Messi’s Cup career could end with a loss
MOSCOW — Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest soccer player in history, has had a miserable World Cup and must turn it around immediately to save Argentina from a humiliating early exit from the tournament.
Messi leads Argentina into a mustwin Tuesday game against Nigeria at St. Petersburg Stadium, where the African team would advance out of Group D with a victory. The South Americans are winless at the World Cup, Messi has yet to score a goal, and a victory against Nigeria won’t guarantee a spot in the round of 16. Argentina must win, and get help from Croatia, which has already advanced.
Croatia has no pressure in its match against Iceland, which must win its final Group D game in Rostov-on-Don to advance. If Iceland wins, Argentina is out and Messi’s international career might be over.
Messi turned 31 two days before the match, and there’s strong speculation he’ll retire from the national team if Argentina loses.
“That will be our main goal, to make it Messi’s last World Cup game,” Nigeria defender Bryan Idowu said. “As much as we enjoy watching Messi play, it’s against us. There’s only one option for us, (which) is that he plays his last game in St. Petersburg.”
Argentina fans have been livid over the performances of the national team in this tournament, with much of the wrath directed at Messi. Although Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr is a fan of the five-time world player of the year, he has no sympathy for Messi’s plight Tuesday.
“Everybody loves him,” Rohr said. “But in football there is no mercy, there is no pity. Everyone wants to win and no one can make any gifts, even if we like him so much.”
Iceland is the nation with the smallest population ever to qualify for a World Cup with 350,000 inhabitants. The entire nation has been following the squad, which is known at home as “Our Boys.” The draw against Argentina was an upset, but Iceland then dropped the next game 2-0 to Nigeria. Iceland beat Croatia in a World Cup qualifier, and now finds its rival in its path again.
France has already advanced and needs only a draw to win Group C. Denmark can move into the round of 16 by earning one point, or if Australia loses to Peru in a game played at the same time. There’s tension before the game being played at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. Denmark coach Age Hareide criticized France before the World Cup when he told a Danish newspaper the squad was “nothing special.”
Australia used a 1-1 draw against Denmark to remain in contention for a spot in the round of 16, and Peru has already been eliminated. Australia needs to win and could use 38-year-old striker Tim Cahill, who has yet to play in Russia, because even with a victory over Peru the squad needs goals. An Australia victory, coupled with a France win over Denmark, would lead to goal difference determining which team advances with France.