Brazilian Zico’s ruthless criticism of Messi: “He lacks the leadership to be a captain”

The Argentina national team suffered one of the toughest defeats in their history last Tuesday when they fell 2-1 to Saudi Arabia, in the opening match of the Qatar World Cup. With this unexpected result, Scaloni’s team is last in group C, completed by Mexico and Poland. After the coup, in the privacy of the campus they think only of overturning history. But the world speaks of the Albiceleste, and Lionel Messi. Among all the criticisms, that of the Brazilian Arthur Antunes Coimbra, better known as Zico.

The former 10, glory of the Brazilian national team and Flamengo in the 80s, known as “White Pelé” and old partner and friend of Diego Maradona, took out the tape to express his opinion on Leo. In an interview with Lance, the coach also questioned Messi’s poor reaction in adverse moments, mainly due to his status as team captain.

“He is like that. Argentina can win 4-0, lose 2-1, 6-0 and he will continue to play his game, he will not deviate from his path. He will not call anyone, he will not make anyone yell at him. He is a captain Serie A who doesn’t talk to anyone, doesn’t go out. That’s when the top representative of a team has to put the ball under his arm. I think he lacks leadership. He wears the captain’s ribbon just because he’s Messi, right?

And he added, in his brief but piquant comment on the Rosario: “When I was captain of my team, I was almost 30 and I already had some control over the other players. You have to join, challenge your partner. And that’s not Messi’s characteristic.” I remember a Barcelona game where they lost to Liverpool by four and were eliminated.”

Zico, 69 years old, played in three World Cups with the Brazilian national team, 1978, 1982 and 1986. The latter is remembered for the elimination of Canarinha in the quarterfinals, in one of the best matches in the history of the World Cup. It was France’s victory on penalties but Zico had had the chance to define it in extra time, when he missed a shot from twelve paces. And after that move, the former footballer has become the symbol of a Brazilian generation orphaned of world titles.

Argentina versus Mexico, one final

After the defeat against Saudi Arabia, Argentina are facing a first ‘match point’ against: a defeat against Mexico in the second day of group C, Saturday in Lusail, would leave Lionel Messi eliminated in what is perhaps his last World Cup.

The evening comes with dramatic undertones in this Latin American momentum, as Mexico draw without a goal against Poland and add a point, so a defeat would leave them in a very delicate situation before the third and decisive round.

The match therefore promises great emotions and the protagonists are aware of what is at stake.

“Calm down. It’s a heavy blow, a defeat that hurts, but we must continue to have faith in ourselves. This group will not disappoint them. We will try to win against Mexico,” Messi promised the fans immediately after the 2-1 draw. -1 against the Saudis, in the same Lusail stadium where they will play on Saturday.

Even Lionel Scaloni reaffirmed his confidence in the Albiceleste team that moved to Doha.

“There is no other choice but to stand up, there is no other reading, we will stand up, we will continue with our heads held high and we will win both games,” he said, aware that Argentina continues to depend on itself and that by winning Mexico and Poland is synonymous with presence in the round of 16.

Argentina saw their run of 36 consecutive games without losing on Tuesday snapped, missing the world record set by Roberto Mancini’s Italy by a point, but the shadow of eventual elimination in the first exchange eclipsed all circumstances.

The historical precedents at the World Cup are encouraging for Argentina, which has already met Mexico three times at the World Cup and has always emerged victorious: 6-3 in the first edition, that of Uruguay-1930, and twice in another era . , in the round of 16 in Germany-2006 (2-1) and South Africa-2010 (3-1).

In those last two Messi was on the pitch and in 2006 he also played with Scaloni, in what was his only match as a player in a World Cup.

But Mexico has the habit of passing the group stages of the World Cup, even if they then systematically crash in the round of 16, the round in which they have been fired in their last seven participations.

The Aztecs’ ‘anti-Messi’ formula for Saturday’s game was concocted by an alchemist familiar with Paris Saint-Germain star Gerardo Martino, also from Rosario, who led the 10 during a season at Barcelona ( 2013-2014) and two in the Albiceleste (2014-2016).

“Today’s result doesn’t change what we have planned against Argentina. Now there will be two finals for each member of the group,” said ‘Tata’ Martino after the draw against the Poles.

Mexico’s image in that match was positive, despite not winning, even if there is one point that worries Martino and the fans, the lack of goals, which can be particularly worrying given Argentina’s solidity.

Henry Martín was selected to start nine times against Poland, although midway through the second half he was replaced by Raúl Jiménez, who lacked competitive pace after groin pain in recent months.

Another attacking option for the match is Rogelio Funes Mori, who could be measured against his country of birth Argentina, in whose team his twin brother Ramiro was international.

The lack of a goal for El Tri in the “Martino era” is a problem that has existed for a long time and a cause for concern so as not to have to bet everything on the inspiration of the emblematic goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, a hero in the first game by stopping a penalty Robert Lewandowski.

With information from AFP