BRONNITSY, RUSSIA - JUNE 23: Jorge Sampaoli coach of Argentina looks on during a training session at Stadium of Syroyezhkin sports school on June 23, 2018 in Bronnitsy, Russia. (Photo by Gabriel Rossi/Getty Images) Barcelona to offload Yerry Mina after the end of the World Cup by Chiranjib Ghosh Jorge Sampaoli should consider all plausible options The match against Nigeria is undoubtedly the biggest game in Lionel Messi’s international career. If the little maestro fails to lead Argentina to victory, his dream of winning the World Cup and surpassing compatriot Diego Maradona, will be nothing more than ashes. La Albiceleste have just 1 point from two group games, and need to register a big win against Nigeria to stand a chance of making it out of the group. And even if Argentina win, Croatia needs to win or draw against Iceland for Jorge Sampaoli’s side to qualify. Jorge Sampaoli’s conservative tactics haven’t worked so far. The 3-4-3 formation disallows a passing game, which Argentina attempted in the 3-0 defeat against Croatia and the 1-1 draw against Iceland. But a change in formation may reinvigorate the ageing Argentina side. Possible starting XI (4-2-3-1) : Goalkeeper : Willy Caballero Right-back : Gabriel Mercado Centre-back (right) : Nicolás Otamendi Centre-back (left) : Marcos Rojo Left-back : Marcos Acuña Holding midfielder : Javier Mascherano Central playmaker : Éver Banega Wide right midfielder : Lionel Messi Shadow striker : Paulo Dybala Wide left midfielder : Cristian Pavón Centre forward : Gonzalo Higuaín Due to lack of options, Willy Caballero will have to stay in goal despite making a terrible mistake against Croatia, who costed a goal. At right-back, Gabriel Mercado can provide defensive solidity while Nicolás Otamendi’s experience can help the side. 28-year old Manchester United centre-back Marcos Rojo can slot in to replace Nicolás Tagliafico, while Marcos Acuña should be providing an attacking edge on the left. In midfield, Javier Mascherano’s vision and experience keeps him in the side. Éver Banega can replace Enzo Pérez, who was very poor against Croatia. Cristian Pavón can replace the underperfoming Maximiliano Meza on the left, with Lionel Messi keeping to the right. Paulo Dybala can play in his preferred attacking midfielder role. Up top, Gonzalo Higuaín can replace Sergio Agüero, who looked out of touch against Croatia, despite scoring against Iceland. The perfect combination is hard to find, especially for a manager who has been in charge for little more than a year. But if he can get the players to form an understanding, this Argentina squad can conquer the world.<doc-sep>The Argentina national team have reportedly frozen out manager Jorge Sampaoli in a bid to save their disastrous World Cup campaign. Mootaz Chehade, a journalist from the Argentinian sports site Vavel, has revealed that the squad have “broken their relation” with the coach following their 3-0 loss against Croatia, a result that has left them on the brink of crashing out of the tournament. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Argentina players will decide the team for their game against Nigeria. The squad have broken their relation with Jorge Sampaoli and he's no longer making decisions. — Mootaz Chehade (@MHChehade) June 24, 2018 The players reportedly demanded that Sampaoli be relieved of his duties, and have resorted to picking the line-up themselves for their last group fixture with Nigeria. The news comes after Diego Maradona lambasted the squad for not supporting the misfiring Lionel Messi. The World Cup legend was spotted crying during the Croatia match, and has called for a meeting with the players. This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. "It cost us too much to be where we are for Croatia to hit us for three goals and to leave with our arms crossed without putting a foot in," he told Venezuelan TV channel Telesur. "I'm furious and very upset inside, because anyone who has worn that shirt can't see it being trampled like that by a Croatian team that isn't Germany, that isn't Brazil, that isn't Holland or Spain. Maradona managed Argentina from 2008 to 2010, securing World Cup qualification before losing 4-0 in the quarter-finals to eventual winners Germany. He resigned shortly after the tournament. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io<doc-sep>ARGENTINA only qualified for Russia by the skin of their teeth and if they lose this one, Lionel Messi & Co could find themselves on the first plane home. After a dismal 1-1 draw with Iceland, which included a Messi penalty being saved, Jorge Sampaoli’s are desperate for victory over an experienced and classy Croat side. 4 Lionel Messi failed to find the net against Iceland, including missing a penalty Credit: Reuters But not everything is hunky-dory in the Croatian camp either - forward Nikola Kalinic has been sent home in disgrace for allegedly refusing to come on as a sub in the opening victory over Nigeria. The nation expects After reaching the final in 2014 and with the great Messi in their ranks, Argentinians will be expecting their team to reach the last eight at the very least. The Croatians arrived with less expectation but now find themselves in pole position in Group C, knowing they have enough quality in their ranks to beat all but the very best. 4 Croatia are the early pace setters in Group D after beating Nigeria in their opening match Credit: EPA Key battles/star man There is only one star man in Argentina - the national side is now more reliant than ever on their majestic little No 10. He’s retired from international football once before. He turns 31 on Sunday and knows this may be his last chance to carry off the big one. Luka Modric is also the wrong side of his 30th birthday and the Real Madrid midfield schemer - the national team’s captain but not popular after a legal controversy in his homeland - is the man who makes Croatia tick. Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren’s got the better of Sergio Aguero in the Premier League and will need to do so again tonight. 4 Croatia will look to Luka Modric to provide inspiration Credit: AP:Associated Press Luca Modric will look to boss the midfield for Croatia at World Cup 2018 Weakest links Argentina are suspect at the back - with their defence certain to be tested more often than it was against Iceland. Sampioli’s attacking instincts have left a weak back line exposed in recent matches. The chief concern for Croatia has been a lack of youthful energy in a stately team which is growing old together. MOST READ IN WORLD CUP NO HARD FEELINGS Man dumped by Gareth Southgate's wife insists he holds no grudge 'i want a girl' England star Kyle Walker's model girlfriend reveals she wants FOURTH baby ON THE PLANE Who is Seema Jaswal, how old is ITV World Cup presenter and is she married? Likely line-ups and team news: Argentina are expected to replace Angel Di Maria with pacy youngster Cristian Pavon on the wing. Argentina (4-2-3-1): Willy Caballero; Eduardo Salvio, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Rojo, Nicolas Tagliafico; Maximiliano Meza, Javier Mascherano; Lucas Biglia, Lionel Messi, Cristian Pavon; Sergio Aguero. Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic is expected to name an unchanged starting line-up, sticking with a winning team after victory over Nigeria. Croatia (4-2-3-1): Danijel Subasic; Sime Vrsaljko, Dejan Lovren, Domagoj Vida, Ivan Strinic; Ivan Rakitic, Luka Modric; Ante Rebic, Andrej Kramaric, Ivan Perisic; Mario Mandzukic. 4 Cristian Pavon will look to make his mark on the tournament Credit: EPA Premier League Tsar in the making Wideman Pavon of Boca Juniors has been closely watched by several English clubs - although Barcelona could pounce for the 22-year-old this summer. The stat that matters Argentina have shipped 12 goals in their last six games and need to tighten up at the back against Croatia. More from World Cup 2018 NO HARD FEELINGS Man dumped by Gareth Southgate's wife insists he holds no grudge 'i want a girl' England star Kyle Walker's model girlfriend reveals she wants FOURTH baby ON THE PLANE Who is Seema Jaswal, how old is ITV World Cup presenter and is she married? Argentina god Lionel Messi leads his team confidently into World Cup 2018 Best Bet After their draw with Iceland and another blank for Lionel Messi, Argentina may just be happy to take a simple victory and three points. Betway has Messi at 14-1 to score and the South Americans to win by a 1-0 scoreline. Fact Me This will be the fifth meeting between Argentina and Croatia, with the South Americans winning twice to Croatia’s one (D1). Just one of the previous four meetings between Argentina and Croatia was at a World Cup, with Argentina winning 1-0 in a group stage game in 1998, courtesy of Mauricio Pineda’s strike. Croatia have lost all four of their World Cup meetings with South American sides, once in each of the four tournaments they’ve played in. Lionel Messi has scored in each of his two previous appearances against Croatia, including his first ever goal for Argentina (March 2006). Argentina forward Lionel Messi attempted 11 shots in his first game at the 2018 World Cup finals; the most he has attempted in a single match at a World Cup tournament – he failed to score, however. Lionel Messi has now failed to score with 21 successive shots in World Cup finals tournaments for Argentina, since last scoring versus Nigeria on June 25th 2014. Argentina started their 2018 World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Iceland – they haven’t failed to win either of their opening two Group Stage games at a World Cup since 1974. Diego Maradona in crowd dancing and chanting during World Cup clash between Argentina and Iceland<doc-sep>
Ian MacNicol/Getty Images Argentina will hope Lionel Messi can inspire them to victory against Nigeria on Tuesday, when La Albiceleste aim to keep their 2018 FIFA World Cup dreams alive. Both teams can still qualify from Group D but will also be aware Iceland can also make it through as they play Croatia in the group's other game. Here's a look at how you can watch the match, followed by team news and a match preview. Date: Tuesday, June 26 Time: 9 p.m. local time, 7 p.m. BST, 2 p.m. ET TV Info: Live on BBC One (UK), Fox (U.S.) Live Stream: BBC Sport Live (UK), Fox Sports Go (U.S.) Team News Video Play Button Videos you might like Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli is expected to make changes to his team after their 3-0 defeat to Croatia. Goalkeeper Willy Caballero could be dropped after his mistake allowed Ante Rebic to score, with River Plate stopper Franco Armani potentially coming into the team in his place. Argentinian football writer Peter Coates offered his view of the lineup: Nigeria's only injury concern is midfielder John Obi Mikel who has a hand injury. Manager Gernot Rohr said he could play with a cast, per FIFA's Annette Braun. Both teams also have players at risk of suspension if they were to pick up a booking in the match. Nigeria's Bryan Idowu and William Troost-Ekong and Argentina's Marcos Acuna, Nicolas Otamendi and Gabriel Mercado will miss any subsequent match if they are booked again. Argentina Need Dramatic Improvement Argentina's World Cup campaign has been shambolic, and star man Messi has come under scrutiny for failing to shine. The Barcelona star missed a penalty in the draw against Iceland and was anonymous in the 3-0 defeat to Croatia. Sampaoli took the blame for the performance against Croatia and said "he didn't read the match as he should," per ESPN. Goal's Ben Hayward summed up Argentina's problems: Nigeria's win over Iceland means Argentina can still qualify despite only picking up one point so far. They need to beat the Super Eagles and hope Iceland fail to win against Croatia. If Argentina and Iceland both win, then the team with the best goal difference will qualify. Here's a look at the standings: Football writer Roy Nemer is not optimistic about Argentina's chances even if they do make it through: La Albiceleste have quality in their squad, but Sampaoli has not been able to find a system that works and allows the team to get the best out of Messi. Musa Can Fire Nigeria Past Argentina Nigeria's 2-0 win over Iceland gave their World Cup hopes a boost, and they will also be eyeing a place in the last 16. A win or a draw against Argentina will be enough as long as Iceland fail to beat Croatia. Ahmed Musa was the match-winner for the Super Eagles against Iceland as he scored both goals, and he was in confident mood after the game, per Marca: The forward has reason for optimism as Argentina's defence has looked shaky in the tournament and is yet to keep a clean sheet. Football writer Tim Vickery is relishing the game: Argentina have will have to improve at the back if they are to have any chance, but Musa has the pace and skill to send Sampaoli's men home early.