For the last dozen years, Argentina has been waiting for global superstar Lionel Messi to lead their football team to a major international trophy.

But when the the country needed the five-time Ballon d’Or winner most, Messi failed to emulate the feats of Diego Maradona in 1986 – when for some he almost single-handedly won the World Cup.

Four times Messi has lined up with Argentina in a major final – the 2014 World Cup and Copa America in 2007, 2015 and 2016 – but every time they have lost.

He has often come under criticism for failing to reproduce his Barcelona form when wearing the sky blue and white jersey of the national team.

Now, ahead of a mouth-watering Copa semifinal against hosts Brazil in Belo Horizonte, Argentines are simply waiting for Messi to turn up.

“This is the match for Messi to appear,” screamed Ole newspaper’s online edition after Argentina beat Venezuela 2-0 to secure the Brazil semifinal.

Ironically, at this tournament, while Argentina’s performances have been improving steadily, Messi has, if anything, become less influential.

Argentina were all at sea in their opening 2-0 defeat to Colombia and needed a Messi penalty to salvage a 1-1 draw with Paraguay.

But in the 2-0 win over Qatar that qualified Argentina for the knock-out rounds, and the quarterfinal victory over Venezuela by the same score, Messi became an increasingly peripheral figure.

NOT AT MY BEST

He admitted as much after the Venezuela match, saying: “I’m not at my best level, I’m not playing how I hoped I would. I’m not having my best Copa America.”

Brazil centre-back Thiago Silva is not so convinced, though.

“For me, Messi is the best player in history, the best I’ve ever seen play. It’s a privilege to play against him,” said a player who hails from the country that produced Pele, Garincha, Socrates, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.

Messi turned 32 during the tournament and while he doesn’t appear close to retirement, it cannot be too many years away.

His game has changed over the years and he no longer produces the same kind of, or quantity of, darting runs at the heart of opposition defences.

He plays deeper than he used to, passes more and is more selective with his runs.

He also rests more than he used to and took an eight-month break from the national team following the World Cup in Russia, only returning in March in a 3-1 friendly defeat to Venezuela.

But he is more than just the star of the team these days, he is the leader and captains both club and country.

During the club season, Messi took the lead in defending Philippe Coutinho, whom he will line up opposite on Tuesday, from criticism levelled at the Brazilian playmaker in the Catalan press.

Messi also defended Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde against the brickbats.

And here, while his and Argentina’s attacking performances have been nothing to enthuse about, Messi took the time to praise the team’s defensive efforts.

“Defensively we didn’t have any problems and the team was very solid at all times,” he said following the Venezuela victory, which he described as a “complete” performance.

ESSENTIAL CONTRIBUTION

And Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni acknowledges that Messi brings much more than just brilliance on the field.

“For me he gives an essential contribution on the pitch, and if you saw everything he brings in the dressing room…” said Scaloni.

“Messi is Messi, he’s the best.”

Before the tournament began, much of the talk was about whether Messi could ever land the one thing missing from his impressive list of accolades: an international trophy.

He’s won the Champions League four times, La Liga 10 times and the Copa del Rey six times with Barcelona, but nothing major with Argentina, who haven’t won anything since 1993.

Tuesday’s semifinal in Belo Horizonte looks tailor made for the Messi of old.

Brazil have yet to concede a goal in the competition but despite victories of 5-0 over Peru and 3-0 against Bolivia, they looked ponderous and lacking imagination in the 0-0 draws against Venezuela and Paraguay.

The semifinal promises to be a tight affair, in which a moment of Messi magic could be enough to settle it.

Argentina is waiting and praying for just such a moment.

Television audience records have been smashed, global media coverage has been unprecedented and the quality of football has won over many sceptics – now the women’s World Cup heads into its final week, the business end of the tournament.

The United States, the defending champions and three-time World Cup winners, remain favourites to lift the trophy in Lyon on Sunday but first they must deal with a confident England side in Tuesday’s semifinal.

In Wednesday’s game, European champions the Netherlands take on a Sweden side who are on a high after upsetting Olympic champions Germany in Saturday’s quarterfinal.

On Sunday, fans of all four teams began to arrive in Lyon, bringing their colour and bonhomie to the central French city.

The Dutch turned Valenciennes orange on Saturday, while thousands of Americans had poured into Paris for Friday’s win over the hosts. England have had unprecedented levels of travelling support and Sweden’s status as one of the pioneer nations in women’s football means they never lack for backing.

What fills veterans of the women’s game with such confidence for the future is the sight of so many young female supporters in the crowds, school-age players who idolise the international footballers.

There is a family atmosphere but also a new generation of women fans, such as Italy’s well-organised and vocal ultras.

It is a far cry from the days when attendance was limited to pockets of friends and families of the players alongside curious locals.

The hearts and minds aspect of this tournament has been a runaway success but now it is all about winning and losing.

There have been many coaches and players, no longer here in France, who have described their exits from the competition as part of a learning process, a development plan, an episode in the growth of the women’s game in their countries – and with good reason.

Italy, beaten by the Dutch on Saturday and playing in their first World Cup for 20 years, were certainly justified in taking such a view. The Spanish know they are on an upward curve and some of the emerging nations will have benefited from their experiences.

But, as the tears of French and German players following their eliminations in the last eight showed, such perspective is not for everyone.

“This England team is ready to win now,” said coach Phil Neville, adding that defeat to the US would represent failure for a team who have fallen at the semifinal stage in their last two major tournaments.

“The only way for us to go back home is as winners.”

England brushed aside a traditionally solid opponent, Norway, in their quarterfinal, winning 3-0, and their performance left the Americans, who beat France 2-1 thanks to a pair of goals from Megan Rapinoe, under no illusions about the task that faces them.

“England was super clinical the other night,” Rapinoe said. “We have absolutely our work cut out for us.”

The match-up that will capture the most attention will be the direct confrontation between Rapinoe, on the American left wing, and Lucy Bronze, England’s powerful and gifted right wing-back whose thundering strike against Norway was a highlight of the tournament.

The Netherlands are in their maiden World Cup semifinal and will look to their in-form striker Vivienne Miedema, a 22-year-old who has scored 61 goals in 80 games for her country and is one of three members of the side playing in England for Arsenal.

But Sweden showed against Germany that their direct, counter-attacking style is highly effective and their coach Peter Gerhardsson is not satisfied yet.

“We’ve talked about the possibilities here to go far and win every game,” he said.

“There’s not a single cell in our body that is content with this. We’re going to go for it.”

Ghana’s slow start to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations continued on Saturday night when they were held to a 0-0 draw by Group F rivals Cameroon at the Ismailia Stadium.

The result sees the Indomitable Lions on top of the group standings with four points, while the Black Stars are second with two points. However, the log order could well be altered by the late game on Saturday between Benin and Guinea-Bissau.

Ghana settled the quicker of the two teams and created the first clear chance in the ninth minute, with Jonathan Mensah teeing up Thomas Partey for a shot in the middle of the penalty area, but the midfielder sent his effort high and wide.

The Black Stars were soon dealt a major blow, though, when winger Christian Atsu appeared to tweak a hamstring while shooting wide from distance in the 12th minute. The Newcastle United man was replaced by Samuel Owusu shortly thereafter.

Cameroon had plenty of possession but had to wait until after the half-hour mark to have their first goal-scoring opportunity, as Karl Toko Ekambi sprinted into space behind the defence, only for Jonathan Mensah to make a superb recovery challenge.

On 36 minutes the Indomitable Lions’ Clinton N’Jie found space down the right of the penalty area and sent a powerful effort on target which Richard Ofori had to turn around his near post for a corner kick.

The Ghana goalkeeper was in action again five minutes later, making a brilliant save to turn away a powerful left-footed shot from Christian Bassogog and ensure the match went to halftime with the score locked at 0-0.

The defences tightened up in the second half and chances were far harder to come by at either end. Cameroon responded with a double substitution in the 74th minute, introducing Stephane Bakohen and Eric Choupo-Moting (who was dropped from the starting XI due to an injury concern), while a short while later Ghana sent on veteran forward Asamoah Gyan.

Yet it was another Black Stars substitute, Owusu Kwabena, who came closest to breaking the deadlock – seconds after he came on in the 87th minute he intercepted a ball in midfield, sprinted forward and rattled the crossbar with a well-struck effort.

Cameroon 0

Ghana 0

Cameroon: Onana, Fai, Bong (Choupo-Moting 74’), Ngaedu-Ngadjui, Kana-Biyik, Bassogog, Oyongo, Mandjeck, Zambo Anguissa (Malong 82’), Ekambi (Bahoken 74’), N’Jie

Ghana: Ofori, Yiadom, Kasim, Mensah, Rahman, Wakaso, Partey, Asamoah (Gyan 78’), Atsu (Owusu 15’), J. Ayew, A. Ayew (Kwabena 87’)

South Africa will face Morocco in their final 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Group D match at the Al Salam Stadium in Egypt on Monday.

Kick-off is at 6:00 pm CAT.

Bafana Bafana boosted their hopes of reaching the knockout stages when they recorded a 1-0 victory over their Southern African rivals Namibia on Friday.

Despite the victory, South Africa remained third on the group standings with three points and a win over Morocco will see Bafana advance to the Round of 16.

South Africa head coach Stuart Baxter has revealed that the 1996 Afcon champions will have to apply a suitable tactic against an in-form Morocco side.

“Both teams had their chances and it was a competitive match (against Namibia). We tried to make chances and make use of that,” Baxter said.

“I salute Namibia on their performance. Against Morocco it’s going to be tough but we will apply the suitable tactic.”

Amiens SC midfielder Bongani Zungu netted Bafana’s first goal at 2019 Afcon finals against Namibia and he will be keen to inspire his nation to victory over the Atlas Lions.

Meanwhile, Morocco secured their place in the Round of 16 when they recorded their second successive Group D victory when they defeated Ivory Coast 1-0 on Friday.

The win took the Atlas Lions to the top of the group standings with six points and they will be keen to overcome Bafana in order to finish at the top of Group D.

Morocco head coach Herve Renard has made it clear that they are planning to advance to the knockout phase as group winners as he targets his third Afcon title.

“We will start preparing for the next game because South Africa is a very good team and we have to study them well,” Renard said.

“Our aim is to win the group. I cannot predict what’s coming next, but we hope to go as far as possible.”

CD Leganes striker Youssef En-Nesyri opened his scoring account at the tournament against Ivory Coast and he will be hoping to help the 1976 Afcon champions beat Bafana.

In Head-to-Head stats, South Africa and Morocco have clashed five times with Bafana winning two games, while three matches ended in a draw.

Morocco coach Herve Renard is anticipating a “tough game” against South Africa Monday at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt despite the contrasting fortunes of the teams.

While Morocco were deserved 1-0 winners over the Ivory Coast in Group D – considered the hardest of the six – South Africa were lucky to lose only 1-0 to the west Africans.

“South Africa have a lot of very good players,” said Renard, the only coach to win the African title with two countries. “They also have a good coach in Stuart Baxter so it will be a tough game.”

Here, we preview the final Group C and Group D matches in Cairo with Morocco and Algeria already assured of last-16 places.

MOROCCO V SOUTH AFRICA

Although Morocco won by only one-goal margins against Namibia and the Ivory Coast, they have exhibited class and appear to be keeping plenty in reserve for the knockout phase.

The goal that sunk the Ivorians demonstrated why the Atlas Lions are considered one of the biggest threats to hosts and bookmakers’ favourites Egypt.

Nordin Amrabat displayed dribbling skills rarely seen in this tournament and his clever pass freed scorer Youssef En-Nesyri, who had timed his dart forward perfectly.

South Africa have been poor both when losing to the Ivory Coast and scraping a win over Namibia with Baxter lamenting the “slowness of transitions from defence to attack”.

IVORY COAST V NAMIBIA

After outplaying South Africa, the Ivorians came off second best against Morocco, but should recover to defeat spirited but limited Namibia and secure a last-16 place.

It will concern coach Ibrahim Kamara, though, that with so many talented forwards like Nicolas Pepe at his disposal the Elephants have managed just one goal in 180 minutes.

Against South Africa, Kamara could afford the luxury of keeping Crystal Palace flier Wilfried Zaha on the bench until late in the second half.

Namibia are craving a first Cup of Nations win after eight failed attempts, including a 4-3 loss to the Ivory Coast in Burkina Faso 21 years ago.

ALGERIA V TANZANIA

Happy Algeria face depressed Tanzania in a Group C match the north Africans will expect to win and maintain a perfect record at the tournament.

Coach Djamel Belmadi has been hailed after victories over Kenya and Senegal, whose line-up included Liverpool star Sadio Mane and Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly.

“Our preparations included time in Qatar getting used to intense heat,” said veteran midfielder Sofiane Feghouli, referring to temperatures that have reached 38 celsius (100 fahrenheit) in Egypt.

Tanzania were the first country to be eliminated after losses to Senegal and Kenya and coach Emmanuel Amunike admitted that “we lack experience and there is no character in the team”.

KENYA V SENEGAL

Senegal coach and former star Aliou Cisse is expecting a big improvement from Mane and his teammates against Kenya after they were outfought by Algeria.

“Of course Sadio Mane can do better,” he said of the Anfield hero who missed the opening win over Tanzania due to a suspension after being yellow-carded twice in qualifiers.

Cisse said there was a silver lining to the defeat by Algeria: “We are no longer being called the favourites. The favourites are those who have won the tournament before.”

Outplayed by Algeria, Kenya came from behind twice to edge east African neighbours Tanzania and raise hopes of a possible last-16 slot as one of the best four third-place teams.

Mauritania and Angola played out a goalless stalemate in their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Group E clash at the Suez Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The result sees the Palancas Negras go level with second-placed Tunisia on two points in the group standings, while Al Murabitun pick up their first point of the campaign but remain in fourth spot. The log is topped by Mali on four points.

Mauritania goalkeeper Brahim Souleymane gave his defenders a real fright when he allowed a simple long ball to skip over him in the 11th minute, but luckily for the gloves-man it passed wide of the goal posts.

That signalled the start of sustained dominance from Angola, who created a couple of chances for Djalma Campos in the 15th and 24th minutes, but the attacker was unable to capitalise on either as the Mauritania defence just about held firm.

Al Murabitun’s first real opening arrived in the 31st minute when Moctar El Hacen got on the end of a lofted cross from the left flank, but was unable to test Angola goalkeeper Toni Cabaca with his header.

The first half ended goalless and Angola coach Srdjan Vasiljevic saw out only 10 minutes of the second before making two changes, as Wilson Eduardo and Geraldo Da Costa replaced Mateus Galiano and Fredy Ribeiro respectively.

Yet the first clear chance after the restart went the way of Mauritania in the 60th minute, as a cross from the right found Ismael Diakite in the middle of the penalty area, but his effort on goal was brilliantly blocked by right-back Bruno Gaspar.

Three minutes later Angola blew a great opportunity to open the scoring, with substitute Eduardo somehow missing a virtually open goal from just a few metres out following great set-up play by Jacinto Gelson down the right of the 18-yard area.

Neither team was able to find the game-breaking goal in the remainder of the time, leaving the Palancas Negras and Al Murabitun to settle for a share of the spoils.

Mauritania 0

Angola 0

Mauritania: Souleymane, Diaw, Abeid, Abdoul (Diarra 62’), N’Diaye, Camara (Palaye 70’), Dellahi, El Hacen, Diakite, Ba, Bessam

Angola: Cabaca, Gaspar, Massunguna, Paizo, Bastos, Show, Herenilson, Djalma (Mabululu 78’), Fredy (Geraldo 56’), Gelson, Mateus (Eduardo 56’)