‘It’s impossible to close Messi’: Andres Iniesta reveals what Spain need to do against Argentina in World Cup final | Football News
Spain great Andres Iniesta gave a clear message to Luis de la Fuente’s team ahead of Sunday. FIFA World Cup final against Argentina: don’t waste energy trying to stop Lionel Messi absolutely because “impossible.”The Barcelona legend, who scored the winner in Spain’s historic 2010 World Cup final victory, believes that the key to lifting the trophy is not to neutralize Messi but to keep Spain’s own identity and make Argentina uncomfortable through possession, creativity and clinical finishing.Defending champions Argentina head into the title clash as the tournament’s highest-scoring team, with Messi producing another masterclass in what is expected to be the final World Cup appearance of his glittering career. The 39-year-old has amassed eight goals and four assists, while Spain remain unbeaten and have won only once in seven of seven games.
‘It’s impossible to turn him off’
Speaking to El Partidazo de COPE, Iniesta admitted that completely silencing Messi is an unrealistic goal for any team.“It’s impossible to shut him down completely,” Iniesta said, as quoted by Goal.com. “It’s more about how Spain can damage Argentina in their own game, create chances, and be clinical when they come.”Having spent more than a decade with Messi at Barcelona, Iniesta knows better than most the challenge presented by the Argentina captain.“There are no words, or I don’t know how to describe it. The determination, the conviction, and everything that he does in every game is something that you have to take your hat off to,” he said.Instead of developing a strategy that only includes Messi, Iniesta believes that Spain should rely on the style of football that brought them to the final.
Get your game back, don’t be afraid of Messi
The former Spain captain has urged La Roja to approach football’s biggest occasion with confidence rather than fear, insisting that their performances throughout the tournament have given them the right to believe.“No, no, don’t be afraid. You must not play with fear,” said Iniesta.“I think it’s because of the confidence the players give you, and their momentum throughout the World Cup is on an upward trajectory. They’re heading into the final with all the confidence in the world,” he added.He also praised the clarity and unity within the Spanish team, highlighting how each player understood their role regardless of who started.“Everyone knows exactly what they have to do. Whoever plays, everyone knows their role, and they show the highest confidence. It doesn’t matter who is on the pitch or what position they play; they give you the feeling that everything is under control,” he said.Spain built their run in the final on defensive discipline and collective football, with stars such as Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal and Mikel Merino leading the attack. After losing to France 2-0 in the semifinals, they now stand one win away from their second World Cup title.For Iniesta, however, individual heroics mattered little compared to the ultimate prize. Asked if he hoped a particular player would score the winner against Argentina, his answer was clear.“It’s not a dilemma, because my answer is that I don’t care who scores it. The important thing, as before, is that we walk away as champions. Whoever scores is the secondary, as long as the goal wins it,” he concluded.
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