JOHANNESBURG—Going into this World Cup there were some concerns that Lionel Messi might be feeling the after-effects of a long, hard season as Spanish league champion Barcelona’s creative spark.
Well, he’s back and he looks fine. Brilliant, actually, and lacking only one thing as Argentina opened this 19th World Cup with a 1-0 win over Nigeria – a goal to make it all worthwhile. Put that together with some problems at the back that may well be an issue down the line, and Argentina can’t be that happy after an opening bow that really should have been more emphatic on the scoreboard.
Messi, the most-fouled player in the Champions League this year, and the leading scored in La Liga, signalled his menacing return to the pitch four minutes into the game, fizzing a shot from 20 yards out that Nigerian ‘keeper Vincent Enyeama managed to push wide for a corner. Just after, defender Gabriel Heinze was left unmarked 10 yards out and his powerful header off Juan Veron’s corner found the net for the only goal of the night at an Ellis Park Stadium that was pro-Argentina. A large contingent of travelling fans were on hand to cheer their dominance while moaning their misses – and that balkline that looked porous against an overall toothless Super Eagles squad.
Nigeria didn’t actually get a shot on goal until substitute Obafemi Martins’ wobbly 30-yarder was beaten away by Argentina ‘keeper Sergio Romero. Most of their raiding came down the left wing, exposing a worrisome hole in the Albicelestes’ defence and especially right back Jonas Gutierrez.
For all that, Nigeria weren’t all that dangerous, while Argentina can take solace in the performance of their talisman.
Messi had perhaps a half-dozen glorious chances and simply bossed the game, but the last shot of him in earnest bobbled away harmlessly at the end of a promising one-two with Diego Milito just before the end.
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