Get Messi – fans cry again for Argentina
FIFA World Cup 2018 Group Stages June 21, Thursday (Mla time) 8 p.m. – Denmark vs Australia* 11 p.m. – France vs Peru* June 22, Friday (Mla time) 2 a.m. – Argentina vs Croatia 8 p.m. – Brazil vs Costa Rica 11 p.m. – Nigeria vs Iceland * Playing at press time
VOLGOGRAD, Russia – Lionel Messi is under increased pressure to redeem himself when Argentina faces Croatia in Thursday’s (Friday 2 a.m. in Manila) pivotal match after eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo scored his fourth goal of the World Cup to send Morocco packing.
France will be looking for a second World Cup Group C win against Peru Thursday while Australia needs to bounce back from its heart-breaking defeat to Les Bleus against Denmark.
Messi’s teammates have rallied around their superstar captain after his spot-kick was saved in the 1-1 draw against minnows Iceland on Saturday.
Messi is bearing the weight of expectations as Argentina seeks a first World Cup trophy since 1986, desperate to crown his glittering career with a major international tournament success.
However so far in Russia, Messi has been overshadowed by Ronaldo, who took his tournament goal tally to four on Tuesday with the winner in Portugal’s 1-0 defeat of Morocco, which condemned the Africans to an early exit.
A defeat against the Luka Modric-led Croatians in Nizhny Novgorod could see Argentina, unthinkably, flirting with a first group stage exit since 2002.
“We are all with him, he knows that he can count on the support of all of us more than ever,” said Argentina striker Paulo Dybala of Messi.
“We are here to help him every moment, and of course we will be at his side,” Dybala added.
Croatia secured three points in their 2-0 win against Nigeria in their opening game but enters the match under a cloud.
AC Milan striker Nikola Kalinic was sent home from Russia for reportedly refusing to come on as a substitute, though coach Zlatko Dalic claimed the AC Milan man had a back injury.
Fancied France could only edge past Australia 2-1 courtesy of an Antoine Griezmann penalty and an own goal in their Group C opener but has vowed to ramp up the intensity against Peru.
“We took stock of what was done well or not so well and all agree that we will have to increase our physical intensity and improve our attitude in general,” said France vice-captain and central defender Raphael Varane.