Argentina, can Messi inspire Argentina to victory?

ThisDrinkingLife and The World Cup: Argentina

Quite a good few of the pundits and experts are tipping Argentina this year for the World Cup. With Messi and Agüero on board, a South American world cup, and a relatively easy path to the semi’s predicted, its really not hard to see why Argentina are second favourites, after Brazil.

I can see the rationale behind this, but something in my head says “no”. Is it Messi’s relatively bad season, or this Argentina team not really performing as well as expected in the last two world cups? Is it the lack of a really strong defence that could match what Italy and Spain have? I just don’t fancy them at all, and especially against a well organised European team. As a fan of Argentinian football and a member of the Church of Maradona, I really want to see them do well, but I just don’t feel they can!

Group F should be a doddle for Argentina. Can’t see them having much difficulty in dispatching Bosnia, Iran and Nigeria. In fact against Iran they could score a bagful of goals. Iran I fear will be the team in this world cup to let in the most goals, thanks to Argentina and Messi.

In the next round they should play either France or Switzerland. I would imagine they can beat the Swiss, but if its France then there might be a small problem. I can see that French midfield smothering the Argentina forward line. Double mark Messi and cut out the threat?

If they do get through, then they perhaps might be playing Portugal in the last eight. That would be a treat. Once again Ronaldo V Messi. Would Messi finally come out on top? Win that and Argentina have a semi final place, against Spain most probably. Again another tough European team to handle, another midfield that can contain Argentina’s attack.

key Player is Messi. He has had a relatively bad season with Barcelona. Relatively speaking since scoring 28 league goals isn’t bad, but arch rivals Ronaldo and Real Madrid stole the headlines this year. Alejandro Sabella has made him Captain, which is amazingly foolish. Thanks coach for putting more pressure on my back! Does Sabella not know his own squad, Di Maria anyone, over the quiet Messi? That’s the problem here, Messi has the weight of a nation on his shoulders, and I don’t think he can manage that strain. I like Messi but I always feel Argentinian coaches never respect him as much as the coaches of Barcelona. With Barca they make a team around him. With Argentina he is expected to be part of a system that hasn’t won much previously. It leaves a bad taste, considering the stick he got from the Argentinian public from the last world cup.

So the question is, do you think Argentina can beat Spain, Portugal, and France/Switzerland? If yes they are a hot favourite for the final. And imagine a final with Brazil v Argentina, Fifa’s wet dream. But I don’t think they can beat all those European teams, and if Gonzalo Higuain is in the starting line up then that’s a given they wont do well. He could not hit a cows arse with a banjo. So I predict Argentina to win nothing this time around. Unfortunately. Let me repent under my statue of El Diego