Judgement day awaits for Lionel Messi and Argentina as they attempt to salvage a chaotic World Cup 2018 campaign on Tuesday by making the knockouts in their final Group D-outing against Nigeria.
A ramshackle qualifying campaign has bled into La Albiceleste’s shoddy displays in Russia. An opening 1-1 draw with Iceland – in which Messi meekly missed a second-half penalty – and humiliating 3-0 defeat to Croatia that followed head coach Jorge Sampaoli’s disastrous selection has left the mutinous two-time winners requiring victory against the Super Eagles to stand any chance of progression.
Nigeria are two points ahead of 2014’s beaten finalists and in the second advancement spot. Leicester City-owned forward Ahmed Musa produced a brilliant brace to beat Iceland 2-0 last time out, meaning they’ll be full of confidence about their quest to earn a second-successive run into the round of 16.
Here are the talking points ahead of this anticipated clash at Saint Petersburg Stadium:
SAMPAOLI’S LAST STAND?
The knives were out for Sampaoli after Thursday’s debacle at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.
His perplexing tactical shake-up saw Messi go from essential to peripheral, further exposed a suspect defence within an ill-fitting 3-5-2 formation and witnessed the likes of supreme Sevilla centre midfielder Ever Banega perplexingly given the best seat in the house on the substitutes’ bench to watch the tragedy unfold.
Madness looked to have inflicted a mind – honed by the influential Marcelo Bielsa – which exhibited real genius to guide Chile to success at the 2015 Copa America, ahead of his native Argentina.
Rumours spread like wildfire in the aftermath that the disenchanted players wanted Sampaoli’s head. A firm show of support from Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia then allowed him to weather a frank team meeting, although rumours about who exactly is picking the team against Nigeria remain.
“The relationship with the coach is totally normal,” said veteran midfielder Javier Mascherano at a news conference in Moscow on Sunday. “Obviously, when we feel some discomfort or we see something, we express it to him because otherwise, we would be hypocrites.
“If you are uncomfortable with something on the pitch and don’t express it to the coach, are you going to play an uncomfortable game? You would be harming the team.”
Not exactly a ringing show of support.
Argentina must now coalesce for another wild change of direction.
Tuesday’s game will make it a trio of contrasting approaches utilised in Russia. This follows friction from the moment Sampaoli took over in May 2017 as he tried to apply his high-pressing, high-defensive line principles to a roster plainly unsuited.
Only victory now will do against African opposition they’ve defeated in all four previous meetings since 1994, but were well beaten by during November’s friendly. Even then, Iceland can spoil the party on goal difference if they beat qualified Croatia by the requisite result
MUSA OR MESSI CAN COME TO THE FORE
It is not often that Barcelona icon Messi can feel a sense of envy towards CSKA Moscow loanee Musa.
The scoreless former has been crippled by constricting expectation and pressure in Russia. For the latter, unmitigated joy upon his opening 2018 start after his excellent weekend salvo against Iceland.
Intriguingly, 2014’s group-stage finale in Brazil saw the duo grab doubles in a 3-2 victory for Argentina that sent both combatants through to the knockouts. The stakes are much higher this time – winner-takes-all is the name of the game.
Messi reportedly barricaded himself away after the glaring Iceland error from 12 yards. Stress was etched across his face before the Croatia catastrophe.
Emotions that the 31-year-old does not have to deal with doing his legendary day job in Catalonia.
Musa’s loan return to Moscow has replenished energy banks depleted during a maudlin spell at Leicester City.
The Super Eagles will hope to benefit once again from this revitalisation. On current form, he seems far more likely to repeat 2014’s feats than the hallowed Messi.
BANEGA GETS HIS MOMENT ON GLOBAL STAGE
An unlikely drought is set to end for Banega.
The Boca Juniors youth product who was tipped for greatness as a teenager is, at the age of 29, finally set to start at a World Cup.
He has experienced a mercurial career. High points have come in Copa America years, a competition in which he’s made eight starts since 2011.
Low points came with Diego Maradona’s surprising ignorance towards him in 2010, while a first Argentina goal during qualifiers for 2014 didn’t translate into a place in the final squad.
Banega’s tactical intelligence from centre midfield was glaringly absent versus Croatia. Vitally, it’ll be present from kick-off against Nigeria.
