Lionel Messi provides injury update ahead of World Cup final
Argentina fans hail Messi after reaching World Cup final
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
Lionel Messi has addressed his fitness after he was seen clutching his hamstring during the 3-0 win over Croatia on Tuesday. The veteran forward will surely be crucial to Argentina’s chances of lifting the World Cup, with their opponents in the final to be decided in a showdown between France and Morocco.
Messi spent most of the match sauntering around the pitch casually until the ball arrived at his feet against Croatia. When it did, he made magic happen with a timeless performance that fired his side to the World Cup final via a 3-0 win.
The Paris Saint-Germain star found a partner in crime as Julian Alvarez won the first-half penalty that allowed Messi to convert his 11th World Cup goal, putting him joint-sixth on the all-time list. Alvarez then bagged one of his own before Messi turned provider with a remarkable run and cross to lay the Manchester City forward’s second on a plate.
It was a deserving Man of the Match performance from Messi but some supporters held slight concerns about his fitness ahead of Sunday’s final after he was seen clutching at his hamstring multiple times during the first half.
JUST IN: Luka Modric livid as Messi and Alvarez take all the glory to reach World Cup final
When asked about his condition after the final whistle, he told reporters: “I feel really good, I feel strong and ready to play each game. It’s not easy as we arrived tired but the group gained strength again and we played a strong game. I am enjoying this a lot.
“I feel very happy in this World Cup and I am able to help the squad. We knew [Croatia] were going to have a lost of possession of the ball because they have very good players in the midfield, but we prepared well for the game.”
Argentina fans were invariably confident heading to Qatar as Lionel Scaloni’s side spent years building up a 36-match unbeaten run. That all came crashing down in the very first game, however, as Saudi Arabia came up with an unlikely 2-1 win to seal one of the most surprising results in World Cup history.
“To start the World Cup in such a way, we did not think we would lose to Saudi Arabia,” added Messi. “It was a real acid test of the whole squad to show how strong we are. Every match since then has been a final and we have now won five finals in a row. I hope this will also be the case on Sunday.”
“To start the World Cup in such a way, we did not think we would lose to Saudi Arabia,” added Messi. “It was a real acid test of the whole squad to show how strong we are. Every match since then has been a final and we have now won five finals in a row. I hope this will also be the case on Sunday.”
To give themselves the best possible chance of victory, Argentina supporters will likely be cheering on Morocco against France on Wednesday evening. On paper, Les Bleus have a golden opportunity to make it to their second consecutive World Cup final, but Walid Regragui’s Atlas Lions have already downed Spain and Portugal.
A key battle between Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi is poised to unfold down France’s left-hand side. The lightning-quick French forward is a team-mate of Messi’s at PSG and, ahead of kick-off, they are tied in the race for the Golden Boot with five goals apiece.
Source: Read Full Article