World Cup 2018: Lionel Messi 'desperate' to turn around Argentina's fortunes, says Javier Mascherano

Argentina stand on the brink of World Cup elimination after being held by Iceland in their opening game before suffering a humiliating 3-0 defeat at the hands of Croatia

Lionel Messi is “desperate” to turn around Argentina’s World Cup fortunes, Javier Mascherano has said ahead of La Albiceleste’s final group game against Nigeria.

Argentina stand on the brink of World Cup elimination after being held by Iceland in their opening game before suffering a humiliating 3-0 defeat at the hands of Croatia.

In both matches Messi has failed to impress, notably missing a penalty against Iceland that would have likely handed the South Americans victory.

Argentina must now beat Nigeria and hope for a favourable result between Iceland and Croatia.

Speaking ahead of the crunch clash with the Super Eagles, Mascherano said that Messi is as frustrated as the whole Argentina squad but remains eager to show what the side are really capable of.

“Leo is fine,” Mascherano told a press conference. “But as a collective, where things don't go as we'd like, we all have our own frustrations.

“He's human and he has his own frustrations but he's desperate to turn the situation around,' he added. He wants to show the world a different image to the one we've shown in the first two games.”

Mascherano also dismissed talk of a rift between the squad and manager Jorge Sampaoli, insisting the players' relationship with the 58-year-old is the same as before.

“The relationship with Sampaoli is totally normal, but if we feel uncomfortable, we will raise it, otherwise we would be hypocrites,” Mascherano said.

“The opposite would be to harm the team, we must seek the collective benefit, we are 23, also those of the squad,' the former Barcelona defender added.

“We are not playing well and we take charge of the results. We will not be responding to things that others do.”