On the brink, Argentina handed a final shot at World Cup salvation

Held by Iceland and humiliated by Croatia, Argentina’s World Cup could already have been all but over, but Lionel Messi and the rest of Jorge Sampaoli’s troubled squad have one final shot at redemption against Nigeria on Tuesday.

Victory against the Africans, whom Argentina have beaten in all four previous World Cup meetings, will secure qualification for the last 16 as long as Iceland don’t shock already qualified Croatia. Even if Iceland claim a first-ever World Cup victory, Argentina could still progress on goal difference.

However, bouncing back will take a huge improvement in performance and strength of character so far unseen from the two-time world champions.

The Argentine federation was even moved on Saturday to confirm that Sampaoli would continue for the final group game among rumors of a rift between players and coach.

“I get the feeling there’s a general anger at the heart of the team,” said Argentina’s legendary 1986 World Cupwinning captain Diego Maradona.

“I’m furious and very upset inside, because anyone who wore that shirt can’t see it being trampled like that by a Croatian team that isn’t Germany, that isn’t Brazil, that isn’t Holland or Spain.”

For all his heroics with Barcelona at club level, Messi is still often compared unfavorably in his homeland for his inability to recreate Maradona’s success for the national team.

Messi led Argentina to the World Cup final four years ago and consecutive Copa America finals in the following two years, but all three ended in defeat.

And his 31st birthday on Sunday only served to highlight how time is running out for Messi to win a major international tournament.

Without the five-time World Player of the Year, though, it is highly unlikely Argentina would even have qualified.

Messi salvaged a disastrous campaign under three different managers with a hat trick away to Ecuador in the Albiceleste’s final qualifier.

In their hour of need, Argentina need Messi’s best once more.

“Leo is fine,” insisted veteran midfielder Javier Mascherano, who knows Messi better than most having spent eight years as his club teammate at Barcelona. “He is a human being who has his frustrations because things haven’t worked out, but so are we all.

“Like it or not, we are the runnersup from the World Cup and we have to show it.”

So far in Russia, Messi has been held scoreless. He missed a penalty among 11 unsuccessful shots on goal in a 1-1 draw with Iceland before failing to make any meaningful impact in an error-strewn Argentine display against Croatia.