LAST CHANCE FOR FOR MESSI?
LIONEL MESSI takes the field for the first time in this year’s World Cup on Saturday when Argentina opens group play against Iceland, the smallest nation to ever play in the tournament. The superstar forward goes into the World Cup under enormous pressure to finally win a major international title. Critics of the Barcelona forward believe that void takes him out of the debate as the best player in the history of the game.
Messi is playing in his fourth World Cup and came close to the title in 2014. Although he was named player of the tournament, Argentina lost to Germany 1-0 in the final. Messi took Argentina only to the quarter-finals in his first two World Cup appearances.
He turns 31 on June 24 during the group stage, and this could be Messi’s final shot at a World Cup title.
Messi will be the headliner of the Group D match at Spartak Stadium in Moscow, but Iceland could have strong fan support after their improbable run to the quarter-finals of the 2016 European Championship.
Iceland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson does not mind being the darling of the tournament in their World Cup debut and only second major tournament.
Slovakia in 2010 were the last first-time World Cup team to make it to the knockout stage of the tournament, and Iceland believe they can make a run, as well. Captain Aron Gunnarsson, who sports a long red beard and plays the role of a Viking warrior, leads the postgame, slowbuilding clapping exchange between the team and fans that is Iceland’s trademark and should energise the crowd.
PERU VS DENMARK
Peru captain Paolo Guerrero will be the focus in the Group C match at Mordovia Arena in Saransk.
The striker was suspended for testing positive for a banned substance and the punishment was going to prevent Peru’s alltime leading scorer from making his World Cup debut. He fought the ban and received support from the captains of France, Denmark and Australia, the three other teams in Group C.
Guerrero has said the failed drug test came from tea served in a cup tainted with coca leaf residue in a Lima hotel. With him in the line-up, Peru are hoping for success in their first World Cup appearance in 36 years.
Denmark have not lost a game in 18 months and are led by Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen, who helped the team to six wins and three draws during its final nine qualifiers. That run included a 4-0 win over qualifying group winner Poland and a 5-1 rout of Ireland in the second leg of a two-game play-off to secure Denmark’s fifth World Cup appearance and first since 2010.
FRANCE VS AUSTRALIA
France will be the big favourites when they play Australia in a Group C match at Kazan Arena.
France have one of the deepest rosters, but the team has been criticised because some find coach Didier Deschamps’ tactical approach boring. When France lost to Portugal in the Euro 2016 final, many fans were disappointed a coaching change was not made before the World Cup.
The team is led by Antoine Griezmann, an attacking midfielder who scored 19 goals and had nine assists in 32 Spanish league games last season.
For Australia, striker Tim Cahill is trying to join Pele and former Germany strikers Miroslav Klose and Uwe Seeler as the only players to score at four World Cups. The 38-year-old Cahill is a squad player now and international retirement is creeping up on him.