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gested Messi’s team-mates t work as hard to support as Portugal’s players do for aldo. That will have gone n like a lead balloon in the ntina dressing room. t Sampaoli doubled down is comments ahead of this e. “The structure of the Croatia game didn’t favour him,” he said.

“Messi didn’t get a lot of balls from midfield and that was a mistake.

“If he had the ball less than usual it is because Argentina didn’t dominate or have that many opportunities.

“We have worked on that and, for the good of Argentina, I am sure Lionel Messi will be having the ball much more than the last match.” The truth, however, is Sampaoli is a dead man walking. Even if Argentina win. He has lost the dressing room and the fans. Tellingly there was no key player alongside him for his pre-match press conference here. He was flanked by third-choice keeper Franco Armani, set to be thrown in with No.1 Sergio Romero injured and Willy Caballero dropped after his nightmare against Croatia. Sampaoli added: “From what I have seen, I believe this will be a new starting point for this team.” Come the final whistle it is likely to be without him. P W D L GD Pts Croatia 2 2 0 0 5 6 Nigeria 2 1 0 1 0 3 Iceland 2 0 1 1 -2 1 Argentina 2 0 1 1 -3 1 Argentina and Iceland both need to win to have any hope. Nigeria will be through if they beat Argentina

QUzoho, Balogun, Troost-ekong, Omeruo, Moses, Ndidi, Mikel, Etebo, Idowu, Kelechi, Musa

Armani, Mercado, Otamendi, Fazio, Rojo, Mascherano, Biglia, Banega, Messi, Di Maria, Aguero