Super Mario: Messi owes Argentina

Posted Friday, July 01, 2011 by thesun.co.uk

Now the man whose double strike downed Holland in the 1978 World Cup final believes it's time Messi delivered.

Kempes, looking ahead to the Copa America which kicks off in Buenos Aires this evening, said: "Leo has a debt to pay for Argentina."

"In a Barcelona shirt he shows he can be the best player in the world but we haven't seen that for Argentina.

"We've all witnessed what he can do for Barcelona and what he's achieved. It's now time for him to show he can be as good if not better in an Argentina shirt.

"We need him to perform and we need the team to perform. It's a long time since we've won anything."

With Barcelona, Messi has collected five La Liga titles and three Champions League winner's medals.

Argentina coach Sergio Batista has been trying to get the best out of Messi by playing him as the central striker in a 4-3-3 formation that mirrors Barca's tactics.

That has left Carlos Tevez — a favourite of previous boss Diego Maradona — out in the cold.

But Kempes believes the Manchester City striker also has a vital role to play for the hosts.

He added: "Carlitos is very esteemed in Argentina and has a lot of fans and a lot of friends.

"There was a danger he wouldn't be in this cup because he'd spoken about some problems with the manager.

"They had fallen out but it looks like they have good relations now and hopefully he'll be playing more.

"We need him involved. You need your best players, especially those with big character.

"In England, he has proved he is a strong character and an important player for all the clubs he has represented and don't forget he has been a success in Argentina and Brazil too.

"He is a very, very big player for us."

Argentina's last warm-up game was a 4-0 win over Albania in which both Messi and Tevez found the net.

Super Mario: Messi owes Argentina
WORLD BEATER ... Mario Kempes celebrates one of his two goals in the 1978 World Cup final against Holland