Lionel Messi picks Argentina’s three biggest threats at World Cup including England
Messi is aiming to win his first World Cup, but the Paris Saint-Germain superstar believes that his Argentina side face three main rivals to win the tournament in Qatar
Lionel Messi has picked England among his three favourites to challenge Argentina for the World Cup this year.
The Paris Saint-Germain superstar has never won the world’s most famous trophy, though did finish as runner-up in 2014. Now, Messi is out to cement his legacy as the greatest player in history by finally adding the World Cup to his trophy cabinet.
But the Argentina captain has admitted that La Albiceleste face a difficult challenge if they are to win the tournament for the first time since 1986. Messi has picked out Brazil, France and England as the three teams who could cause Argentina the most problems.
“Whenever we talk about candidates, we always talk about the same teams. If I have to put some above others I think Brazil, France and England are a little bit above the rest,” Messi told South American Federation CONMEBOL.
“But the World Cup is so difficult and so complicated that anything can happen. We are very excited. We have a very nice group that is very eager, but we think about going little by little.
“We hope to start the World Cup in the best way to face everything that comes after. The more you play and the more time you spend on the pitch, the more you get to know each other.”
On Tuesday, Argentina held their final training session ahead of a friendly against the United Arab Emirates. It was the first time the full squad have trained together, with Enzo Fernández, Marcos Acuna, Gonzalo Montiel, Alejandro Gómez, Nicolás Otamendi, Emiliano Martínez, Alexis Mac Allister and Lisandro Martínez only just arriving at the team’s hotel.
Bos Lionel Scaloni is confident his team can go all the way, with Argentina currently enjoying the longest unbeaten run in international football. And Scaloni also insisted that Messi is “eager” to get his World Cup campaign underway.
“We made the list thinking about the best for the team. It is logical that, being the Argentine National Team, good players were left out. Messi is eager to enjoy the World Cup and very happy to be with his teammates,” the Argentina boss said.
“Until last night we didn’t have the full squad, we still haven’t trained. During today’s practice we will define the team for tomorrow’s match. We will not take any risk, those who play must have physical guarantees.
“This is football, it is unpredictable and sometimes unfair. It makes no sense to promise people anything. Simply tell them that we are going to leave everything during this World Cup.
“These are moments to enjoy them. We dream like every child who ever had their first Argentina shirt. I have mine saved. it’s a dream. The World Cup is won by intelligent teams that know when to attack.”
Argentina will begin their World Cup campaign in a week’s time with a clash against Saudi Arabia. They will then round off their group stage by facing Mexico and Poland.
