Argentina seek Messi magic against Iceland

339

MOSCOW, June 15, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Lionel Messi’s Argentina aim to put a
shambolic World Cup build-up behind them and make a statement in their
opening match against tournament debutants Iceland on Saturday.

The two-time champions arrived in Russia dogged by poor form, injuries
and controversy.

But Messi is a man on a mission as he chases his first World Cup
winner’s medal and will not tolerate complacency against the minnows at
Moscow’s Spartak stadium. “Iceland showed they could compete with anyone at
the last Euros,” he said, referring to their giant-killing run at the 2016
European Championship in France.

Messi was devastated by Argentina’s loss to Germany in the 2014 World
Cup final, with the agony compounded by back-to-back Copa America defeats to
Chile in 2015 and 2016.

Despite his achievements with Barcelona, the five-time world player of
the year is yet to win a major international tournament and time is running
out as his 31st birthday looms.

He briefly retired from international football after the 2016 Copa
America and has hinted he will do so permanently if the campaign in Russia
ends in failure.

The Group D clash pits an Argentine side that critics say is too focused
on superstar Messi against a band of grafters who pride themselves on
teamwork.

On paper, the South Americans should have little trouble disposing of
Iceland, an island nation of 330,000 that is the smallest country to ever
reach the finals.

But the Icelanders revel in their underdog status and showed at Euro 2016
they will not be cowed on the big stage. – Messi ‘can carry team’ –

Spurred on by their fans’ thunderous “Viking clap”, they earned a 1-1
draw with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal then famously dumped out England to
reach the quarter-finals.

“We kept Ronaldo quite quiet so hopefully we can do the same against
Messi,” said Burnley winger Johann Berg Gudmundsson.

“We know we’re probably going to be defending for a lot of the time and
obviously he’s one of the best players in the world and he can turn it on.”

Iceland, ranked 17 places behind Argentina at 22nd in the world, topped
their group in European qualifying with comfortable wins over Croatia,
Ukraine and Turkey.

Argentina reserve goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman said the squad would do
everything in their power to give Messi the success he craves but they are
expecting a tight match against Iceland.

“We must show patience and move the ball around to try and find space,
and look to get in behind with speed,” said Guzman, who plays for Mexican
club Tigres.

“It will be a very tight game in which we’ll also have to control our
nerves.”

Argentina only made it to the finals courtesy of a Messi hat-trick in
their final qualifier against Ecuador.

Subsequent friendlies have given cause for concern — there was a 4-2
loss to Nigeria in November and a 6-1 humiliation by Spain in March, although
Messi did not play in either match.

Argentina’s final warm-up against Israel in Jerusalem was cancelled after
protests from Palestinians, miring the team in controversy and leaving
players short of match practice.

To further compound their problems, goalkeeper Sergio Romero and
midfielder Manuel Lanzini both fell victim to late injuries.

Accusing Argentina of over-reliance on Messi may seem unfair to a team
boasting the sharp attacking talents of Sergio Aguero, Paulo Dybala and
Gonzalo Higuain but it is a view coach Jorge Sampaoli himself has expressed.

“He can carry the team on his shoulders,” Sampaoli said of the player who
scored 45 goals in 54 games for Barcelona this season. “This is going to be
his team.”