World Cup

[monks data]

Attendance: 68,551

World Cup | Quarter-Finals

Jul 5, 2014 at 5pm UK

Argentina
1-0
Belgium

Higuain (8')

FT(HT: 1-0)

Alejandro Sabella admits Lionel Messi dependence

By Shane Callaghan, Reporter

Published: July 4 2014 | 18:31

Last updated: July 4 2014 | 19:51

Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella says that his side are not a one-man team but admits that Lionel Messi is key to their aspirations.

Alejandro Sabella has admitted that his Argentina team heavily depend on the magic of Lionel Messi, but insisted that they are not a one-man team.

The Barcelona ace has hit four World Cup goals thus far to help La Albiceleste top Group F, before bagging a crucial assist in Tuesday's dramatic extra-time win over Switzerland.

Sabella's side face Belgium in the quarter-final on Saturday but, despite conceding that a player of Messi's quality will always take centre stage, the 59-year-old insists that he has more than one string to his bow.

"Messi dependence? Any team that has a player like Messi will depend on him," the Argentina coach said at a press conference.

"The fact that he is doing what he has been doing shows that he is the best in the world, but there's more to this team.

"Against Switzerland, [Rodrigo] Palacio was the one who won the ball in midfield before he set up Messi ahead of the goal. Without Palacio, we would not have scored that goal."

Tomorrow's clash kicks off at 5pm.