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Lionel Messi: Argentina coach backs Barcelona star to save World Cup hopes
LIONEL MESSI has been backed to inspire Argentina to the victory they need against Nigeria.
Messi shouldn't have taken World Cup penalty says expert
By his own high standards, Messi has been way below his usual level in Argentina’s first two matches.
Against Iceland Messi had a second-half penalty saved and Argentina drew the game 1-1.
Nigeria vs Argentina: Follow Lionel Messi in World Cup action
Then against Croatia, Messi was anonymous as the likes of Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic bossed the game and they ran out 3-0 winners.
To reach the knockout stages, Argentina must beat Nigeria and hope Iceland don’t beat Croatia.
Argentina are expected to make several changes to their team for the match at the Saint Petersburg Stadium.
For the good of Argentina, I am sure Lionel Messi will be touching the ball a lot more than in our previous match
But Messi will keep his place in the team and manager Jorge Sampaoli says the five-time Ballon d'Or winner will deliver a better performance.
"I think that match was complicated for Leo, the structure of the game didn't favour him and he didn't get a lot of balls from the midfield," Sampaoli told reporters.
"If he had the ball less than usual it's because Argentina didn't dominate the match as we did against Iceland.
"We are going to try and improve that and we are sure that is not going to happen tomorrow.
"For the good of Argentina, I am sure Lionel Messi will be touching the ball a lot more than in our previous match."