The scintillating form of Lionel Messi and the steady hand of coach Alejandro Sabella have left many believing that Argentina are ready to end their long wait for a third World Cup crown
 |
| Messi |
The South American giants have regularly been favourites heading to recent World Cup finals, only to wilt under pressure once the action starts.
Successive squads bristling with world-class talent have rarely delivered, meaning that 28 long years have passed since a Diego Maradona-inspired Argentina last lifted the trophy, in Mexico in 1986.
Yet there are several signs that this year it could be different.
In stark contrast to their turbulent qualifying campaign for the 2010 tournament under Maradona's management, when they only just got one of the automatic places in South Africa, Argentina waltzed through the qualifying competition for Brazil.
They booked their place with two matches to spare, destroying Paraguay 5-2 away in Asuncion with a display of attacking football that will serve as a warning to Group F opponents Iran, African champions Nigeria and debutants Bosnia-Hercegovina.
Key to Argentina's path to the finals was the form of Barcelona star Messi, revelling in the captaincy role handed to him by Sabella after the wily former Estudiantes coach's appointment in 2011.
Messi was Argentina's top-scorer in qualifying, notching 10 goals in 14 games, suggesting that the 26-year-old maestro has finally nailed suggestions he is unable to reproduce his club form in the international arena.
No comments:
Post a Comment