Argentina handed a final shot at salvation

HELD by Iceland and humiliated by Croatia, Argentina’s World Cup could already have been all but over, but Lionel Messi and the rest of Jorge Sampaoli’s troubled squad have one final shot at redemption against Nigeria on Tuesday night (at 1am Cambodian time).

Victory against the Africans, who Argentina have beaten in all four previous World Cup meetings, will secure qualification for the last 16 as long as Iceland don’t shock already qualified Croatia. Even if Iceland claim a first ever World Cup victory, Argentina could still progress on goal difference.

However, bouncing back will take an improvement in performance and strength of character so far unseen from the two-time world champions in Russia.

The Argentine federation was even moved on Saturday to confirm that Sampaoli would continue for the final group game among rumours of a rift between players and coach.

“I get the feeling there’s a general anger at the heart of the team,” said Argentina’s legendary 1986 World Cup-winning captain Diego Maradona. “I’m furious and very upset inside, because anyone who wore that shirt can’t see it being trampled like that by a Croatian team that isn’t Germany, that isn’t Brazil, that isn’t Holland or Spain.”

For all his heroics with Barcelona at club level, Messi is still often compared unfavourably in his homeland for his inability to recreate Maradona’s success for the national team.

Messi led Argentina to the World Cup final four years ago and consecutive Copa America finals in the following two years, but all three ended ded in defeat.

And his 31st t birthday on Sunday highlights ighlights how time is running unning o u t f o r Me s s i (pictured, AFP) to win a major or i n t e r n a t i o n a l tournament.

Without the e five-time World Player of the Year, though, it is highly ghly unlikely Argentina would ld even have qualified.

Messi salvaged ged a disastrous campaign ign under three different managers with a hat-trick away to Ecuador in the Albiceleste’s final qualifier. In their hour of need, Argentina will need Messi’s best once more.

But so far in Russia, he has been held score scoreless. He missed a penalty am among 11 unsuccessful shots on goal in a 1-1 draw with Iceland before failing to make any mean meaningful impact in an error-strewn A Argentine display a against Croatia. In Tuesday’s G Group C action ( w i t h b o t h m matches at 9pm) W World Cup conte tenders France a are waiting for st star striker Anto- ine Griezmann to hit his stride as they aim to secure top spot against Denmark.

Griezmann signed an extension with Atletico Madrid to 2023 last week despite strong interest from Barcelona, but the 27-year-old has yet to find his best form in Russia.

While he scored from the penalty spot in an opening 2-1 win over Australia, his sluggish start to the tournament mirrors his early travails at Euro 2016 where Griezmann finished as top scorer.

Didier Deschamps’s side are already qualified and would clinch first place with a draw in Moscow, a result that would also send Denmark through as runners-up irrespective of Australia’s result against Peru.