France tackles Messi question
Like any other team preparing to play Argentina, France faces the Lionel Messi question: How to stop the five-time world player of the year?
ROUND OF 16
Unlike many of its rivals at the World Cup, though, France has an answer: A center-half pairing of Raphael Varane and Samuel Umtiti.
France, which plays Argentina for a spot in the quarterfinals today in Kazan, Russia, has been misfiring since the start of the tournament, scoring just three goals in its group matches. But the French defense, marshalled by the pair of Spanish league players, has been solid, having conceded just once.
Umtiti knows Messi extremely well because he trains with the Argentina great at Barcelona on a dayto-day basis. Varane, a regular starter for Real Madrid, has vast experience of playing against Messi.
“I see him every day. It is very hard to stop him,” Umtiti said. “He’s got outstanding qualities.”
Asked if these defenders’ knowledge would give France an edge against the two-time World Cup champions, France coach Didier Deschamps said it could be useful.
“Hopefully I can give you a positive answer after the game,” Deschamps said. “Knowing him from the Spanish league will not make the difference, but having played against him, similar situations could repeat themselves.”
After a difficult start to the tournament, Messi came to life during the 2-1 win over Nigeria in Argentina’s last group game, scoring an exquisite goal from a long pass over the defense. This goal aside, his teammates have been struggling to set him up properly.
“He is different with Argentina than with Barcelona,” Umtiti said. “He does not have the same players with him, and their way of playing is different but he has saved them on several occasions.”
Umtiti, who has 21 caps for France, will start in the heart of the defense alongside Varane. Deschamps said yesterday that Benjamin Mendy would not play at left-back because of an unspecified muscular injury. That means Lucas Hernandez would likely start at left back and Benjamin Pavard on the right.
While acknowledging Messi’s exceptional skills, Deschamps insisted his players will also need to focus on Argentina’s other qualities, and notably Javier Mascherano’s experience as a holding midfielder.
As a player, Deschamps was confronted with a similar problem when France beat a Brazil team led by Ronaldo 3-0 to win the 1998 World Cup. Ronaldo was arguably the world’s best striker at the time, with his speed and fast crossovers making him nearly unstoppable. The French squad spent hours studying “El Fenomeno” before the final at the Stade de France.
“Ronaldo and Messi are two immense players, with a totally different style, but their influence on their teams is quite similar,” Deschamps said. “We are facing an extraordinary player, we need to be careful and make sure we give our players a maximum of information. With the talent he has, the smallest thing can create a spark, his unpredictability sets him apart.”
Ronaldo unrivaled
Luis Suarez believes any rivalry he may have with Cristiano Ronaldo is limited just to their club teams playing the last four years against each other in La Liga.
In other words, it won’t be Suarez vs. Ronaldo when Uruguay and Portugal meet in the World Cup round of 16 today in Sochi, it’ll be team against team.
“When it comes to the rivalry with Ronaldo at club level, that’s a different thing all together,” Suarez said. “This is a World Cup and of course we’re all defending and we’re all working for our national teams, and that’s the essential aspect. And everybody will try and give their utmost to prevail.”
While Suarez seemed to play down or avoid questions about Ronaldo, it’s clear Uruguay must continue to have the tightest defense in the tournament to keep Ronaldo and others under control. Ronaldo scored four goals in Portugal’s first two group stage matches. Uruguay is the only team that didn’t concede a goal in the first round — in a group containing Russia, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez was complimentary of Ronaldo and the rest of the Portugal squad, noting several times Uruguay will be facing the reigning champions of Europe. But he also admitted it’ll be a group effort trying to slow down Portugal’s star.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best strikers in the world,” Tabarez said. “He has a great potential obviously and in planning the match, especially focusing on the opponent and considering the level that every player has ... what Ronaldo has on top of the qualities is that he’s the leader of that team. That is an additional factor. There is not a single player that can contain him there. Not just (Diego) Godin. We will have to work collectively in order to try and contain him or in order to try and limit the effect he can have.”