Argentina ready after Messi scare
Source: Agencies |
June 12, 2010, Saturday
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Lionel Messi's hopes of being crowned the best player at the World Cup could be dashed by exhaustion even though Argentina said all 23 squad members were fit.
"(Messi) has arrived at the World Cup tired, the damage is already done and it's irreversible," Argentina's fitness coach Fernando Signorini told the Catalan magazine Sport.
However, team doctor Donato Villani said later that all of coach Diego Maradona's squad including Messi were fit for selection for today's Group B opener against Nigeria.
"The 23 players are in optimum condition," Villani said.
Signorini, Maradona's fitness coach during part of his playing career in Europe, said too much was being expected of the young forward who turns 23 in two weeks' time.
"(The organizers) worry about the doping controls but not if players play 70 matches a year," he said this week after an early morning visit by anti-doping testers to Argentina's University of Pretoria camp.
Having missed Argentina's 5-0 win over Canada in its last warmup 17 days ago due to a minor knee injury, Messi's last match was in La Liga on May 16. He last played for Argentina against Germany in Munich on March 3.
"He looks really good to me, very keen, dreaming of having a great World Cup," Veron said of Messi.
"But I think that to pile all the responsibility on him for what might happen at the World Cup is not good, that's why there are 23 of us in the squad," he said. "I hope he can give all that football he has inside him."
Signorini said Messi "is almost a miracle of genetics because in a single movement he makes six or seven (movements). It's his calling to be one of the best (players) in history and surely at the next World Cup he'll be better than in this because to his talent he will add experience."
Nigeria is without key midfielder John Obi Mikel, and striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni said he will be sorely missed. "He's the best player in our team, but we still have a lot of quality in the side," Yakubu said.
"We're not under any pressure, Argentina are the team with pressure, we're just going out to enjoy it. I feel I'm getting back to my best form. I know I have to take a big responsibility," he added.
The Argentines have no attacking inhibitions but in the face of a muscular Nigerian strike force, they will have to think carefully about their defensive formation.
"(The Nigerians) are very good footballers, athletic players with much physical power and technique," Argentina fullback Gabriel Heinze said.
"I think we'll always defend with a line of four," he added, suggesting right wing-back Jonas Gutierrez will have to focus on defensive duties.
"(Messi) has arrived at the World Cup tired, the damage is already done and it's irreversible," Argentina's fitness coach Fernando Signorini told the Catalan magazine Sport.
However, team doctor Donato Villani said later that all of coach Diego Maradona's squad including Messi were fit for selection for today's Group B opener against Nigeria.
"The 23 players are in optimum condition," Villani said.
Signorini, Maradona's fitness coach during part of his playing career in Europe, said too much was being expected of the young forward who turns 23 in two weeks' time.
"(The organizers) worry about the doping controls but not if players play 70 matches a year," he said this week after an early morning visit by anti-doping testers to Argentina's University of Pretoria camp.
Having missed Argentina's 5-0 win over Canada in its last warmup 17 days ago due to a minor knee injury, Messi's last match was in La Liga on May 16. He last played for Argentina against Germany in Munich on March 3.
"He looks really good to me, very keen, dreaming of having a great World Cup," Veron said of Messi.
"But I think that to pile all the responsibility on him for what might happen at the World Cup is not good, that's why there are 23 of us in the squad," he said. "I hope he can give all that football he has inside him."
Signorini said Messi "is almost a miracle of genetics because in a single movement he makes six or seven (movements). It's his calling to be one of the best (players) in history and surely at the next World Cup he'll be better than in this because to his talent he will add experience."
Nigeria is without key midfielder John Obi Mikel, and striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni said he will be sorely missed. "He's the best player in our team, but we still have a lot of quality in the side," Yakubu said.
"We're not under any pressure, Argentina are the team with pressure, we're just going out to enjoy it. I feel I'm getting back to my best form. I know I have to take a big responsibility," he added.
The Argentines have no attacking inhibitions but in the face of a muscular Nigerian strike force, they will have to think carefully about their defensive formation.
"(The Nigerians) are very good footballers, athletic players with much physical power and technique," Argentina fullback Gabriel Heinze said.
"I think we'll always defend with a line of four," he added, suggesting right wing-back Jonas Gutierrez will have to focus on defensive duties.
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