Tuesday 07 / May / 2024
Muscat: Argentina’s superstar forward Lionel Messi will be aiming to put a highly disappointing opening match behind him as he gears up to take on Croatia in Nizhy Novgorod 10:00 PM tonight. The only thing missing from the Barcelona striker’s trophy cabinet is a title for his national team.
Four years ago, he led his country to an agonising final defeat against Germany. Now, set to be 31 in a few days, this could be Messi’s last World Cup, the final opportunity to match Diego Maradona for the eternal love and adoration of his countrymen.
Croatia, on the other hand, enter the match on a high and will look to spoil the Argentinian’s evening.
Coach Zlatko Dalic has unashamedly turned to midfielder Ivan Rakitic - a team mate of Messi’s at Barcelona - for ideas and tactics to stop him. “I will use all the information I can,” he told Reuters, declaring Rakitic his temporary
“assistant” before the game. “There is no perfect way to stop Lionel Messi ... he is the greatest player in the world. But while one excellent player can make a great result, a great team does the job much better ... We will go into the game a little bit more relaxed than them.”
Those who followed closely Argentina’s shaky qualification for the World Cup were not so shocked by the result against Iceland, and do not expect them to roll over Croatia despite their abundance of individual talent.
For reasons hard to fathom, they have looked ponderous and lacking in creative thrust throughout coach Jorge Sampaoli’s year in charge despite boasting Messi and other big names like Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria.
“We will learn from what happened and we have to have the strength to win the next game,” Sampaoli said after the Iceland defeat, seeking to stir his team into collective greatness.
Nevertheless, it is 32 years since Argentina last won the World Cup and 25 since their last silverware, the Copa America in 1993.
Croatia themselves are not short on top-quality players. As well as Rakitic, they also have the talented Luka Modric in midfield, and towering hitman Mario Madzukic up front.
With their strongest squad for years and in pole position in the group, Croatia dream of rivalling the glories of 1998, when they reached the World Cup semi-finals and finished third after a 2-1 win over the Netherlands in the playoff.
France face off against Peru Over 1,300 kilometres away at the Ekaterinburg Arena, France will face Peru at 7:00 PM.
Despite coming away with three points, Les Bleus struggled to defeat Australia in their opening game and will be wary of Peru as they often struggle against Latin American opposition.
In their last 12 World Cup matches against Latin American teams, France have won four — including beating Brazil in the 1998 final — drawn four and lost four.
They defeated Australia 2-1 to go top of the group while Peru, in their first finals since 1982, lost 1-0 to Denmark.
But the results do not say how France stuttered or show how Peru looked inspired even though they lacked efficiency.
“I don’t think France like to play against South American teams. With our style of play, our way to hold the ball, I think we can cause them trouble,” said fullback Miguel Trauco.
France center back Raphael Varane added: “We know that they’re an opponent who will put a lot of intensity on everything they do. “We will need to be aggressive and solid.”
To achieve that, coach Didier Deschamps could hand a starting spot to Blaise Matuidi, who can be an imposing presence in midfield.
Matuidi replaced Corentin Tolisso in the opening match, bringing steel to the midfield instantly. “Blaise came on showing that he was a leader,” said midfielder Paul Pogba. “He reacted the way the coach wanted him to. For
a usual starter who had been sat on the bench, maybe for his last World Cup, he showed he was an example to follow.”
Although they lacked pace and creativity against Australia, France were the only team among the title favorites to win their opening game. While defending champions Germany were unexpectedly beaten by Mexico, Spain, Brazil and Argentina were all held to draws.
Hence, victory against Peru could send France into the knockout phase with one game to spare.
In contrast, Peru will have to take risks as they seek their first win in Russia and that strategy could give France some space to hit them on the break, using the pace of Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann.
Peru, who beat France 1-0 in their only meeting in a friendly in 1982, will rely heavily on striker Paolo Guerrero, who was a substitute against Denmark.
The 34-year-old, whose doping ban was frozen just before the World Cup, is a likely starter against France after he impressed with his footwork when he came off the bench in Peru’s opening match.
The South Americans will need the talents of their captain and record goalscorer tonight if they are to provide this year’s World Cup with yet another shock result.
