Argentina World Cup hopes depend on Messi fitness, says Kempes

The 1978 champion and Golden Boot winner
believes the Albiceleste will be in the mix to
claim a third World Cup next summer, but
only if their star player avoids injury
EXCLUSIVE
By Ben Hayward
Argentina legend Mario Kempes says the side's
World Cup hopes depend on the fitness of
Barcelona's Lionel Messi.
Kempes fired Argentina to World Cup glory in
1978 and claimed the Golden Boot with six
strikes as the Albiceleste lifted the trophy on
home soil.
The South Americans claimed the trophy for a
second time in 1986 and Kempes, now an
analyst for ESPN , claims Messi's fragile fitness
will be the key to a third success next summer.
"There is still a year to go," the 59-year-old
told Goal . "The season is long and there are so
many games, so let's hope he [Messi] arrives in
good shape physically. If he arrives in good
shape, I believe Argentina will have a good
chance."
Argentina can seal qualification for the World
Cup by beating Paraguay in Asuncion late on
Wednesday. And should passage to Brazil 2014
be achieved by Alejandro Sabella's side in that
game, Barcelona plan to ask Argentina to
pardon Messi from the last two fixtures -
against Peru and Uruguay in the middle of
October.
Back at Barcelona, meanwhile, Kempes believes
Messi can continue to build his partnership
with Brazilian summer signing Neymar and
describes the alliance as a "very special
tandem in world football".
"Messi and Neymar will be a very, very special
tandem in world football because they are
both young players," the Argentine added.
"One who has won it all but is still hungry [for
success], the other who has just arrived in
Europe and wants to show that what we saw at
Santos was no lie, but the real thing. The two
can achieve wonders together and even more
so given the style of football at Barcelona."
The Catalan club are also coached by an
Argentine these days and Kempes has backed
compatriot Gerardo Martino to be a hit at
Camp Nou.
"He was a good choice," the former Valencia
forward explained. "Even though he had never
coached in Europe, his philosophy has always
been to play good football, like in his last
season at Newell's."