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Finalists in 2014, Argentina set sights on FIFA WC semis

June 11, 2018 14:43 IST

Argentina's Lionel Messi (centre) and his teammates arrive at the Zhukovsky airport in Moscow on Saturday, June 9, for the 2018 World Cup

IMAGE: Argentina's Lionel Messi (centre) and his teammates arrive at the Zhukovsky airport in Moscow on Saturday, June 9. Photograph:Oleg Nikishin/Getty Images

Argentine Football Association (AFA) president Claudio Tapia has said that making it to the semi-finals of the upcoming FIFA World Cup remains the team’s primary goal heading into the showpiece event.

With just a few days to go to the World Cup, Argentina are not considered favourites as they struggled through qualifying for the prestigious tournament.

 

However, Tapia believes reaching the semi-finals is a good target for the country, who are set to lock horns with Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria in Group D.

"Being in the top four is a positive goal," goal.com quoted the AFA president, as saying.

Star striker Lionel Messi, who guided Barcelona to the La Liga and Copa del Rey titles this season, will once again lead Argentina.

Though Messi is yet to clinch a World Cup trophy, Tapia dubbed the forward as the world's best.

"He gives a lot to Argentine soccer, let's face it. The growth we have in the AFA is because we have the best player in the world," he said.

Argentina will look to begin their campaign on a promising note when they take on Iceland in the opening match of the World Cup in Moscow on Saturday.

 

Source: ANI