Argentina fans display a cut out of Lionel Messi during a march towards the Count Down Clock at the Doha Corniche. REUTERS
Doha: Argentina captain Lionel Messi is set to join the squad tomorrow ahead of a scheduled friendly match against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Abu Dhabi on November 16, as they prepare for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, according to several reports.
Messi is expected to sit out Paris Saint-Germain’s match against Auxerre today as he recovers from a minor injury that will not keep him out of the World Cup.
According to Argentine journalist Gaston Edul, the 35-year-old former Barcelona star will begin his World Cup preparations with team-mates as Argentina is set to train with half of its squad for open training at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Argentina are in Group C alongside Poland, Saudi Arabia and Mexico.
Meanwhile, speaking to Argentine national sports daily, Ole, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, said the current crop of La Albiceleste is similar to the 2014 side that lost to Germany in the final in extra time.
“At World Cups, there are always things that happen that you don’t imagine,” Messi, who was selected by Lionel Scaloni’s 26-man squad, told Ole.
“At the 2014 World Cup, we performed very well, which was an unforgettable experience. I enjoyed it a lot, and where it became clear to me more than ever that the main and most important thing is to be a strong and united group.
“I feel a lot of similarities between this group and the 2014 World Cup. It is a group that always, whatever the match, plays with the same intensity and concentration, and I think that is very important. And we know that we are going to fight for it, but we (don’t think) we are going to be champions from the outset as Argentines think,” he added.
Argentina are one of many favourites in Qatar and currently enjoys the longest active unbeaten streak of 35 games which began in 2019. As part of this run, La Albiceleste beat Brazil by a lone goal to claim the Copa America title in 2021 – Messi’s only trophy with Argentina. Italy holds the record for the longest win streak at 37 games.
“The truth is that other than the fact that it’s a statistic and a great record that will stay if we beat Italy’s, we don’t think about it,” Messi said of the streak, adding, “I’m sure the bad moment will come at some point, and we’ll get over it.”
Messi, set to play in his fifth World Cup and arguably one of the greatest players to ever play the game, is still denied the title of Argentina’s greatest football export.
That title, according to many, belongs to the late Diego Maradona, who captained La Albiceleste to World Cup glory in 1986. Despite Argentina’s favourites tag heading to Qatar 2022, Messi believes the team has to start strong against Saudi Arabia on November 22 at the Lusail Stadium.
“Every detail is important, and any detail at the same time can leave you out of the tournament. We should treat the first game and the last game the same way.
“Although we have a big dream, we are realistic and realise we are in a good moment. At the same time, we have to know that it’s the World Cup, and it’s very difficult,”
