LEIPZIG:

Lionel Messi turns 19 on Saturday and is determined to make it a double celebration by outfoxing Barcelona teammate Rafael Marquez and firing Argentina into the World Cup quarter-finals.

Messi started the 0-0 draw with the Netherlands which gave Argentina top spot in Group C and a last 16 clash against Mexico. Now the highly-rated teenager is hoping that he’s done enough to convince coach Jose Pekerman that he is worth a place in the starting line-up as Argentina look to take another step closer to a third title.

“Mexico are a strong team and play good football,” said Messi, who revelled alongside Carlos Tevez and in front of playmakers Juan Riquelme and Maxi Rodriguez against the Dutch. “I feel fit enough to get through 90 minutes because this is when the real World Cup begins.”

Argentina captain Roberto Ayala predicted that Mexico would be a tough rival.

Marquez, however, believes that Mexico can tame Messi and his free-flowing team-mates. Argentina will be favourites to progress to the last eight where either hosts Germany or Sweden will be waiting, but Pekerman, whose team have scored eight times in the tournament, respects the dangers that Mexico can pose. “I have a very positive image of Mexico,” said Pekerman.

Mexico have twice been quarter-finalists, but on both occasions, in 1970 and 1986, it was on home ground. Coach Ricardo Lavolpe, a member of Argentina’s World Cup-winning squad in 1978, said he was considering making changes for the game as he tries to solve a crisis of confidence amongst his strikers who haven’t scored since the first match. But Lavolpe will be boosted by news that the country’s leading all-time scorer Jared Borgetti has been passed fit. — AFP

Germany-Sweden

Berlin: Germany could go from one of its best World Cup starts to one of its worst finishes in one game.

Germany opened with three straight wins for its best start in 36 years. A defeat on Saturday against Sweden would equal its previous earliest exit, in 1938. It also failed to advance from the second-round group stage in 1978, when the tournament had a different format.

“We have a big hurdle ahead of us, but we have a great goal,” coach Juergen Klinsmann said on Friday before the team’s departure for Munich.

While remaining confident, Klinsmann has tried to keep a cool head. “My players are hot and eager and we have a very good feeling. But we’ll have to be very, very careful, especially on their set pieces,” Klinsmann said. Klinsmann and his staff were impressed how Sweden twice rallied after falling behind against England to earn a 2-2 draw. The Germans spent much of Thursday’s session practicing set pieces and defending against them.

Sweden, on the other hand, spent most of Thursday resting and practicing penalties. “Eating, drinking and sleeping — that’s absolutely most important,” Sweden coach Lars Lagerback said. “You have to get fresh again after playing three (group) matches and now we only have three days of rest.”

Both teams were to fly to Munich on Friday and train at the arena in the evening. Sweden holds a 13-12 edge over Germany, with six draws. The teams last met in the 1992 European Championship semi-finals in Stockholm, when Germany won 3-2 with Klinsmann on the team. — AP