International Football
MESSI MADE THE DIFFERENCE IN OUR CLASH WITH ARGENTINA, SAYS ROHR
BY BOLAJI OKUNOLA.
The fear of Lionel Messi could be the beginning of wisdom, if comments of Nigeria’s manager, Gernot Rohr are anything to by. The Nigerian coach told French publication, football365.fr that the absence of Messi made the difference in the 4-2 victory Nigeria recorded over the former two-time World Cup holders last month in Russia.
The German-born tactician who has found France a comfortable abode remarked that his team would have found it difficult to wreck Argentina in Krasnodar the way the Super Eagles did if Lionel Messi had featured.
The iconic footballer almost singlehandedly got the Russia 2018 ticket for Argentina as the former champions were almost at the brink of missing out. He was excused from the Nigerian match three days after playing for Argentina against Russia.
Perhaps, Jorge Sampaoli released him for club assignments believing he had enough materials to deal with Nigeria. His computation was almost coming true when Argentina took a two goal-lead in the opening 28 minutes before Nigeria started a dramatic come-back performance.
“We beat Argentina in a friendly last month. But Argentina played without Lionel Messi is not the same team,” remarked Rohr.
Incidentally, Messi has featured five times in matches against Nigeria, but had scored only in two of such matches.
The first was in the U-20 FIFA World Cup of 2005 when his two penalty kick goals sealed a 2-1 victory against Nigeria in the final. The other was at the 2014 World Cup when he scored twice in a 3-2 win over a turbo-charged Super Eagles.
In other instances, Messi shot blank. The first was the final match of the 2008 Beijing Olympics football tournament. Then followed that of 2010 World Cup and a friendly match in Dhaka, Bangladesh in 2011 in which Messi failed to score.
But Rohr remarked that it won’t be easy beating the Argentine in next year FIFA World Cup, after both team were pitched in group D, alongside Croatia and Iceland.
“Moreover, Argentina is also a big team. We know them. They are a very big team. We will not make a mistake thinking that we know them.”
International Football
Two Moroccan football players lost at sea, says club official
![](https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Abdellatif-Akhrif.png)
Two Moroccan players from top-flight soccer side Ittihad Tanger have been missing at sea since Saturday after strong currents drifted their small yacht, a club official said on Sunday.
They were in a group of five players from the club who went cruising off the northern city of Tangier when strong currents and heavy winds drifted their yacht away as they were swimming in deep waters, club deputy president Anass Mrabet told Reuters.
“Three players have already been rescued on Saturday, while research is still ongoing for the missing Salman Harraq and Abdellatif Akhrif,” he said.
The players did not have buoys on them when they jumped from the small yacht to swim, he said citing recounts by rescued players.
While Akhrif, 24, is already a full member of the squad, Harraq, 18, was about to move up to the senior team this year, Mrabet added.
Ittihad Tanger have been in the Moroccan top flight since 2015 and won the league title for the first and only time in their history in the 2017-18 season. However, they have struggled in the lower half of the standings in recent years.
-Reuters
International Football
FIFA launches ‘Football Manager’ World Cup with $100,000 in prize money
![](https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/arsene-wenger.jpg)
FIFA will host its first ever FIFAe World Cup of Football Manager this year to crown the best virtual manager on the highly-popular video game, world soccer’s governing body said on Thursday.
FIFA is partnering with Sports Interactive, the developers of the game that has sold millions of copies and has also been used by several football clubs to scout players and opponents thanks to its extensive database.
Players will compete for $100,000 in prize money in the final event from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.
“This competition requires participants to demonstrate a profound understanding of football strategy and tactics,” said former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is the ambassador for the esports event.
“Success demands not only mastery of game mechanics but also in-depth football knowledge, making this format a fascinating blend.”
FIFA said in the inaugural year of the event, selected member associations will be invited to be represented at the final event.
Member associations from all six confederations are expected to be invited while players can sign up on FIFA’s website.
-Reuters
International Football
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio robbed at gunpoint
![](https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/baggio.jpg)
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint at his home in northern Italy while watching his country’s match against Spain in the Euro 2024 tournament on Thursday, local police said.
Burglars broke into Baggio’s house near Vicenza, hit him on the head with a gun butt and locked him and his family in a room while they stole jewellery, watches and cash, daily Il Corriere della Sera reported. It said he suffered a deep wound.
“Luckily, the violence I suffered only resulted in a few stitches, bruises and a lot of fear. Now it is to overcome the fear,” Baggio was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.
Baggio, 57, played for clubs including Juventus (JUVE.MI), opens new tab, AC Milan and Inter Milan. He also played 56 times for Italy, scoring 27 goals, and is widely seen as one of his country’s all-time greats.
After the robbery, Baggio, widely known as the “divine ponytail”, was treated at a local hospital where he received stitches for the head wound, Italian media reported.
Italy lost to Spain 1-0 on Thursday and now must avoid defeat by Croatia to guarantee progression in the tournament.
-Reuters
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