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Ricardo Mazalan / Associated Press
Nigerian manager Gernot Rohr has asked his team to show "mercilessly" Lionel Messi and Argentina before the shock of the FIFA World Cup on Tuesday.
Both teams face off against a vital Group D encounter, with Argentina needing a win to qualify for the round of 16. The Albicelestes are at the bottom of the group after their 3-0 win against Croatia on Thursday.
Rohr said Monday that he wants to see the Super Eagles pile on misery, by Reuters (h / t ESPN FC).
"We love this great Messi player, everyone loves him," said the boss of the Super Eagles. "But the question is not whether it's the last World Cup for him, we're not here to watch him play, we're here to get a result, we're professionals and we must defend the colors of Nigeria, there is no pity, no pity, everyone wants to win. "
Darko Vojinovic / Associated Press
Nigerian defender Brian Idowu said it was the "main goal" of the team to make it Messi's final match at the tournament.
Nigeria has placed itself in a strong position to qualify Group D alongside Croatia after beating Iceland 2-0 in their second match. Ahmed Musa was on the match sheet twice in the win. As OptaCan noted, the attacker also has antecedents against South Americans:
OptaCan @OptaCan
2 – In just two games, a Nigerian player scored a double in #WorldCup; Ahmet Musa was the player on both occasions.
against Argentina (25.06.2014)
against Iceland (22.06.2018)Show. https://t.co/MPjQfAzjrr
It will be fascinating to see what kind of state Argentina arrives at this match because there have been reports of turbulence in the team before the contest.
according to Ed Malyon The Independent, since the loss of Croatia, there has been "a revolt of players, infighting and gossip" in the Argentine camp, with increased pressure on the manager Jorge Sampaoli.
Victor Caivano / Associated Press
It was reported by Simon Mullock of the Daily Mirror Sergio Aguero will not start against Nigeria as he was one of the many players trying to dismiss the manager after the shock of Croatia.
The furore will only increase the pressure on Messi, who has been so often the man to Argentina in difficult times. Javier Mascherano called on the rest of the team to support:
FIFA World Cup ? @Fifa World Cup
????
"The whole team is frustrated, not just Leo Messi, we can not put everything on Leo"
@Mascherano ahead #NGAARG https://t.co/9yyJ766arz
On the basis of their performance against Iceland, Nigeria will give problems to Argentina. Not only are they organized and effective on the counterattack, but there is a sense of unity among the players that surpasses that of the Albiceleste camp.
Recent history wants that Argentina needs Messi to produce one of his masterclasses to get them out of the mud here, and you would not backtrack against the man from Barcelona. If it can carry this rush of players in the last 16 after their capitulation to Croatia, it could well be one of his best achievements.
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