Lionel messi under pressure to turn Argentina into worldcup winners

Maradona said: “The kid is very lonely out
on the pitch. I have a very strong feeling
about what is happening and I can only
describe it as bitterness, rage, anger.

“He just does not have enough support
from the midfield and is expected to do it
all on his own.

“The team is only playing at 40 per cent of
its potential. It has no change of pace, no
movement up front. Unless that alters, we
will go out.

“If we don’t wake up, we’re in trouble. And
the danger is that, if the kid doesn’t get
the help he needs, he will end up being
blamed for a catastrophe.”

Messi admitted he did not deserve his
unprecedented fourth successive Man of
the Match award in the Arena Corinthians
as Argentina begin preparations for
Saturday’s clash.

But his team-mates implicitly accept he is
the be-all and end-all of Alex Sabella’s side,
the man they all look to when they need
inspiration and salvation.

Argentina's Manchester City right-back
Pablo Zabaleta conceded: “We know he is
our main player, our captain, the best
player in the world.
“This team is playing for him as we know
how important Messi is for this team. We
are so lucky to have Messi in Argentina.

“Messi has been one of the best players in
the world for a long time, like Maradona
many years ago. That is what we expect
from him, always, that the best player in
the world will make the difference in every
game.

“Every time we recover the ball we try to
pass to him as he is the best player we
have in the team and he will score goals.”
Barcelona’s former Liverpool midfielder
Javier Mascherano agreed that pressure
was affecting the whole side, but insisted:

“Now is the moment of truth.
“We know we have to maintain our level,
improve it, and get rid of the mistakes. We
must continue to make strides forward. We
can’t afford to go backwards.”

But Chelsea star Eden Hazard is convinced
his Belgium side - who needed extra time
to beat a Tim-Howard-inspired USA 2-1
later on Tuesday - can gain revenge for the
1986 defeat:

“It is a big game for this generation. It is
very important. We can make history. I
hope we can win. We know the best player
in the world is in this team, but we are not
afraid. We can win.

“This is a big game. Maybe the biggest
game in my life, and I hope to continue
the World Cup.