Argentina Messi’s team, not mine, says Sampaoli
CONFIDENT Coach says talismanic striker can carry team on his shoulders
Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi has the talent and maturity to carry Argentina’s hopes of a successful World Cup campaign this year, the national team’s manager Jorge Sampaoli has said. Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi has led Barcelona to 30 domestic and European trophies during a stellar career but is yet to win a major trophy with the national team, apart from a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics.
Argentina finished runners-up to Germany at the 2014 World Cup and to Chile at the 2015 and 2016 Copa America tournaments, and Sampaoli believes that Messi can help the team go one step further and end their trophy drought in Russia.
“This is going to be his team,” Sampaoli told a news conference on Thursday.
“He is the best of all and is in a stage of maturity that can he can carry the team on his shoulders. This is going to be his team.”
Messi, who is the all-time top goal-scorer for both club and country, initially announced his retirement from international football after the loss to Chile in 2016 but the 30-year-old has since reversed his decision.
The former Chile boss believes the friendlies against Italy, who failed to qualify for the World Cup finals, and Spain present an opportunity for Argentina to send out a warning to their opponents in Russia.
“Everyone gives us a leading role in the World Cup and my obligation is to increase that, to try to make the rivals fear us even more, today Argentina is very respected,” he added.
Two-time winners Argentina open their World Cup campaign with a Group D encounter against Iceland on June 16, and will also face Croatia and Nigeria in the pool stage.
BRAZIL FAVOURITES, SAYS ROBERTO CARLOS
Roberto Carlos insists Brazil are favourites to win the 2018 World Cup in Russia and has backed Neymar to star at the tournament. The Selecao are second behind Germany with the bookmakers as they look to atone for a humiliating 7-1 defeat to Joachim Low’s side in the semi-finals on home soil four years ago.
And iconic full-back Roberto Carlos is tipping the five-time champions — led by coach Tite — to reclaim the biggest honour in international football.
“Brazil are favourites,” he said. “I’m Brazilian, of course I’ll want Brazil to win the World Cup.
“I see Brazil playing and I can’t find any other team which is playing like them.
“The Brazilian squad is a group, it’s not only Neymar. That’s such a strong group.
“And beyond that, they have an extraordinary coach. Brazil is the favourite.
“When you lose a game as we lost in 2014, or having been eliminated in the semis, what I see is that, with this new coach and this squad, it’s time Brazil starts winning again.” The 44-year-old believes Brazil, who face Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia in the group stage, will catch their opponents off guard in Russia.
“One squad with five world titles must win the sixth,” he continued. “Spain has one, but they have a great squad. The thing is that everybody knows how Spain is playing.
“Brazil has a new model of playing football. This can be a surprise to the opponents.”
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