Argentina seek Messi magic against Iceland
SEEKING GLORY After a stuttering campaign in the World Cup qualifiers, the former champions will want to start on a winning note against the European first timers MOSCOW:
Lionel Messi’s Argentina aim to put a shambolic World Cup build-up behind them and make a statement in their opening match against tournament debutants Iceland on Saturday.
The two-time champions arrived in Russia dogged by poor form, injuries and controversy.
But Messi is a man on a mission as he chases his first World Cup winner’s medal and will not tolerate complacency against the minnows at Spartak stadium.
“Iceland showed they could compete with anyone at the last Euros,” he said, referring to their giant-killing run at the 2016 European Championship in France.
Messi was devastated by Argentina’s loss to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final, with the agony compounded by back-toback Copa America defeats to Chile in 2015 and 2016.
Despite his achievements with Barcelona, the five-time world player of the year is yet to win a major international tournament and time is running out as his 31st birthday looms.
He briefly retired from international football after the 2016 Copa America and has hinted he will do so permanently if the campaign in Russia ends in failure.
The Group D clash pits an Argentine side that critics say is too focused on superstar Messi against a band of grafters who pride themselves on teamwork.
On paper, the South Americans should have little trouble disposing of Iceland, an island nation of 330,000 that is the smallest country to ever reach the finals. But the Icelanders revel in their underdog status and showed at Euro 2016 they will not be cowed on the big stage.
‘WE CAN STOP MESSI’
Spurred on by their fans’ thunderous “Viking clap”, they earned a 1-1 draw with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal then famously dumped out England to reach the quarter-finals.
“We kept Ronaldo quite quiet so hopefully we can do the same against Messi,” said Burnley winger Johann Berg Gudmundsson. “We know we’re probably going to be defending for a lot of the time and obviously he’s one of the best players in the world and he can turn it on.”
Iceland had topped their group in European qualifying with comfortable victories over Croatia, Ukraine and Turkey.
Argentina reserve goalkeeper It has only gone from bad to worse in terms of international glory for Lionel Messi since Argentina lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany.
Two consecutive defeats in the Copa America final to Chile had even prompted the maestro to hang up his boots before making a comeback. Also, with him on the wrong side of 30, it might well be his last World Cup as well. Messi might be a footballing great but he’s yet to achieve the popularity enjoyed by Maradona in his country during his playing days. On the other hand, Messi has on occasions been booed and jeered for his on-field failures and the striker would want to turn things around in the World Cup. HEIMIR HALLGRIMSSON,Iceland manager on the threat posed by Messi Nahuel Guzman said the squad would do everything in their power to give Messi the success he craves but they are expecting a tight match against Iceland.
“We must show patience and move the ball around to try and find space, and look to get in behind with speed,” said Guzman. While Argentina managed to score just 19 goals in 18 games in the CONMEBOL qualifiers, Messi still was the highest contributor scoring more than one-third goals (7) for his side. In fact, no other Argentine managed to score more than two. Also, without Messi, Argentina had managed to pick up just seven points from eight games while that number went up to 21 for 10 ties once Messi started. Although Barcelona were dumped out of the UEFA Champions League in a forgettable manner, the reason they still managed a domestic double was because of the stellar form of Lionel Messi. With 32 goals in 36 matches,
Messi finished as the highest goal-scorer in the league. He also had 12 assists to his name, thus being directly involved in 44 of the 99 goals the Catalans scored. Matches Draw ARGENTINA
“It will be a very tight game in which we’ll also have to control our nerves.”
Argentina only made it to the finals courtesy of a Messi hattrick in their final qualifier against Ecuador.
Subsequent friendlies have given cause for concern — there Loss was a 4-2 loss to Nigeria in November and a 6-1 humiliation by Spain in March, although Messi did not play in either match. Their final warm-up game against Israel in Jerusalem was cancelled after protests from Palestinians, miring the team in controversy and leaving players
ARGENTINA SINCE MESSI’S DEBUT 2006:
2010:
2014:
However, even without Messi, there’s ample artillery that the team can fall back to. With Angel Di Maria, Paulo Dybala and Sergio Aguero, there shouldn’t be any lack of goalmouth action. They, however, don’t have too many well-known names at the back and a lot will depend on Nicholas Otamendi who will hope to continue his club form into the World Cup. short of match practice.
To further compound their problems, goalkeeper Sergio Romero and midfielder Manuel Lanzini both fell victim to late injuries. Accusing Argentina of over-reliance on Messi may seem unfair to a team boasting the sharp attacking talents of Sergio Quarterfinal Quarterfinal Runners-up Aguero, Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain but it is a view coach Jorge Sampaoli himself has expressed.
“He can carry the team on his shoulders,” Sampaoli said of the player who scored 45 goals in 54 games for Barcelona this season.
“This is going to be his team.” Argentina, winners in 1978 and 1986, have qualified for 11 consecutiveeditionsfrom1974. Iceland are competing in their first ever World Cup finals. Iceland have not won since January, a run of four games without victory.
Argentina scored 19 goals in the South American qualifiers, thelowestbyaqualifyingteam. Argentina win
Draw Iceland Source: ladbrokes.com