Maradona makes big statement about Lionel Messi after Argentina crashed out of Russia 2018

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- Diego Maradona makes a case for Barcelona's Lionel Messi after Argentina were bundled out of the World Cup

- The 31-year-old wasn't at his best in Russia and the 57-year-old believes it was due to the coach's strategy

- Maradona insisted that Jorge Sampaoli fielded Messi as a false nine, a position he is not used playing

Argentina legend Diego Maradona has faulted Jorge Sampaoli's tactics for Lionel Messi's no-show at this year's FIFA World Cup in Russia.

La Albiceleste crashed out of this summer's global football showpiece in the round of 16 on Saturday, June 30, after losing 4-3 to France at the Kazan Arena.

The Barcelona superstar didn't score in the game but assisted two of the three goals his side scored after being fielded as a false nine.

However, the 1986 World Cup winner expressed his disappointment with his country's early ouster from the competition.

The 57-year-old said the partnership of Messi, Di Maria and Pavon was never going to be a threat to Didier Deschamps men, saying those players don't know how to mount pressure on the opponent's defence.

"[I feel] bad for another World Cup, in which Argentina didn’t manage to put out a consistent team," Maradona told Telesur.

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"However, it was already seen in the build-up. We knew after we left Moscow that Pavon, Messi and Di María were the ones who were going to attack the French defence, yet I don’t think they know a lot about the box, penalty spot or putting pressure on the centre-backs." he continued.

Maradona further explained that the the trio of Messi, Di Maria and Pavon are not main strikers reasons they were not able to wreck havoc to France defence.

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He said that leaving Messi to create passes and still go ahead to score the goal while joining other players to defend was a mere 'fantasy football'.

"Yes, they know how to create, but they’re not strikers.

"It seems to me this Argentina team never had that. Pavon’s crosses caused very little problems for the French defence.

"Messi? I saw him very isolated, far away from the box. I said that if he played as a No 9 and he had to go looking for the ball, piece the game together, set the goals up and score them, it seemed we were talking more about sheer fantasy than Messi."

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The 31-year-old only scored a goal in this year's edition of the championship unlike in Brazil four years ago when he scored four goals in seven appearances.

NAIJ.com previously reported that Maradona collapsed after Marcos Rojo scored the winner against Nigeria in their last Group D clash encounter.

The 1986 World Cup winner collapsed after Argentina defeated the Super Eagles for the fifth time in a competitive competition.

However, the 57-year-old was able to return to stability after he was being attended to by the paramedics as he was prepared to board a flight to Moscow in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Super Eagles Score 1:1 with DR Congo Team Simba in Port Harcourt - on NAIJ.com TV