Lionel Messi don come back from injury and score for Argentina as dem beat Iceland 3-0 for their final World Cup warm-up match for Auburn, Alabama. The 38-year-old captain come off the bench and convert penalty for di second half.
Messi say he dey savour every moment as he prepare to feature for record sixth World Cup. ‘I’ve been enjoying it from the start. I’m happy, savouring every moment and excited as ever,’ he tell reporters afta di match.
Di Inter Miami star bin miss Argentina 2-0 win over Honduras earlier dis month due to muscle fatigue for im left hamstring since May 24. But now, e say e feel great and eager to play. ‘I felt great. I’d been keen to play for a while, having been carrying that niggle since I arrived. I was eager to get going and shake off di lingering fears you get when you dey carry injury, so I could play freely. We’ve got a week left to get everyone fit and ready for di opener,’ e yarn.
Argentina go launch dema title defence against Algeria on June 16 for Kansas City. Dem also go face Austria on June 22 and Jordan on June 27 for Arlington, Texas. Messi dey optimistic about Argentina chances of retaining di title. ‘We have a lot of hope, as always, whenever a competition begins, especially a World Cup. I said at di time dat dis group wouldn’t let you down, and dem proved it dis year by competing regardless of di opponent or competition, and dem continue to show dat dem get di same desire and di same enthusiasm to compete,’ e tok.
E add: ‘It’s a real winning team dat always wants more. We’ll take it step by step as always, but wit great enthusiasm, hope and conviction for wetin we dey capable of.’
Argentina end dema 36-year drought for third World Cup title for Qatar for 2022 and den win di Copa America for 2024. ‘Dis group deserves everything dat dey happening to us. We’re going to give it our all, just as we always have; make no doubt for anyone mind dat we’ll give it our all, just as we all do and just as we’ve been doing all dis time. Just as we always do whenever I was part of di national team. Sometimes e work out, sometimes e no work out, but we’ve been fortunate enough to get positive results for recent years,’ Messi yarn.
E continue: ‘It’s difficult, and e dey get harder all di time, but we’ve get used to dat and we’ve get di fans used to it, and we’re going to try to do it again. Whether e work out or not, dat’s football. Get no doubt dat our opponents go find am hard to beat us because dis na very competitive national team.’
Messi, wey go turn 39 on June 24, net im 117th goal for Argentina for Tuesday for im 199th appearance. In doing so, e become di oldest player to score for Argentina, beating di previous record held by Ángel Labruna, wey score against Brazil for 1957 wen e be 38 years, nine months, and 10 days old.
Argentina top di CONMEBOL qualifying section to progress to another World Cup. Dem finish nine points clear of Ecuador for second place. As three-time champions, Argentina be one of di most successful nations for World Cup history. Dem win di tournament for 1978, 1986 and 2022. Dem reach six finals from 18 previous appearances.
Coach Lionel Scaloni don transform a nation of doubters into believers. For so long, Argentina dey haunted and traumatised from past World Cup campaigns. Some of football biggest names don lead Argentina – from Diego Maradona to Marcelo Bielsa, Jorge Sampaoli, Jose Pekerman and Gerardo Martino. None reach di promised land. Den Scaloni step up – initially as caretaker coach following Argentina failure for 2018 World Cup. Scaloni and Argentina no look back since.
Aside from Messi, Argentina boast Inter talisman Lautaro Martinez, Atletico Madrid Julian Alvarez, Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, Como sensation Nico Paz, Tottenham skipper Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez of Manchester United among others. Only two teams don defend dema title on di world stage. Argentina fit be di third.
Algeria secure dema return by winning Group G for CAF qualifying. Wit eight wins, one draw and one loss from 10 matches, di African side finish seven points clear of Uganda. Only once don Algeria advance beyond di group phase – for 2014, dem join Belgium for di Round of 16 afta finishing ahead of Russia and South Korea. Dem be eliminated by eventual champions Germany. Dis year go mark dema fifth World Cup appearance.
Coach Vladimir Petkovic bin appointed for 2024 afta Algeria dismiss Djamel Belmadi following disappointing group-stage exit for 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Since di arrival of di ex-Switzerland boss, Algeria don win 21 matches, draw four and lose three times for 28 matches. Dem also reach 2025 AFCON quarter-finals.
Riyad Mahrez be di face of Algeria. Despite im advancing years, di 35-year-old go skipper di nation on di global stage. A Premier League winner wit Manchester City and di 2016 PFA Player of di Year, Mahrez set for im World Cup swansong. ‘Will I play for anoda World Cup afta 2026? I’m not Ronaldo, brother,’ e tell journalists. ‘I’ll give everything I get to represent Algeria for di best possible way.’
Austria end a 28-year drought for UEFA qualifying. Ralf Rangnick men win Group H for a dominant campaign wey feature 22 goals and just four conceded. Austria don qualify for eight World Cups, highlighted by dema third-placed finish for 1954. Di Europeans walk away wit a bronze medal at di end of di campaign wey feature a wild 7-5 quarter-final win over hosts Switzerland, wey remain di highest scoring match for men World Cup history.
Ralf Rangnick be di mastermind behind Austria World Cup comeback afta nearly three decades. Di former Manchester United boss be seen as an innovator and one of di brightest minds for di game – known for im high-pressing philosophy and influence on some of Germany best coaches, including Thomas Tuchel. E don transform Austria into giant-killers.
David Alaba go captain Austria at di World Cup. For so long, e be di face of di national team. E don be deemed fit following an injury-hit couple of years wit Real Madrid, where di veteran full-back depart at di end of 2025-26. Di second-most capped player for Austria history, di 33-year-old don enjoy a decorated career – 10 Bundesliga titles, four UEFA Champions League crowns and a pair of LaLiga trophies among others. Alaba now look ahead to im maiden World Cup, wit di captain armband.
Jordan qualify for di World Cup for di first time for dema history. Dema 3-0 win over Oman for Group B of AFC qualifying, coupled wit South Korea 2-0 victory against Iraq secure a top-two berth and a ticket to di world stage. Up until now, Jordan no get World Cup history. Ten previously qualifying campaigns prove unsuccessful for di world number 63.
Coach Jamal Sellami don make a huge impact on Jordanian football. Di former Morocco international bin grant Jordanian citizenship by a royal decision from King Abdullah II as recognition of im significant contribution to football for di country, highlighted by a run to di 2025 FIFA Arab Cup final and World Cup qualification for di first time. Sellami replace Hussein Ammouta, wey depart for 2024 due to ‘personal circumstances’, having lead Jordan to dema first AFC Asian Cup decider di year before.
Musa Al-Taamari be di captain and notable attacking threat, while e currently play for Rennes for France Ligue 1. E don be dubbed di ‘Jordanian Messi’. During im time wit Cypriot club APOEL, a British supporter group write a chant for im honour, to di melody of La Bamba: ‘We’ve got an Al Tamari, he’s so much better than Harry and Dele Alli. Di Jordanian Messi.’
