is on everyone’s lips in the French camp as Les Bleus gear up for tomorrow night’s big clash with Argentina in the World Cup last 16.
France qualified comfortably, if not convincingly, at the top of Group C, including a win over the Socceroos, while Argentina scraped through Group D.
Messi, however, is the kind of player who can make the difference at any time and Les Bleus are well aware of that.
“Most of us know him because either we have played against him or play with him (at Barcelona),” reserve goalkeeper Steve Mandanda said.
“We all know he is a player who can change the course of a game, he can do everything.”
Centre back Presnel Kimpembe defended on Messi in a Champions League game Sainsbury has all but been appointed as Australia’s next captain. Deng could be his partner in four years time if he continues the rapid development shown at Melbourne Victory. Gersbach is an Arnold favourite and was unlucky not to be in Russia. Karacic impressed in camp but pledged his allegiance to Australia despite being too raw to take to Russia. against Paris St Germain in 2017. “That day was my first Champions League game but I hadn’t done anything special, I was just super focused,” said Kimpembe.
“Messi is one of the best players in the world. I don’t think anyone on this planet has a solution to stop Messi.” France will need to defend against Messi as a team. “The only solution has to be collective,” Kimpembe said, adding that Messi is not the only quality player in Jorge Sampaoli’s squad. “It’s not just Messi in that team, there are other big names. And they have a lot of pride. It’s going to be very, very complicated,” he said.