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World Cup 2010: Mexico defender Rafael Marquez plots to halt Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi
Marquez believes that prevention is better than cure in this case...
25 Jun 2010 14:43:00
By Robin Bairner
Mexico’s Rafael Marquez has said that he will use all his knowledge of Lionel Messi’s game from the Barcelona training ground to try and stop the Argentina side when the two nations collide on Sunday.
The 31-year-old has been a club-mate of Messi’s since 2003 and has watched the remarkable rise of the player now widely recognised to be the best in the world by pundits, and the Mexican has acknowledged that his South American colleague will be difficult to shackle.
“I know him pretty well,” Marquez told AFP. “It is difficult to play against him and stop him. We will try to restrict his space because it is difficult to take the ball from him.
“He has good control over the ball and can change pace at any time. We must ensure that he sees as little of the ball as possible.”
El Tri have enjoyed a decent World Cup to date, starting with a 1-1 draw against South Africa. From there they defeated a lacklustre France 2-0 before losing to Uruguay 1-0, meaning that they only sneaked through as Group A runners-up on goal difference.
Clearly Javier Aguirre’s side will have to raise their game if they are to match one of the tournament favourites.
| Bet: | Returns: | Brazil £15.33 | Draw £37.50 | Mexico £55.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Brazil £16.20 | Draw £42.00 | Mexico £50.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Brazil £16.15 | Draw £38.00 | Mexico £55.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Brazil £15.70 | Draw £38.00 | Mexico £60.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Brazil £15.80 | Draw £41.00 | Mexico £57.00 |
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The 31-year-old has been a club-mate of Messi’s since 2003 and has watched the remarkable rise of the player now widely recognised to be the best in the world by pundits, and the Mexican has acknowledged that his South American colleague will be difficult to shackle.
“I know him pretty well,” Marquez told AFP. “It is difficult to play against him and stop him. We will try to restrict his space because it is difficult to take the ball from him.
“He has good control over the ball and can change pace at any time. We must ensure that he sees as little of the ball as possible.”
El Tri have enjoyed a decent World Cup to date, starting with a 1-1 draw against South Africa. From there they defeated a lacklustre France 2-0 before losing to Uruguay 1-0, meaning that they only sneaked through as Group A runners-up on goal difference.
Clearly Javier Aguirre’s side will have to raise their game if they are to match one of the tournament favourites.
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