Tag: Messi
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Messi or Ronaldo? Football’s hottest debate sparks in Qatar
Fellow England supporter and Arsenal fan TV host Robbie Lyall disagreed. “Now it has to be Messi – I’ve been to all the games here and in the last game (against Australia) Messi ran the show,” he said. rivals Messi, 35, and Ronaldo, who is two years his senior, have dominated football’s most polarizing debates…
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Van Dijk one-up Messi but still rates him best
This was certainly the case at the 2014 World Cup when Dutch coach Louis van Gaal had to prepare for the threat of Messi in the semi-finals in Brazil, although they still lost. What he did learn, however, was that defending against Messi is a collective act. Messi then had more of a playmaker role,…
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Messi relieved to win after suffering late against Australia
The 35-year-old scored a total of nine World Cup goals in his 1,000th career match, surpassing his great predecessor and compatriot Diego Maradona. He paid tribute to the millions of fans in Qatar for making the matches feel like home games for Argentina. After celebrating on the field, Messi said, “These are incredible moments. We…
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Messi took on the burden of helping Argentina into the quarter-finals
Argentina slowed the game down as they do, but the rapier strike which is supposed to follow the variation in pace rarely materialised, unless Messi was receiving the ball, which he almost did. Always did with his back to the goal. In the 35th minute, however, Messi got a glimpse of the target after a…
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Szczesny grabs chance to ‘show off’ penalty-saving skills to deny Messi
Since making his senior club debut in 2009, the 32-year-old has saved 26 penalties in his career – excluding shootouts – for Brentford, Arsenal, AS Roma, Juventus and the Poland national team. long reach Standing at 6’5″, his tall frame and long reach as well as his ability to dive quickly on either side after…
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Argentina need to avoid upsetting Australia to keep Messi dream alive
Both teams only had two full days to rest, a factor Argentine manager Lionel Scaloni called “madness”. Australia’s assistant coach René Meulenstein said, “We have almost no time to let it sink in, enjoy it … It’s recovery, recovery, recovery.” “But I can tell you one thing, we will be ready.” Overjoyed and tired after…
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Argentina fans find faith again after Messi leads World Cup revival against Poland
“We recovered from Arabia and after these two great games, we’re excited again!” Minutes after Argentina’s victory, Uriel Vitez (19) celebrated in the streets of the capital Buenos Aires wearing an Argentina shirt and cap. Schools in the South American country suspended classes early and offices closed for two hours to watch the “Albiceleste” team…
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Alvarez says he got swayed, apologizes to Messi after threat
Alvarez said, “In the last few days I have been swayed by the passion and love I feel for my country, and I have made comments that were inappropriate.” That’s why I want to apologize to Messi and the people of Argentina. Messi, 35, responded after Argentina’s 2-0 win over Poland on the final day…
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Messi still has the skills to help Argentina win the World Cup, says Pochettino
Lionel Messi may be playing his last World Cup in Qatar but compatriot and former Paris Saint-Germain head coach Mauricio Pochettino says the magic forward is still capable of guiding Argentina to a third World Cup title. Pochettino, who is well aware of Messi’s game-changing abilities having worked with the 35-year-old last season, said he…
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Poland coach says match against Argentina is not Lewandowski vs Messi clash
“This match is not friendly,” said Michniewicz. “It’s going to be a battle between two teams that can both still make progress.” To do this Poland will have to stop one of the world’s greatest players. “It’s a big question, how to stop Lionel Messi,” Michniewicz joked. “I think the whole world has been thinking…
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Mexico’s Lozano eager to meet Messi but upset Argentina
The 27-year-old, who is playing his second World Cup, was a key cog in Mexico’s 0-0 draw against Poland on Tuesday, creating several chances from the right wing. Lozano said he believed Mexico could deliver another blow to Argentina. Lozano said, “We have to be very patient and be intelligent… We have a great team,…
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In Dhaka: With Messi and Manmohan, without Mamata
Bright pink and yellow luggage tags. Check. Passport. Check. Flight ticket for Air India One. Check. I am going through the list of must-have items I need as I stand, bleary-eyed, at the AFS, Palam in Delhi. I am headed to Dhaka, Bangladesh, as part of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s media delegation for his…
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Messi inspires Argentina win
Lionel Messi inspired Argentina to a 3-1 win against Nigeria in their friendly match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Tuesday. Although the Barcelona superstar failed to grab a goal and thus end his scoring duck since a 4-0 win against Albania in Buenos Aires in June, he assisted in both goals when Real Madrid’s…