ARGENTINA COACH JORGE Sampaoli defended star player Lionel Messi on Wednesday and said his side’s World Cup match against Croatia was effectively a must-win.
The beaten 2014 finalists go into Thursday’s crucial Group D clash desperate for three points after a disappointing 1-1 draw with minnows Iceland in their first outing in Russia.
The South Americans have been criticised for their performance. They took the lead through Sergio Aguero but conceded a goal to Alfred Finnbogason before Messi missed a second-half penalty.
Sampaoli admitted Argentina’s “window of opportunity” was narrowing after the draw but said he was confident his team could put things right.
“We need to move on to the next phase, that’s what we came here for,” he said. “We don’t want to go to the last match not having resolved that.”
Asked repeatedly about Messi, Sampaoli said the disappointing start against Iceland was not the fault of his star player, despite the penalty miss.
“We were quite upset about not having won the match but I think… Leo should not shoulder all the responsibility.”
He added: “When we succeed with Argentina, everyone takes credit for it but when Argentina loses, it’s always Leo’s fault. I think that’s quite unfair.”
Sampaoli is expected to make several changes to his team for the Croatia match, but would not be drawn on his selection as he said he had not yet spoken to his players.
Croatia are the group leaders after a 2-0 victory against Nigeria in their first match.
Anything other than a win on Thursday would likely leave Argentina needing a victory in their final group game against the Africans in Saint Petersburg on June 26.
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic ratcheted up the pressure on Argentina by saying his side could afford to play without fear after their opening win.
“It’s going to be the easiest game for us because we have nothing to lose. It’s going to be a great game,” said Dalic. “The pressure is less on us because we have three points in the bag.”
He said he could make changes to the team but nothing “major” and said Croatia would go for victory.
Dalic added that he would not make any special plans for Messi as “no single player can stop him”.
Messi will come up against his Barcelona teammate Ivan Rakitic, who described the Argentine as the best player of all time.
He said he had not spoken to Messi during the tournament.
“We know that the match is crucial both for us and the Argentinians,” said Rakitic. “There’s one match already down and there isn’t much room to miss opportunities.”
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He could have played better in the first game. He is world class tho, that’s what happens when u don’t preform to the expected levels
@Crpytoalchol: no truer words spok
@Crpytoalchol: did you just reply to yourself?? Smrt
@Crpytoalchol: forgot to change account? I wonder which account you meant to reply as…
@The Bloody Nine: I’d say it was Jim or Nucky
@Ruairi Doyle: not sure who Jim is but you could be right about Nucky. He was having a meltdown about Messi and Ronaldo earlier. You can usually tell the multi-account fiends by their comments, they’re never clever enough to change their style of writing.
@The Bloody Nine: totally. this Crpytoalchol dude has the traits of Jamie/alan b.
Jim is a new account this week and being negative about everything. don’t think it’s Jamie though.
@Crpytoalchol: Wow. Caught a big one this time ;)
Let’s be honest here…Messi needs a fantastic game tomorrow. Granted, he’s one of the greatest footballing talents in the world but to be known as the greatest ever he needs to win his country the World Cup…or at least make an impact at it..drag them towards the final like Ronaldo is doing with Portugal..
Let’s be honest here, you’re talking marbles.
@An Observer2: or maybe some of us actually have watched football for longer than a week and can distinguish how great these players are for over a decade and hundreds of games… instead of being reactionary and basing their whole knowledge on one game and what they saw on a Facebook meme
@Brian: too right ! And maybe for once the rest of the Argentine squad will stand up for themselves and take the pressure off Messi . No one blames Higuaín or Agüero and they are top players …
@Brian: Good man yeah. Top input there. Messi is the best don’t worry. I’m sorry, I spoke out of line again Brian. Don’t be mad with me Brian please,please.
@Limón Madrugada: it’s actually ridiculous how much they depend on him. On Saturday especially they just kept giving it to him and waiting for him to do something from the centre circle. As you mentioned, surely one or two of them want to make a name for themselves and actually take advantage of having him as a decoy and distraction.
Now if that instruction is coming from the coach and Messi himself then that is a bigger issue… but surely they aren’t that stupid. Something massive will have to change for them to win it but they don’t have the defence or the midfield core I don’t think.
@Peter: I didn’t mention the European Championships. I’m talking about the fact that Ronaldo is winning Portugal’s games for them so far.
@Peter: that chap doesn’t even know what happened in matches played today never mind 2 years ago. Portugal are a decent team with an all time great forward. Ronaldo relies on service though and Portugal supply him with just enough and defend well. Mind you the Spain game was pretty much all him.
Messi could have been better. But in fairness Argentina funnel absolutely every attack through him and he’s starting every attack about 40 yards from goal, is that really where you want your best (forward) player?
It can’t be over-stated how fantastically defensive Iceland were in that game too. Their centre forward was practically playing defensive midfield and they were getting 2 or 3 players on Messi every time he was on the ball. Surely Arg should have used that to their advantage and used space elsewhere while Iceland were obsessed with Messi.
I know Dybala and Messi play in practically the same position but surely you try squeeze him in somehow.
This Argentina team is awful especially defensively and I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see them lose tomorrow and get dumped out.
@Brian: Croatia can do a number on them for sure …
@Limón Madrugada: what are the odds on Messi doing a hat-trick against Croatia? One man but…..
@Brian: Messi has covered less ground than any other player who has played 90 mins at the WC so far. Fun fact of the day.
@Teddyzigzagbigbag: itsmust be terribly embarrassing for him when players from Australia, Japan and the likes can score from the penalty spot