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Lionel Messi: Samuel Umtiti sympathy for team-mate as France vs Argentina looms
FRANCE defender Samuel Umtiti has sympathy for the expectations resting on his Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi’s shoulders – but will happily prolong the Argentina superstar’s World Cup agony tomorrow.
Umtiti has been Messi’s team-mate for two years and he will cross the forward’s path when Les Bleus take on Argentina in a mouth-watering second-round tie.
Umtiti, who is expected to start at the Kazan Arena after being rested in France’s last group game against Denmark, said: “I see him every day. It is very hard to stop him. He’s got outstanding qualities.
“We will try to stop him but he’s not the only one in this Argentina team – they have other strikers.”
I see him every day. It is very hard to stop him. He’s got outstanding qualities
But while Messi can rely on a reliable Luis Suarez at Barca, he is a bit more on his own with Argentina, with Gonzalo Higuain having not scored in his last eight outings with the national team.
He also has to deal with the weight of a whole nation expecting him to win the World Cup in what is likely to be his last shot at the biggest trophy in football.
“He is different with Argentina than with Barcelona,” said Umtiti. “He does not have the same players with him and their way of playing is different, but he has saved them on several occasions.
“The Argentineans are tough on him, but he cannot do everything on his own.”
Umtiti and Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane will be tasked with stopping Messi tomorrow, and midfielder Thomas Lemar said: “Umtiti does not feel the pressure. He’s ice-cool, he’s zen.”