By Daily Sports on June 26, 2018

No wonder they think it is there for the taking.

With Argentina in disarray, Nigeria’s stars are aiming to make this Lionel Messi’s final game of this World Cup — and possibly last ever on the global game's biggest stage.

Anybody who has witnessed the little magician struggling under Jorge Sampaoli will know he has suffered here in Russia.

And Nigeria want to take advantage in Tuesday's Group D finale.

“Of course that is our main aim,” said defender Bryan Idowu. “We have to make sure it is his last game at the World Cup.”

The Barcelona superstar has been a shadow of his brilliant self, nullified by a combination of Sampaoli’s shambolic tactics and opponents marking him out of the game.

As a result the Super Eagles are smelling blood, with Argentina facing a game they have to win whereas a draw could be enough to take the opposition through with Croatia.

Yet in a tournament dominated by the big hitters and their managers’ ability to get the best out of them, Sampaoli looks out of his depth.

Fernando Santos has ensured Portugal’s stars are ready to do Cristiano Ronaldo’s running for him, to put the Real Madrid superstar into Golden Boot contention.

Harry Kane is leading that chase, thanks to Gareth Southgate’s strategic team play which has sealed qualification for the knockout stages.

Romelu Lukaku has run riot for Belgium, released by the tactics of Roberto Martinez.

Yet Messi, the man with so much on his shoulders, remains a man under pressure.

No goals, a missed penalty against Iceland and just 47 touches on the ball – fewer than the Argentina keeper! – in the Croatia game.

He has retired before from the national team, and spoke in March about doing so again if Argentina do not win this World Cup.

That now looks a real possibility.

He is wilting under the pressure of bailing out Sampaoli.

The extent of the Chilean’s over-reliance on him was demonstrated in qualifying for this tournament. Argentina picked up a healthy 21 points from a possible 30 when Messi was available. When he wasn’t, they managed just six out of 24.

Last week, Sampaoli suggested Messi’s team-mates don’t work as hard to support him as Portugal’s players do for Ronaldo.

That will have gone down in the Argentina dressing room like a lead balloon.

Yet Sampaoli doubled down on his comments ahead of this game.

“The structure of the Croatia game didn’t favour him,” said the manager. “Messi didn’t get a lot of balls from midfield and that was a mistake.

“If he had the ball less than usual it is because Argentina didn’t dominate or have that many opportunities. We have worked on that and, for the good of Argentina, I am sure Lionel Messi will be having the ball much more than the last match.”

The truth, however, is that Sampaoli is a dead man walking — even if Argentina win.

He has lost the dressing room and the fans.

Tellingly, there was no key player alongside him for his pre-match press conference.

Instead he was flanked by third-choice keeper Franco Armani, who is set to be thrown in with No.1 Sergio Romero injured and Willy Cabellero dropped.

Sampaoli added: “From what I have seen, I believe tomorrow will be a new starting point for this team.”

Come the final whistle, it is likely to be without him. (Mirror UK)

•Photo shows Messi

Source Daily Sports

Posted June 26, 2018

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