GIVE IT A REST! CROATIA PUT STARS ON ICE
Shambolic tactics and lack of support from team-mates
CROATIA coach Zlatko Dalic is set to spark fury in Argentina – by resting up to eight players for their final game with Iceland.
With Croatia already qualified from Group D, Dalic is planning big changes to the side who beat Argentina 3-0.
They include Barcelona star Ivan Rakitic (top, middle), Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic (top, right) and Ante Rebic – scorer of the first goal against Argentina – who are among six players on yellow cards and at risk of suspension.
That will anger
Argentina with Lionel
Messi and Co facing an early exit if Iceland win in Rostov in a group with a myriad of different scenarios where all three teams trailing Croatia could still reach the last 16.
Under-the-radar Nigeria could even top the group if they beat the South Americans in St Petersburg and Croatia lose.
But Dalic (above) is adamant he will not risk his top stars – with Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric (top, left) and Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren also likely to be rested.
“I’d like to top the group, but we have to take care because we have players on yellow cards, so I will change the line-up,” said Dalic.
“I will not start those on yellow cards because it’s too much of a risk, there are 22 players who can play. I have a good squad otherwise they wouldn’t be here.” Starstudded Croatia have suddenly become a 16-1 outside bet to be crowned champions after beating Argentina and Nigeria.
Although Iceland will fancy their chances, there was a warning from
Lovren.
“When the first team plays the Croatian reserves, two out of three times the reserves win,” said the Kop star.
But Iceland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson is confident – claiming it is a national characteristic.
He said: “We are optimistic about everything. If it’s the Eurovision song contest we always think we’re going to win even though we never make it to the finals.
“It’s the same here. We think we’re going to win all the games and even if we lose, we think we’ll win the next one. It’s in the genes – optimism.”
A win today might not be enough to prevent them going out. If Iceland make the last 16, Hallgrimsson says it would top beating England at Euro 2016.
“It would probably be the biggest success in our short history,” he added. Haldorsson, Saevarsson, Arnason, R Sigurdsson, Magnusson, Gislason, Gunnarsson, G Sigurdsson, Bjarnason, Bodvarsson, Finnbogason Subasic, Pivaric, Caleta-car, Jedvaj, Strinic, Pjaca, Badelj, Kovacic, Bradaric, Perisic, Kramaric NO WONDER they think it is there for the taking.
With Argentina in disarray, Nigeria’s stars are aiming to make this Lionel Messi’s final game of the World Cup.
Anybody who has witnessed the little magician struggling under Jorge Sampaoli will know he has suffered here in Russia – and Nigeria want to take advantage.
“Of course that is our main aim,” said defender Bryan Idowu (right). “We have to make sure it is his last game at the World Cup.” The Barcelona superstar has been a shadow of his brilliant self, nullified by a combination of Sampaoli’s shambolic tactics and opponents marking him out of the games.
As a result the Super Eagles are smelling blood with Argentina facing a game they have to win.
Yet in a tournament dominated by the big hitters and their managers’ ability to get the best out of them, Sampaoli looks out of his depth.
Fernando Santos has ensured Portugal’s stars are ready to do Cristiano Ronaldo’s running for him to put the Real Madrid superstar into Golden Boot contention.
Harry Kane is leading that chase, thanks to Gareth Southgate’s strategic team play which has sealed qualification for the knockout stages.
Romelu Lukaku has run riot for Belgium, released by the tactics of Roberto Martinez.
Yet Messi remains a man under pressure. No goals, a missed penalty against Iceland and just 47 touches on the ball – fewer than the Argentina keeper – in the Croatia game.
He has retired before from the national team and spoke in March about doing so again if Argentina do not win this World Cup. That looks a real possibility.
He is wilting under the pressure of bailing out Sampaoli whose over-reliance on him was demonstrated in qualifying for this tournament.
Argentina picked up 21 points from a possible 30 when Messi was available. When he wasn’t, they managed just six from 24.
Last week Sampaoli Appearances Minutes
Goals scored Shots on target Total shots Conversion Rate Assists
Chances created
KANE LUKAKU RONALDO MESSI
sugg don’t him Rona down Argen
Yet on hi game t d h
a m w
t A o o
a