Lionel Messi says Argentina don’t fear any team at the World Cup but he urged fans to stay calm with the tournament in Qatar less than a month away.
Copa America champions Argentina, unbeaten in 35 games since 2019, have been drawn with Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland in Group C as they seek to claim their first FIFA World Cup title. world since 1986.
“Today we are fine and people are excited and think we will come back with the Cup, but it’s not like that,” Argentina captain Messi told Directv Sports TV channel.
“The World Cup is very difficult, a lot of things have to happen (to win it), not only that we do well, a lot of things that can leave you out and there are a lot of teams that want the same as us and who are doing well.
“We are impatient, we will fight, we are not afraid of anyone because we are ready to play against anyone, but with peace of mind.”
Argentina began their 2018 World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Iceland – a game in which Messi missed a penalty – and finished second in their group before being eliminated by the eventual winners, France, in the round of 16.
Messi believes the opener against Saudi Arabia on November 22 will be the key to the team’s chances.
“In the first minutes of the first game, the nervousness and anxiety are hard to control. I think the first game is very important because starting with a win gives you peace of mind,” he said.
“The last World Cup, we started with a draw and I always said that if I had scored the penalty and we had won it, we would have changed the whole story.”
Argentina will play their last warm-up game against the United Arab Emirates on November 16.
Copa America champions Argentina, unbeaten in 35 games since 2019, have been drawn with Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland in Group C as they seek to claim their first FIFA World Cup title. world since 1986.
“Today we are fine and people are excited and think we will come back with the Cup, but it’s not like that,” Argentina captain Messi told Directv Sports TV channel.
“The World Cup is very difficult, a lot of things have to happen (to win it), not only that we do well, a lot of things that can leave you out and there are a lot of teams that want the same as us and who are doing well.
“We are impatient, we will fight, we are not afraid of anyone because we are ready to play against anyone, but with peace of mind.”
Argentina began their 2018 World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Iceland – a game in which Messi missed a penalty – and finished second in their group before being eliminated by the eventual winners, France, in the round of 16.
Messi believes the opener against Saudi Arabia on November 22 will be the key to the team’s chances.
“In the first minutes of the first game, the nervousness and anxiety are hard to control. I think the first game is very important because starting with a win gives you peace of mind,” he said.
“The last World Cup, we started with a draw and I always said that if I had scored the penalty and we had won it, we would have changed the whole story.”
Argentina will play their last warm-up game against the United Arab Emirates on November 16.
