SM
Watford vs. Leeds: 5 hrs 29 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Ossie Ardiles backs Lionel Messi to thrive at World Cup

:Headline: Ossie Ardiles backs Lionel Messi to thrive at World Cup: ID:157879: from db_amp
Former Argentina World Cup winner Ossie Ardiles backs Barcelona's Lionel Messi to have a successful World Cup this summer.

Former Argentina World Cup winner Ossie Ardiles has backed Barcelona's Lionel Messi to have a successful World Cup.

Messi missed two months of the 2013-14 campaign through injury, while he was also criticised for a perceived laziness in certain matches.

However, Ardiles, who won the World Cup with his country in 1978, has backed the former Ballon d'Or winner to star this summer.

"This time, Lionel Messi will give the performance we expect of him – I am sure of that," Ardiles told FIFA's official website.

"I reckon he is determined to have an amazing tournament, both on an individual and team level. He has got supernatural skill, a tactical awareness ahead of his time and can make the impossible look easy.

"He played excellently in the qualifiers and shouldered his responsibilities brilliantly - he was our main goalscorer and one of the most decisive players on the pitch. Until midway through this past season he was carrying an injury that he picked up at the end of the previous campaign, but I can see he is gradually getting back to his best."

This summer's competition begins in less than two weeks.

amp_article__157879 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2014-06-02 20:50:20:
html db last update - 2021-03-10 07:31:57 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Ossie Ardiles

Click here for more stories about Barcelona

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid29226164204472
2Barcelona29197360342664
3GironaGirona29195559342562
4Athletic Bilbao29168550262456
5Atletico MadridAtletico29174854342055
6Real Sociedad291210742311146
7Real BetisBetis29101273433142
8Valencia28117103232040
9Villarreal29108114751-438
10Getafe2991193742-538
11Las PalmasLas Palmas29107122932-337
12Osasuna29106133343-1036
13AlavesAlaves2988132635-932
14Mallorca29612112535-1030
15Rayo Vallecano29611122538-1329
16Sevilla29610133644-828
17Celta Vigo2969143244-1227
18CadizCadiz29313132040-2022
19Granada2828183058-2814
20Almeria29110182857-2913
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .