‘ Messi can carry team on his shoulders’
London, March 23: 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 runnersup 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 said 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.” Copenhagen, March 23: Denmark edged fellow World Cup finalists Panama 1- 0 in Copenhagen on Thursday in a friendly international, three months out from the finals in Russia where they will tackle Australia and France.
Pione Sisto grabbed the only goal of the game after 69 minutes. Denmark are in Group C at the World Cup alongside 1998 winners France, reigning Asian champions Australia and Peru.
Panama, who had striker Blas Perez sent- off on Thursday, will be in Group G and will face
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. England, Tunisia.
In Bangkok, grieving Arsenal striker PierreEmerick Aubameyang was missing as Gabon lost 4- 2 on penalties to hosts Thailand on Thursday after a 0- 0 draw in a Bangkok tournament semi- final.
The 28- year- old recent signing from Borussia Dortmund withdrew from the “Panthers” squad at the last minute after his grandmother died in Spain. Gabon will play the UAE on Sunday for third place before Thailand meet Slovakia in the final. Belgium and The former Chile boss believes the friendlies against Italy and Spain present an opportunity for Argentina to send out a warning to their opponents in Russia.