Maradona: ‘We can’t be Sporting Messi’

ARGENTINA v BELGIUM

(Brasilia, Saturday, 1pm)

As always, Diego Maradona’s opinion is not one of compromise.

He has said he feels “rage” at the way the team is relying on Lionel Messi and believes others need to come to the party if Argentina are to win the World Cup.

They take on USA conquerors Belgium in Brasilia knowing they have to raise their game from their performance over a solid, if unspectacular, Swiss side in the last 16.

Maradona said: “They need to get it into their heads that we can’t be ‘Sporting Messi’. Maybe he can score a great goal, but if it doesn’t come off, we can’t jump on him as if he’s guilty of the Argentine disaster.” He added: “The kid (Messi) is very alone... the team doesn’t have a change of rhythm, movements in its strikers.” 

Prediction: Argentina 1-0 Belgium