Fri 29 June 2018, 16:35
Tottenham HotspurOssie Ardiles believes Argentina will take strength from their dramatic qualification for the knockout phase when they take on Hugo Lloris and France in the last 16 of the World Cup on Saturday.
Argentina looked down and out as they suffered a 3-0 loss to Croatia in their second match and entered the final five minutes of their final group game against Nigeria at 1-1 and needing a goal.
That goal arrived through Marcos Rojo, Argentina won 2-1 to finish second in the group and set up a potential cracker against France in Kazan (3pm UK).
Argentina can take strength from how they qualified in the end
France had a more comfortable qualification into the knockout phase with two wins and a draw. However, Ossie doesn’t feel either team has showed its true potential.
“Argentina qualified very dramatically in the last moments,” said Ossie, a World Cup winner with Argentina in 1978.
“The team can take strength from how they qualified in the end.
“Argentina are always difficult to beat but sometimes we have problems, as everyone has seen in the last three games. But we’ve come back from the dead, so to speak, and we are very dangerous.
“I have to say, if you are preparing to play a team with Messi, you are going to be a bit worried. From our point of view it’s absolutely crucial that we play as we did in the last game against Nigeria. We were much, much more like a team.
“Against Croatia, we looked in serious trouble but we’ve come back to a system we’re more comfortable with, four at the back and the crucial thing is Ever Banega (Sevilla) in the middle so Messi has another player who plays in his own language.
It’s a wonderful World Cup, so unpredictable and anything could happen
“It’s been a very nervous qualification, but that was all that mattered. Now I believe the World Cup starts.
“I think it it will be a great, great game. France will be worried about Messi, but we have to play at our very best and play like a team. Do Argentina have a chance of reaching the final of the World Cup? Certainly. Do France? The answer is ‘yes’ as well. It’s a wonderful World Cup, so unpredictable and anything could happen.”
