Could Lionel Messi win World Cup for Argentina?
By Joel Richards
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02:13
Lionel Messi recently said in an interview that Argentina is not favorites to win the World Cup, adding "but in World Cups, there is rarely any logic."
The Argentina captain scored another hat-trick for his country against Haiti in the farewell match before heading to Russia last week. Supporters at the game had been chanting Messi’s name throughout the game, as they hope to see logic turned on its head and watch their country win its first World Cup in over thirty years and lift the trophy in Moscow on July 15.
CGTN spoke to dozens of supporters at the game in Buenos Aires and not one suggested Argentina would not reach at least the semifinals. The experienced team, with senior players like Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero and Javier Mascherano, have reached three major finals in the last four years – the World Cup in Brazil and two Copa America finals – but lost all three.
The team received heavy criticism by some supporters and sections of the local media for failing to win a major title. Argentina tried three coaches in qualifying for Russia, and scores of players, while searching for a system and group of players that can maximize their strongest weapon – Leo Messi. The question is whether Jorge Sampaoli, appointed coach in June last year, can find the right formula.
Previous World Cup winners stress the importance of building a strong group, rather than relying on one key player.
"If you don’t have a strong team," said Nery Pumpido, "you can’t win the World Cup."
Pumpido was the goalkeeper in Argentina’s 1986 World Cup winning side captained by Diego Maradona. One player alone cannot win the World Cup. Maradona played in four World Cups, but he won only once. Messi has played in three and has not won any. So with the two best players in the world, Maradona and Messi, they have played in seven World Cups, but won just one.
Pumpido believes Germany and Brazil are stronger than Argentina going into the tournament, but few people will rule out Argentina as a major contender to win this year’s World Cup.