Did Argentina’s 3-1 victory over Nigeria in a friendly match on Tuesday mark the beginning of bigger things to come for the Albicelestes?
Lionel Messi will be hoping for the answer to be ‘yes’. With this result, the Argentines have won 2 matches on the trot since Sabella’s appointment. For Messi as an individual, it also means that he is yet to taste anything other than a win as the team’s captain.
Before the Nigeria game, coach Alejandro Sabella had talked about Messi’s impotence for the national team which goes in contrast to his influence at Barcelona. The manager explained:
“We must let him be happy. We must let him play completely freely on the pitch. I am waiting for him to score. We must give him the tranquility. He is the best player in the world.”
Revealing his frustration and analyzing his goal condition at the international level, Lionel Messi reportedly told La Repubblica last weekend:
“I score in every way at Barcelona, even without wanting to. With Argentina I try to score goals but I am unable to find the net. Maybe it is because I am not tranquil.”
Apparently, “tranquility” is the exact word that stands between Messi’s form for club and country. At the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka, spectators could finally see La Pulga smiling with genuineness. The Barcelona play maker didn’t score for the Albicelestes, but that wasn’t the point. His vital trademark moves inspired Argentina to victory.
In a post-match interview, captain Lionel Messi declared:
“It is crucial to win after all the failures we have been suffering lately. It is always positive to win, it leaves you feeling good.”
If one supposes that Lionel Messi has found tranquility at last, the solution for the attacker's goal scoring problem might work out very soon. Can anyone see Argentina’s glorious years coming back?
Before the Nigeria game, coach Alejandro Sabella had talked about Messi’s impotence for the national team which goes in contrast to his influence at Barcelona. The manager explained:
“We must let him be happy. We must let him play completely freely on the pitch. I am waiting for him to score. We must give him the tranquility. He is the best player in the world.”
Revealing his frustration and analyzing his goal condition at the international level, Lionel Messi reportedly told La Repubblica last weekend:
“I score in every way at Barcelona, even without wanting to. With Argentina I try to score goals but I am unable to find the net. Maybe it is because I am not tranquil.”
Apparently, “tranquility” is the exact word that stands between Messi’s form for club and country. At the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka, spectators could finally see La Pulga smiling with genuineness. The Barcelona play maker didn’t score for the Albicelestes, but that wasn’t the point. His vital trademark moves inspired Argentina to victory.
In a post-match interview, captain Lionel Messi declared:
“It is crucial to win after all the failures we have been suffering lately. It is always positive to win, it leaves you feeling good.”
If one supposes that Lionel Messi has found tranquility at last, the solution for the attacker's goal scoring problem might work out very soon. Can anyone see Argentina’s glorious years coming back?
