Maradona making a mess of Messi, says Ardiles

HE may be most people’s selection as the world’s greatest footballer, but Lionel Messi may not be the star of the World Cup finals. That’s the view of Argentina legend Ossie Ardiles who fears Messi’s relationship with Diego Maradona may undermine Argentina’s hopes of World Cup glory.

Ardiles, who won the World Cup as player in 1978, raised eyebrows when he described Maradona, who used over 70 players in Argentina’s stuttering qualification campaign ‘‘as the best manager in the world’’ in Dublin yesterday. He quickly clarified that the comment was made in jest before turning his attention Messi.

‘‘You know he (Messi) is having a lot of problems,’’ Ardiles said. ‘‘We had a lot of problems, we just qualified in the very last moments. We did not play good football. We did not play well and because the team did not play well, Messi did not play well.

‘‘I have to say it is very hard for him to play in that particular team. It is nothing like Barcelona. Barcelona keep the ball, pass the ball and he (does) his magic and (is) impossible to mark and impossible to control.’’

Ardiles added: ‘‘The relationship between Messi and Diego is kind of okay but probably deep inside they are not that good. And if Messi doesn’t play his best Argentina’s chances are down.’’

Maradona’s controversial decision to omit Inter duo Javier Zanetti and Estaban Cambiasso and Boca Juniors playmaker Juan Román Riquelme from his final 23-man squad was also criticised by Ardiles.

‘‘When you go a World Cup you’ve got to have your best players,’’ Ardiles said. ‘‘These two players play in Inter Milan, they won three trophies this year, they played nearly every game, they were very important for them.

‘‘The number one (contentious decision) for me is Riquelme. For me he’s probably one of the best players in the world right now. So I’m very, very disappointed with the squad. It’s a very strong squad but I am very disappointed with the final (selection).’’

Veteran pundit Eamon Dunphy believes England have the potential to go a long way in the tournament. ‘‘I think English players have the temperament, they have Rooney and Gerrard and Lampard,’’ he said. ‘‘They’ve got big match players, players that are used to playing in the Champions League and I feel they’ll get stronger as the competition goes on.’’

Ronnie Whelan believes Spain’s strength in depth gives them a live chance of winning the World Cup.

‘‘You have to put the Spanish favourites with the players they’ve got. We talk about Iniesta, Xavi, Torres, Fabregas, Alonso, goalkeepers Victor Valdes, Iker Casillas, Pepe Reina, they seem to have a squad of players that will get them through the four weeks. The Brazilians as well will be there or thereabouts, play very good football, but for me the Spanish (are the team to beat).’’

Jose Mourinho recently suggested the Champions League is now a bigger competition than the World Cup, a claim anchorman Bill O’Herlihy disagrees with.

‘‘The World Cup influences nations,’’ he said. ‘‘We knew it ourselves in 1990 and ‘94 when we bonded as never before and that’s a constant. It’s a landmark occasion and in that sense it is very special. I think the national significance is hugely important.’’