The 2014 World Cup final in Brazil was supposed to be Lionel Messi's crowning moment, the chance for him to take his place alongside Diego Maradona in Argentina's pantheon of heroes.... more »
Lionel Messi's Argentina were on the brink of a humiliating World Cup exit on Thursday after they were humbled 3-0 by Croatia on a dramatic day at the World Cup that saw the European side join France in the knockout rounds.... more »
Jorge Sampaoli begged for forgiveness from Argentina's fans on Thursday after a 3-0 drubbing by Croatia left Lionel Messi's World Cup dreams hanging by a thread.... more »
Lionel Messi sloped off down the tunnel in Nizhny Novgorod with his head bowed, knowing Argentina face the humiliation of a group-stage exit at the World Cup in Russia.... more »
Captain Luka Modric hailed his Croatia side's "deserved" 3-0 victory over Argentina on Thursday but called on them to keep their feet on the ground after qualifying for the World Cup knockout rounds.... more »
Lionel Messi is under pressure to deliver when Argentina face Croatia on Thursday after his eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo streaked clear at the top of the World Cup goalscoring charts.... more »
Former captain David Beckham has tipped England to play Lionel Messi's Argentina in the World Cup final, reflecting rising optimism about the Three Lions' chances after a positive start in Russia.... more »
Argentina are rallying around captain Lionel Messi as the South American giants prepare for their crucial Group D clash with Croatia here on Thursday.... more »
Argentina legend Diego Maradona issued a scathing assessment Sunday of his country's World Cup draw with Iceland, warning manager Jorge Sampaoli that he would not be welcome back home unless he changes his tactics.... more »
Lionel Messi's Barcelona team-mate Ivan Rakitic will be asked for all the tips he has on how to stop the striker, Croatia's coach Zlatko Dalic admitted on Sunday.... more »
Iceland's battling 1-1 draw against Argentina in their first-ever World Cup match was a "schoolbook" example of how to keep Lionel Messi quiet, the coach of the Nordic minnows said Sunday.... more »
Portugal's Adrien Silva refused to be drawn on comparisons between teammate Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina's Lionel Messi after wildly contrasting fortunes for the global stars in their opening games at the World Cup.... more »
Lionel Messi fluffed his World Cup lines on Saturday, missing a penalty as Iceland held Argentina to a 1-1 draw after France benefited from the first use of the Video Assistant Referee system in tournament history to grind out a victory over Australia.... more »
Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson revealed Saturday how he worked on psyching out Argentine superstar Lionel Messi to make a penalty save that sealed a 1-1 draw with the footballing superpower.... more »
Argentina were held to a draw by World Cup debutants Iceland Saturday, with Lionel Messi blowing a gilt-edged opportunity for victory when he missed a penalty.... more »
Tens of thousands of South Americans have flocked to Moscow for the World Cup and become the most visible group of visitors so far, with Peruvian, Mexican and Argentinian chants reverberating around the Russian capital.... more »
Lionel Messi's bid for World Cup redemption begins Saturday when he leads Argentina against an unfancied Iceland side intent on springing a surprise in their first appearance on football's biggest stage.... more »
Coach Jorge Sampaoli was bullish on the eve of Argentina's World Cup opener against Iceland, confident his troubled side will prove themselves and downplaying "genius" Lionel Messi's threats to quit international football.... more »
Lionel Messi's Argentina will underestimate Iceland at their peril, coach Heimir Hallgrimsson warned on Friday, saying the minnows are ready to spring another surprise in Russia.... more »
World Cup debutants Iceland are ready for the "game of their lives" against Argentina in their Group D opening clash on Saturday, said midfielder Rurik Gislason Thursday.... more »
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