Messi centre stage as Argentina, France begin World Cup title bids, Argentina and the current World Cup champions, France, will both be playing in Qatar on Tuesday, giving Lionel Messi what is undoubtedly his final opportunity to win the tournament. Day three of one of the most contentious World Cups in history will include four matches after England thrashed Iran 6-2 to demonstrate their title credentials. Argentina, led by Messi and his hotly tipped team, will take the field first when they take on Saudi Arabia in Group C, followed by Denmark’s matchup with Tunisia in Group D.
Messi centre stage as Argentina, France begin World Cup title bids
The final game of the day pits the defending champions France, led by Kylian Mbappe, against Australia in Group D. The evening matches pit Robert Lewandowski’s Poland against Mexico in Group C. But Messi, the forward, will be the center of attention. The 35-year-old is one of the greatest footballers of all time and has essentially won it all, but World Cup triumph has escaped him, and this is undoubtedly his final opportunity to make up for that obvious omission.
“It is probably my last World Cup, my last chance to land this great dream that we all have,” Messi told reporters in Doha on Monday. “I don’t know if this is my happiest moment, but I feel great. “I’m older, more mature, I want to make the most of everything, to live it with the maximum intensity and to enjoy every moment that I have.”
In recent days, Messi has twice trained apart from the rest of the squad but he moved to dispel any concerns amongst Argentines that he might not be fit for Saudi Arabia. “I trained apart because I had a knock, it was precautionary, but nothing unusual,” he said. Argentina head into the tournament as Copa America holders and unbeaten in 36 matches dating back to 2019.
Mbappe the difference If Messi is approaching the end of one of football’s greatest careers, his Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Mbappe is only still starting his. And the 23-year-old could be in for a field day against an Australia side who are lacking the stars of yesteryear and needed an extra qualifier to reach Qatar. Like when Argentina face Saudi Arabia, anything other than a victory for holders France would be a huge shock.
Didier Deschamps is missing Paul Pogba and Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, both out of the tournament through injury, and the French coach said that puts even more onus on Mbappe. “He has always had the ability to make a difference and we will need that,” said Deschamps. “He has the ability to be decisive at any moment, unlike many other players.”
Mbappe, who turns 24 next month, will lead a French attack in which Olivier Giroud is now expected to start in the absence of Benzema. Poland’s Robert Lewandowski with teammates during training. Lewandowski is the third of the three world-class attackers on display on Tuesday, but for his all-goalscoring exploits down the years, the 34-year-old is yet to score at a World Cup.
The Barcelona predator has scored 25 goals in the last two World Cup qualifying campaigns, but he has not yet scored in the championship match. Lewandowski will break his duck in Qatar, according to goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, as Poland looks to advance to the knockout round for the first time since 1986. On the day of Poland’s opening match against Mexico, Szczesny told reporters, “I think it’s obviously crucial for him (to score). “Prior to the World Cup, he is highly driven. There is no denying that Robert is currently one of the finest players in the world.”