Diego Maradona was back in the stands for Argentina’s second World Cup group game against Croatia and tried to inspire the players through sheer enthusiasm. Once again, he failed.
Messi, possibly playing in his last World Cup, had minimal impact, largely marked out of Thursday’s shambolic 3-0 World Cup defeat by Croatia. However Sampaoli refused to blame Messi.
Alvaro Morata is doing his best to wash away the pain of World Cup rejection by taking a plunge in the clear blue waters of Sardinia along with his heavily pregnant wife Alice Campello.
IAN HERBERT AT NIZHNY NOVGOROD STADIUM: When the brutal indignity of it all had ended, Lionel Messi was the first off the pitch. He walked with his head down.
PLUS: Maurizio Sarri has handed Chelsea a massive shopping-list including four of his stars at Napoli last season
JAMIE REDKNAPP, MARTIN KEOWN, CHRIS SUTTON and IAN LADYMAN: Sportsmail’s panel give their verdict on why Lionel Messi has failed to shine in Russia like Cristiano Ronaldo.
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