fifa world cup 2018 messi · spain la liga champions league winner &+ )&01 /1& &-...
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LUKA MODRIC
Messi seeks redemption23
THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 2018
P R E V I E WLIONELMESSI
322
In La Liga
ARGENTINA
2010 20152005
64124
Source: Transfertmarkt/ Liga As of May 29, 2018
2018
COPA AMERICAOLYMPIC GAMES
Left foot
Right foot
BALLON D'OR
SPAIN LA LIGACHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Winner ParticipationFinalist
INTERNATIONAL RECORD
POSITION
GOALS FOR HIS CLUB (2017-18)
FORWARD • AGE 30
WORLD CUP
MATCHESGOALS
OTHER MAJOR HONOURS
BarcelonaSpain
1.69 m / 72 kg
Widely regarded as a football genius. Yet the 5-times Ballon d’Or winner is short on glory with Argentina
LIONELMESSI
322
In La Liga
ARGENTINA
2010 20152005
64124
Source: Transfertmarkt/ Liga As of May 29, 2018
2018
COPA AMERICAOLYMPIC GAMES
Left foot
Right foot
BALLON D'OR
SPAIN LA LIGACHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Winner ParticipationFinalist
INTERNATIONAL RECORD
POSITION
GOALS FOR HIS CLUB (2017-18)
FORWARD • AGE 30
WORLD CUP
MATCHESGOALS
OTHER MAJOR HONOURS
BarcelonaSpain
1.69 m / 72 kg
Widely regarded as a football genius. Yet the 5-times Ballon d’Or winner is short on glory with Argentina
© GRAPHIC NEWS
Group D, June 21Nizhny Novgorod Stadium
5ARG 1-1 ISL
20CRO 2-0 NGR
FIFA rankMatch 1
HEAD-TO-HEAD Argentina 2
Draws 1
Croatia 1
Recentmeetings
FIFA World Cup 2018FIFA World Cup 2018Argentina v Croatia
*Per match
WORLD CUP RECORD
421521
1.691.09
ArgentinaCroatia
20142006
2-13-2
827
1.351.00
CroatiaArgentina
WinsDrawsLosses
Goals for*Goals against*
© GRAPHIC NEWS
Group D, June 21Nizhny Novgorod Stadium
5ARG 1-1 ISL
20CRO 2-0 NGR
FIFA rankMatch 1
HEAD-TO-HEAD Argentina 2
Draws 1
Croatia 1
Recentmeetings
FIFA World Cup 2018FIFA World Cup 2018Argentina v Croatia
*Per match
WORLD CUP RECORD
421521
1.691.09
ArgentinaCroatia
20142006
2-13-2
827
1.351.00
CroatiaArgentina
WinsDrawsLosses
Goals for*Goals against*
© GRAPHIC NEWS
Group D, June 21Nizhny Novgorod Stadium
5ARG 1-1 ISL
20CRO 2-0 NGR
FIFA rankMatch 1
HEAD-TO-HEAD Argentina 2
Draws 1
Croatia 1
Recentmeetings
FIFA World Cup 2018FIFA World Cup 2018Argentina v Croatia
*Per match
WORLD CUP RECORD
421521
1.691.09
ArgentinaCroatia
20142006
2-13-2
827
1.351.00
CroatiaArgentina
WinsDrawsLosses
Goals for*Goals against*
LIONELMESSI
322
In La Liga
ARGENTINA
2010 20152005
64124
Source: Transfertmarkt/ Liga As of May 29, 2018
2018
COPA AMERICAOLYMPIC GAMES
Left foot
Right foot
BALLON D'OR
SPAIN LA LIGACHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Winner ParticipationFinalist
INTERNATIONAL RECORD
POSITION
GOALS FOR HIS CLUB (2017-18)
FORWARD • AGE 30
WORLD CUP
MATCHESGOALS
OTHER MAJOR HONOURS
BarcelonaSpain
1.69 m / 72 kg
Widely regarded as a football genius. Yet the 5-times Ballon d’Or winner is short on glory with Argentina
Possible line-ups: Caballero; Mercado, Otamendi, Tagliafico; Salvio, Mascherano, Meza, Acuna; Messi, Aguero, Pavon.
Jorge Sampaoli Argentina Coach
Zlatko Dali Croatia Coach ć
Possible line-ups: Subasic; Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinic; Rakitic, Badelj; Brozovic, Modric, Perisic; Mandzukic .
Lionel Messi scored his first international goal against Croatia, in a 3-2 friendly defeat in March 2006
Argentina’s draw with Iceland was the first time they’ve failed to win a World Cup opener since losing to Cameroon in 1990 (1-0)
Croatia will seal qualifiation for the round of 16 if they beat Argentina
The runners-up at Brazil 2014, Argentina have now gone three games without a win at the world finals. Their last victory was the 1-0 quarter-final defeat of Belgium four years ago, which was followed by a penalty shoot-out victory over the Netherlands in the semi-finals.
I can understand that he was frustrated that he didn’t get the result he wanted. If we would be in his position we
would be as frustrated as himDEFENDER BIRKIR SAEVARSSON
The reality is that this game is crucial for us, knowing we weren’t able to get the three points the other day.
This is a vital gameARGENTINA DEFENDER GABRIEL MERCADO
Playing like that, he can’t come back to Argentina. It’s a disgrace. Not having prepared for the match knowing that
Iceland are all 1.90m tall... ARGENTINA LEGEND DIEGO MARADONA
Argentina have one of the most fearsome at-tacks in the world but so far Jorge Sampaoli has not been able to get the players to click. StrengthsLionel Messi deserves a mention but the Barcelo-na forward is backed up by players such as Sergio Agüero, Paulo Dybala, Gon-zalo Higuaín and Ángel Di María.WeaknessesA central defence pairing of Federico Fazio and Nicolás Otamendi does not instil confidence and none of the goalkeepers had more than 10 caps going into the tour-nament.
Croatia’s Zlatko Dalic presides over a hugely talented squad but also one of the oldest in the tournament.
StrengthsAny team with Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic
in midfield are going to have a lot of possession and create chances.
WeaknessesDefence is a concern
with Dejan Lovren likely to partner
Domagoj Vida in the centre after injury to the veteran Vedran Corluka.
D i d y o u k n o w ?© GRAPHIC NEWS
Group D, June 21Nizhny Novgorod Stadium
5ARG 1-1 ISL
20CRO 2-0 NGR
FIFA rankMatch 1
HEAD-TO-HEAD Argentina 2
Draws 1
Croatia 1
Recentmeetings
FIFA World Cup 2018FIFA World Cup 2018Argentina v Croatia
*Per match
WORLD CUP RECORD
421521
1.691.09
ArgentinaCroatia
20142006
2-13-2
827
1.351.00
CroatiaArgentina
WinsDrawsLosses
Goals for*Goals against*
Argentina Croatia
AFP | Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia
Argentina are rallying around captain Lionel Messi as the South Amer-
ican giants prepare for their cru-cial Group D clash with Croatia here on Thursday.
Messi made an unhappy start to the World Cup on Saturday, missing what would have been a winning penalty as Argentina
were held to a 1-1 draw by min-nows Iceland. Another adverse outcome on Thursday and many may even start to consider the unthinkable -- that Argentina could be on their way out at the group stage, mirroring their shock first round exit in 2002.
Adding to the sense of dis-appointment, Messi’s missed penalty was accompanied by 11 unsuccessful shots, the most
in a World Cup game without return by a single player since Italy’s Luigi Riva in 1970. Argen-tina’s players however have been quick to close ranks around the superstar. Sampaoli is reportedly considering several changes for the game, including drafting in young forward Cristian Pavon for Angel Di Maria for more cre-ativity up front.
Their jobs would be to supply
Messi and goalscorer against Iceland Sergio Aguero with the kind of service on which they would thrive in a potential 3-3-3-1 formation.
Croatia may have secured a vital three points in their 2-0 win against Nigeria, but their mood can hardly be described as euphoric.They came into the tournament under a cloud, with captain Luka Modric charged
with perjury in a corrup-tion scandal.And striker Kalinic has left Russia due to a back injury, says coach Zlatko Dalic, but amid re-ports he refused to come on as a substitute after being left out of the starting line-up.
The teams have met only once before in the World Cup, in 1998, when Argentina won 1-0 and were the only team that year
t o p r e v e n t Golden Boot
winner Davor S u k e r f r o m s c o r i n g. O n e other possible
omen for Thursday; when Riva racked up his unwanted record in 1970, the Italian legend promptly scored two goals in his next match. Argentina will be hoping for the same from Messi.
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DAY 8, 21st JUNE 2018
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Yesterday’s lucky winner is Marie Bernadine Castillo. Winner will be contactedWORLD CUP PREDICT AND WIN