nigeria

"I'm happy because I left it right, because Argentina won"

Messi said he was very pleased with the game he did against Nigeria, adding that it helped him overcome "a moment ugly happened to the albiceleste during qualifying for South Africa.

"I'm happy because I left it right, because Argentina won. I spent an ugly moment for Argentina, I and my colleagues. During the tie could not get the things we did not win games. So I woke up happy and enjoyed the day, quiet, "said Leo.

"I felt very comfortable, I had much contact with the ball, I had opportunities," said the player, who said that if the Nigerian goalkeeper, Eyeama, had not been so successful the result would have been much bigger for Argentina.

Messi said he has been a change in their status in the selection since the beginning of the concentration in Pretoria. "Since we changed However, the mentality of the group, mine. Working time here was good, much good. We have more contact with the ball, and the party pulled me further back than I usually play. I was closer to the midfield and that made me feel comfortable, "he analyzed.

Denied Messi for Argentina depends on him and said he "has very good players who can make you win a game." The Rosario said that Argentina enjoyed many chances not converted, but noted that he has "much room for improvement" and was convinced that raise the level.

"The nerves and anxiety were noted from the first game. Now we took that weight off for the next game," he said.

As for South Korea, his next opponent on Thursday, Messi said study will begin from tomorrow, but said a team is "physically very strong, fast players on that if you give the ball played well." But he stressed "The main rival of Argentina is Argentina itself," because if they do "good things, like yesterday, you have to be calm."

For Barcelona yesterday's game does not change anything about the favorites for the World Cup, which "remain the same." "We gave a good image, we know what we are, what we give. Think on that and keep growing," he said.

Messi had words of appreciation for Maradona, for the confidence he gave in difficult times. "I always trusted me, gave me much freedom in my worst moments in the selection being by my side. A coach is very close to the player, is above us all the time. He is experienced as a player, he lived it all, know what happens to you at any time. It gives us great confidence to everyone, "he said.

Sixteen years after testing positive to Nigeria at the World 94, Maradona returns to finals, this time on the bench, and ends with his moral guilt beating Africans through the lone goal of Heinze. Messi Argentina recovered the best, but ultimately could thrashing when finished asking. Nigeria accused the excess of precipitation. Argentina and Korea lead the group B with 3 points, Greece and Nigeria sag.

He returned the best version of Messi, who claimed that the Argentines. And Maradona a World Cup again. Its natural habitat, where he forged his legend. Napoli triumphed and shone in Barcelona but, of course, became myth albiceleste in defending the world championships. Made contact in Spain 82, with 22 years, and expulsions marked his career with great controversy and goals, as the two who scored against Hungary. But in Mexico was 86 when acted the great Fuzzy: the Hand of God goal and the anthology Maradonian against England, narrated by Victor Hugo Morales. Two divine works that have marked the history of football. Then came the 90 runner-up in Italy after losing in the final against Germany, and the decline in the U.S. accomplished 94, after testing positive for ephedrine to rival today: Nigeria. Sixteen years later, the God of football has dropped to the bench to lead back to Argentina in another World Cup: South Africa 2010, and step off the U.S. tasteless 94.

In South Africa, Argentina comes as covered by the excellence of Spain but with a great offensive squad capable of destroying any team in the world: Messi, Higuain, Aguero, Diego Milito, Tevez, Di Maria and Palermo in the chamber, which is for what which is: unlikely to score goals when the water drowns the team as he scored against Peru, and later allowed the classification of Argentina. The whole offensive potential is based on the innate self-confidence catch the ball. When the ball reached his feet, shaking Nigerians. All except one: Enyeama. The goal of Hapoel took two hands to the usual impossible shots Messi open thread seeking the top right corner of the goalkeeper. How many goals and Flea of the League we have seen in years? But today he managed to overcome the size and agility Enyeama, the best of the Black Eagles, who had studied the movements of 10, but he failed to illustrious Gabriel Argentine gigantic with two World Championships that decorate his resume and want to regain twenty-four years later (Mexico 86).

Argentina put more intensity at the start against Nigeria that we have seen in the other three parties together and played. Messi appeared on the right, but entered through the center. Because in Argentina can not expect a pass made in Xavi, so he has to seek life: cutting the bushes with a machete to visualize and for its originality and preparation. In one of them was about to mark Messi, but as I said before, he met Enyeama. The danger of Nigeria focused on the right flank of the defense of Argentina, occupied by a regular end Jonas Gutierrez. Maradona declined to give depth to the side at the tendency of Messi to beat the center, but drag behind. Jonah Obasi damaged and gave a scare over Argentina, but at the end of the first part could only get a yellow Heinze. The former Real Madrid struck a corner launched by the Bruja Veron, another classic, to put in irons, from the penalty spot and the squadron, the first goal of Maradona. His marker Kaita's eyes followed him. Superb header, Enyeama could do nothing.

From the goal, Argentina dropped the intensity and was carried away by gusts of Messi, trusting their fate to the contras and set pieces designed by Diego Armando Maradona, who surprised the side today, which was then relieved by Burdisso.

Obinna and Aiyegben were hoping for speed Lars Lagerback infinitely superior to that of Demichelis and Samuel, but failed to receive in an advantageous position. Odenwingie surprised by the replacement of which could be the connection and the Martins, a priori the star. Both came in the second. Haruna Etuhu and failed to gain Mascherano, who holds everything, and Veron, 35, was free to direct the step team. It is true, which has the support of Apache Tevez, who sacrifices his offensive contribution to lend a hand in the center. And also there always goes Messi, who fights and press like the best.

Less presence in the game had Di Maria, too static on the left flank where the transition does not reach the ball and somewhat obscured by the great eruption of Leo Messi, sometimes something individualistic, by putting a single but. For example, Barca blew a 4 to 2 against in the 64th minute, Tevez was not very successful in the last pass. Higuain was the reference albiceleste moved up and although good, was unfortunate in the face of door. In March, missed nearly empty and the door 20, a hand hand Enyeama. In the second, lost a fumble in the center that might cost the tie and then went back to crash before the finish in a good hand that reached manufactured.

Argentina both the party slept very intensity away from home, who risked too much the result of a party that had controlled. Odemwingie Taiwo wasted a counter and touched the pole with a destroyer shot that cost him a toe injury and leave the party. Kalu Uche and Yakubu also had their chance, but there was undue haste. It seemed that fate had reserved this victory liberalizing Diego Armando Maradona, who serve their sentence to Nigeria, sixteen years later.

Argentina coach Diego Maradona, said his team "remains a Rolls Royce" whose driving edged Lionel Messi

"Argentina continues to be a Rolls Royce and we have Messi handling it," Maradona said in a television interview made since the concentration of Pretoria team two days before his debut against Nigeria.

The coach denied that the drag Barcelona player had problems hinted how the days before the trainer, Fernando Signorini.

"Messi was impressive workouts (...) is happy, I never had the fortune to have you both time and knowledge," the coach said, adding that the player can even afford to make jokes.

Messi Maradona said assimilated well accolades in recent months. "You know you have everything to gain, to give joy to the Argentines," the coach said, adding that "who will be the greatest of all time "is fortunate to have next to tell his side" a wise "as Juan Sebastian Veron.

The "witch", with Javier Mascherano "draw a light to all, tactical, physical and mentally," he added.

However, the technician said that the idol would choose to Argentina's Carlos Tevez, a player that puts you "goose bumps" and confirmed he will be in the starting out on Saturday against Nigeria.

"You can not out of this team, as demonstrated in England, where victory with the shirt was, and what shows here, "he said.

Maradona said the team's goal is to reach the final, for which appealed to the commitment of his players.

"We promised between us play seven games. We have a team that will leave your skin is going to play football and we will not betray ourselves. We will respect the jersey (...) will have to earn Paar to leave the life, "he said.

"My dream is to see Masche lifted the World Cup," he said.

A victory would be greater than that harvested in 1986, "because that is over and this is new and new blinds."

Messi asks to "be the best of all time"

Maradona on Friday wished the striker Lionel Messi will become "the best of all time" in the 2010 World Cup. "I wish with all my heart that has a Lio barbarian role that is best of all time. It's the icing on the cake, "said Maradona at the press conference after the debut of Argentina against Nigeria on Saturday at Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg.

A major goal of the Benfica player Angelo di Maria has become an Olympic gold - the second consecutive - the fate of Argentina.

The combined albiceleste of Barcelona striker Lionel Messi has won the finals (1-0) after suffering, and much, before an impetuous selection Nigerian deserved better after his monologue venture in the second half.

Mistake Referral to top

Nigeria has left the party far more cautious than bold, while his rival only lived Lionel Messi. The meeting has started cold, as infected by the atmosphere in the stands, that was pure ice and that contrasted with a suffocating room temperature.

Whenever Nigerians arrived, threatening right, with Sani Kaito, and each time it tried to strike, Argentina sought to Leo Messi between the lines.

Still missing in argentina a reference top selection, as Sergio Kun Agüero is not a battering ram nato and Messi can not always make the game of his life to bridge the "bottlenecks" which sometimes are generated on your computer.

CLAIM penalty

At 20 minutes of play, has claimed a penalty on the player of Barcelona and, shortly before Juan Roman Riquelme had launched a failure "to limbo."

Promisse Isaac, in minute 42, has had a golden opportunity for eagle Greens, who have finished the first part being a team faster, more vertical, more solvent and much more threatening than originally planned.

A shot by Di Maria has been the best until then, when the first part and agonizaba. Vanzekin has made an outstanding stop and the 0-0 has remained unchanged to rest.

/> Options goal

In the second half, Nigeria seemed much more vigorous. And it has been. Argentina has already suffered and all fiaba a move Lionel Messi, but there has been a solo and without consequences (min. 49).

Everything did indicate that Nigeria was closer to hang the gold and could consummate somewhat against all odds. At that time, Di Maria has appeared to resolve with a touch of masterly and subtle a pass from Messi. Thus, the extreme left-handed has chopped the ball over the goalkeeper and has achieved one of the most spectacular goals of the tournament.

Leo against all

Nigeria has ido up and was able to tie, but Obinna and Odemwinge have not been successful. Even so, Nigeria has ruled the middle field and has a tight neck Argentina, which has just breathed when Messi has taken control the ball and went to counterattack.

It was Leo and against all such battle, so uneven, has been on the verge of giving likewise the albiceleste (min. 81), but Nigeria was opposite to his glory minute.

The draw has not come because football is somewhat random and, today, the stars have been with Argentina, which has been taken thus the final revenge of the Atlanta-96. That day there was more spectacle, but the gold in Beijing is the same.

Fact Sheet:

Argentina -1: Sergio Romero, Ezequiel Garay, Luciano Monzon, Pablo Zabaleta, Nicholas Young, Fernando Gago, Juan Roman Riquelme, Angelo Di Maria (Banegas, min. 88), Javier Mascherano, Lionel Messi (Lavezzi, min. 91) and Sergio Agüero (Sosa, min. 78).
-0 Nigeria: Vanzekin, Okonkwo, Apam, Adeleye, Adefemi, Kaito, Isaac (Ekpo, min. 69), Ajilore, Obinna, Okorow (Anichebbe, min. 63) and Odewige.
Referee: Viktor Kasai (Hungary). Reprimand of Obinna, Di Maria and Riquelme.
Goals: 0-1: Min. 57, Di Maria.
Incident: Party of the end of the football tournament Disputed Beijing 2008 Olympic Stadium in Beijing.