Aging but still one of the best players on the planet, Lionel Messi will lead Argentina in his fifth 바카라 and possibly 바카라 last FIFA World Cup. And with him, Argentina certainly has a chance to win its third title. (More Football News)
바카라I don바카라t know whether we are big favorites or not, but I believe Argentina is always a favorite for its history, what it means and even more now for how we got here,바카라 the 35-year-old Messi said in a recent interview.
Messi helped the South American country end its 28-year title drought when Argentina won the Copa America in 2021. It was Messi바카라s first major title for the national team. The team has also set a national record by going unbeaten in 35 straight matches.
Argentina will play their opening match in Qatar in Group C against Saudi Arabia on November 22. The team will face Mexico four days later and then take on Poland on November 30.
THE ARCHITECT
Few believed Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni would succeed after he took over four years ago with little experience on the job. He had coached youth teams in Mallorca, where he lives, and was an assistant to Jorge Sampaoli at Sevilla, and later at Argentina.
But under Scaloni, Argentina finally won a title again and, in June, broke its unbeaten streak record with a 3-0 win over European champion Italy at Wembley Stadium.
Scaloni brought in new talent, including goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, defender Cristian Romero and midfielders Leandro Paredes and Rodrigo De Paul. He also rallied Messi and veterans Nicolás Otamendi and Ángel Di María around him.
The 44-year-old coach broke away from the days of 바카라Messi-dependence.바카라 The team is solid on both ends of the field and hasn바카라t trailed in a match since the beginning of 2020.
바카라Today there바카라s no team dominating 70-80% of a match ... There바카라s moments in which you have to fall back, work, feel that your are at a hard time,바카라 Scaloni said. 바카라The good thing about this team is that it knows how to suffer.바카라
THE STAR
Winning the World Cup remains the focus for Messi, and winning it this year would serve as a tribute to soccer great Diego Maradona, who died in 2020 at the age of 60.
바카라For a while I have enjoyed the national team. I had spectacular moments, but we did not win, we lost three finals in a row and the criticism began,바카라 Messi said in a recent interview, in a reference to the losses in 2014 World Cup and 2015 and 2016 Copa America finals.
바카라It was key to win something with the national team, otherwise I would be labelled by the losses in the finals.바카라
The seven-time Ballon d바카라Or winner will play alongside de Paul, Paredes and Giovanni Lo Celso 바카라 who earlier in their careers played in Messi바카라s position. That setting should free Messi from the responsibility of creating plays and put him closer to the penalty box.
Messi is the national team바카라s top scorer with 90 goals in 165 matches. He has scored 25 during Scaloni바카라s tenure.
DOUBTS
Some frequent starters have not been at their best, including de Paul at Atletico Madrid. Romero and Di María are often injured. Messi doesn바카라t play every match with Paris Saint-Germain, a change from his best days at Barcelona.
If Messi and Lautaro Martínez get injured or fail to produce on the field, Argentina has will have to rely on Di María, Paulo Dybala and Nicolás González for goals.
