FIFA World Cup 2014: Coach wants to keep Messi’s best for the knockout stage
Argentina will be once again depending on their captain to deliver in crunch match
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-06-27 07:19 GMT
Porto Alegre: Lionel Messi has scored in all of Argentina’s group games and while the South Americans clearly depend on the livewire forward, coach Alejandro Sabella is wary of pushing him too hard ahead of the knockout round.
The forward scored twice on Wednesday to help Argentina secure a 3-2 win over African champions Nigeria and clinch first place in Group ‘F’ for the South Americans. But Sabella replaced him with Ricardo Alvarez in the 63rd minute, later telling reporters: “We needed Messi to rest.” The 27-year-old, who celebrated his birthday on Tuesday.
He also got the winner in the 2-1 defeat of Bosnia and the 1-0 victory over Iran as Argentina, one of the pre-tournament favourites, eased towards the last 16. “We’re doing OK,” Messi said when asked if he felt tired. “we have five or six rest days and I’m fine.”