Argentina captain Lionel Messi admitted Monday that his generation has a score to settle at the World Cup in Russia after a series of agonising near misses in major tournaments.
"The debt we owe is to ourselves, not to the people. We always give our all, we reached three finals. We haven't been far off," Messi s"(In Russia) it will be a good opportunity. Argentina is always a candidate for the title because of its image, its history. But this year, we are not favourites," Messi added. "Spain, Brazil, Germany and France are above us."
Argentina, who beat Italy 2-0 in Manchester last Friday, will play Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria in Group D at the World Cup.
The country last lifted the trophy in 1986 when Diego Maradona was named player of the tournament.
Messi fit to play against Spain
Coach Jorge Sampaoli informed that Argentina star Lionel Messi is set to return from a minor injury for Tuesday's international friendly against Spain.
The Barcelona forward sat out Friday's 2-0 defeat of Italy in Manchester with a thigh muscle problem but came through Monday's training session in Madrid and is expected to line up against the 2010 world champions.
"He trained as normal with the group so he's okay to play," Sampaoli told a news conference at Atletico Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano stadium.
Sampaoli insisted he was not gambling over his captain's fitness by fielding Messi against Spain.
"If there was the slightest risk, Leo would have said something. The eve of the match against Italy he indicated that he was not in a state to play.
"But here, he did a fitness test yesterday (Sunday), he did another one today and he's fine... I don't think there will be a problem tomorrow (Tuesday)."
Former Chile coach Sampaoli last week described the current Argentina team as "more Messi's side than mine".
"Football is about the players, what I meant was he has the power to create links and communicate out on the field," he explained.
"He can generate a lot of stuff... it's impossible to teach something to Messi."
"We are in a place where Leo is untouchable," added Sampaoli, before suggesting his team would be built around the advice he picked up from Messi.
"Leo, you have to listen to him, create situations that will be optimal for him and from there build a team in relation to that."
However, the two-time World Cup winners will be without Angel di Maria, who hurt his thigh against Italy, and Sergio Aguero, with the Manchester City striker recovering from a knee injury.
Spain boss Julen Lopetegui, unbeaten in the position since replacing Vicente del Bosque after Euro 2016, says whether Messi features or not will have little bearing on his team selection.
"When we're preparing for a game we're not thinking about what's in front of us," Lopetegui said. "We've just played the world champions (Germany) and now face the runners-up who have an incredible player, who collectively have improved with the arrival of Sampaoli.
"What I have ahead of me is a valuable game against Argentina, against the World Cup finalists, sure to be one of the best players in history, and this is motivating us to show what we can do and develop a good feeling as a team."
Spain and Argentina are seen as two leading contenders at the World Cup in Russia which runs from June 14 to July 15.
The last meeting between the countries came in a 2010 friendly in Buenos Aires where Messi scored in a 4-1 Argentina victory.
aid in an interview with Fox Sports.
Argentina lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany 1-0 after extra time and then finished runners-up at successive Copa America tournaments, losing to Chile on penalties in both 2015 and 2016.
"We always take each World Cup as a big opportunity, and now more than ever because an important generation will move on, several players will change," Messi said, ahead of Tuesday's friendly against Spain in Madrid.
Vice-captain Javier Mascherano has already announced he will retire from international duty after the World Cup, while Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain will all be 30 come the finals.
Messi will turn 31 during the competition. He has yet to make a decision on his Argentina future but would be 35 by the time of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
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