Messi faces final shot at redemption
THE Argentina squad sang Happy Birthday to Lionel Messi after a dinner in his honour on Sunday night but it was a brief moment of harmony in Russia for the 2014 World Cup runners-up.
Messi and his team-mates face Nigeria in St Petersburg this evening knowing only victory will give them a chance of staying in the competition.
A draw with Iceland and then a humiliating 3-0 defeat by Croatia have prompted ridicule at home and mutiny within Jorge Sampaoli’s squad.
Yesterday the coach — expected to be sacked after the tournament whatever happens — came out fighting, suggesting his players are about to turn things around.
But the embarrassing truth for the 58-year-old is that tonight’s team and formation have been chosen less by Sampaoli and more by a clutch of senior players including former Liverpool and West Ham midfielder Javier Mascherano.
In a press conference at St Petersburg Stadium last night, Sampaoli said: ‘I am convinced this will be the starting point for this squad of players. We are very hungry to win and you will see a different Argentina as we enter the matches we need to win to lift the World Cup.
‘The players will give their last drop of sweat on the pitch because there is no alternative.’
Messi’s personal struggles in Russia began with a missed penalty in Argentina’s opening game, then a miserably uncharacteristic showing against Croatia when he only touched the ball 47 times.
‘My players will have to compete by filling their hearts and their lungs with desire and that includes Lionel,’ said Sampaoli when this was put to him.
Nigeria have plenty to play for tonight. The Africans are second in Group D after a victory over Iceland.
Nigeria’s Bryan Idowu, a goalscorer in their recent 4-2 victory over Argentina in a friendly in Krasnodar, said: ‘Everyone knows Messi is a great player but we will try to make sure this is his last ever appearance in the World Cup.’
They were bold words from the Russianborn left back but not ones likely to worry an Argentina side for whom the most worrying dangers come from within.
In training yesterday there was what appeared to be a rather staged chat between Sampaoli and Mascherano that did little to fool anybody. One of the problems afflicting the coach is that nothing which happens in camp seems to stay private.
Even a WhatsApp message from Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone — hugely popular in his native Argentina — and a friend criticising Messi and the team appeared to leak to the internet over the weekend. So did suggestions from a prominent journalist that Mascherano and striker Cristian Pavon fought in the dressing room after the Croatia game.
Mascherano has denied the claim but does appear to be sporting a black eye.
One of the major culprits from last Thursday’s game — Willy Caballero — would appear to be about to pay with his place in goal. Yesterday, uncapped 31-year- old goalkeeper Franco Armani appeared at the pre-match press conference, indicating that he will start tonight.
Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo is also expected to play as Sampaoli resorts to the 4-3-3 system favoured by his senior players. Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero could well miss out.