Tough for Argentina to progress, says Phelan

Given the unending tale of woe that has chaperoned Argentina ever since its Russian sojourn began, its captain Messi, who turned a year older on Sunday, may well see his dream of winning the World Cup strangled at birth when his team takes on Nigeria on Tuesday. 

Unfortunately, for the devout fans of Argentina, the world its footballers inhabit hasn’t been anywhere close to ideal for the last quarter-of-a-century. An entire generation of fans has become inured to seeing their team plunging them into a labyrinth of untold misery and exasperation. 

If there is something that has remained immune to change in all these 25 years, it is that of the script going haywire for the Albicelestes at a showpiece event time after time after time. The proverbial sword of Damocles hovers over it as it tries to avert the disaster of exiting in the group stages for the first time since 2002.

Anything less than a win against Nigeria will see Argentina boarding the flight back home to a hostile reception. One man who feels that the twotime world champion has left itself a mountain to climb is former Republic of Ireland player Terry Phelan who is in India as an analyst for the official broadcaster of World Cup, Sony 

Pictures Networks India. 

“Given how well Nigeria acquitted itself in its 2-0 defeat of Iceland, it’s not going to be easy for Argentina that looks devoid of ideas. It has got its team selection wrong and its midfield is a huge cause for concern. In the game against Croatia, even the experienced Javier Mascherano looked helpless against Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic. 

Its defence isn’t looking any better and the goalkeeper doesn’t inspire any confidence either. It will be tough for them to stop an in-form Ahmed Musa,” opined the 51-year-old. The Irishman was more liberal in his praise of England, which won two matches on the trot, with skipper Harry Kane proving he isn’t unnerved either by the captain’s armband or by the rival defence. 

“Kane has led from the front and he is carrying forward the confidence he gained from his exploits with Tottenham. It’s not just Kane, but even players such as Jesse Lingard and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who are taking part in their first World Cup, have played with poise and maturity beyond their years. 

The early signs are looking good for England something it sorely lacked in the previous two editions,” added Phelan, who managed Kerala Blasters in the second season of ISL. Phelan could be forgiven for sounding like one unabashed admirer of the Portugal captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, who has accumulated four goals in two matches, including a hat-trick against Spain, and has positioned himself to increasing that tally. 

“He is phenomenal, isn’t he? He keeps getting better and better, and despite achieving all that he has, the hunger to score and bail his team out hasn’t diminished a bit. If he can take care of his body and keep himself fit, I can see him playing at the next World Cup, although he will be 37 by then,” predicted Phelan. 

Belgium, with its vast array of talent, has insulated itself from treading into its enemy’s ambush and, according to Phelan, it is equipped with the necessary tools and the know-how to go all the way. 

“Contrary to some of the other pre-tournament favourites that are struggling to get going, Belgium has justified its ‘favourite’ tag with two clinical wins. It has amazing talent to choose from and with players such as Hazard, De Bruyne, Lukaku, Fellaini, to name a few, it looks strong although it hasn’t yet faced a strong opponent,” remarked Phelan.