Cristiano Ronaldo is better than Lionel Messi at lifting a poor side, says former Argentina international Diego Simeone
Portugal superstar has so far enjoyed an incredible World Cup while Argentina ace is on brink of early exit after dismal 3-0 Croatia defeat
DIEGO SIMEONE added insult to Lionel Messi’s World Cup injury by suggesting Cristiano Ronaldo is more capable of lifting a poor side.
The former Argentina skipper’s comments about Messi and his countrymen were part of a WhatsApp audio message to Atletico Madrid assistant German Burgos that was leaked in Spain.
Discussing Argentina’s humiliating 3-0 defeat by Croatia which left them on the verge of elimination, Simeone said: “Messi is very good but that is because he is accompanied by excellent players.
“But if you had to choose between Messi and Ronaldo for a normal team, who would you choose?"
The answer appeared clear, as did Simeone’s withering assault on the Argentina side and fatally wounded coach Jorge Sampaoli.
Simeone added: “What we saw against Croatia is the picture of what has happened over the past four years.
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“It is anarchy. There is no leadership, either from the coach, who should be leading, or the players, who should be led.
“The team is lost, it is wrong.”
Sampaoli switched from a back four in the opening draw with Iceland to three at the back for Croatia and Simeone blasted: “He picked the wrong team and tactics, too.
“He should have started against Iceland, the weaker team, in the way he played against Croatia, because they are a much weaker team.
“And the other way round - the way he played against Iceland was how he should have played against Croatia.
“When the coaches screw up, it's worse than when the players s*** it. So it has to be down to the coach. It’s on him.”
Simeone also suggested Willy Caballero’s catastrophic blunder that gifted Ante Rebic Croatia’s opener was an accident waiting to happen.
He said: “The goalkeeper has done the same sort of thing before, against Spain and Italy in friendlies.
“On those occasions the other team missed the chances but I said to you then that it was a pity they hadn’t scored to make them realise that if you make that kind of mistake in the World Cup, it will be a goal.
“Now in the locker room they have to start getting at each other. Someone has to fight, grab each other by the balls and stop inflating them like they have done.
“I hope they can go through by beating Nigeria, although it depends on Iceland. But I don’t think that is going to happen.”