SPORTS

Sampaoli: Messi 'shouldn't shoulder all the responsibility'

Stephen Wade The Associated Press
Published Wednesday, June 20, 2018 1:20PM EDT

Lionel Messi plays the ball during a training session of Argentina at the 2018 soccer World Cup in Bronnitsy, Russia, Tuesday, June 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

Text:

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia -- Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli says Lionel Messi "shouldn't shoulder all the responsibility" for the team's fate at the World Cup.

Messi missed a penalty in Argentina's 1-1 draw against Iceland in the opening group match. That slip has piled the pressure on Argentina to win the second game against Croatia on Thursday. Croatia defeated Nigeria 2-0 in its opener.

Sampaoli says "when you score with the Argentina jersey, we all take credit for it. But when Argentina loses, it's all Leo's fault. I think that's quite unfair treatment. It's a lot of pressure for a single player to stand. I have to say I feel responsible for that missed penalty."

Argentina has not won a major title since 1993. It lost the World Cup final four years ago against Germany, and subsequently lost two Copa America finals to Chile in 2015 and 2016.