I’ll be in great form in Brazil, Messi warns

Argentina superstar Lionel Messi has warned Argentina’s opponents including Nigeria that they will be facinga revitalised attacker when the World Cup kicks in Brazil on June 12.The former World Footballer of the Year believes his army of fans will see a different player in Brazil than the one that underperformed for Barcelona in 2013/14 season.He toldFIFA.COM, “As I join up with the national team, the atmosphere is completely different. Many times in the past when I have gone back to Barcelona, I have played well. Now I am hoping that the opposite happens.”Messi took his time to transcend his talent with Barcelona on to the international stage and it was only after South Africa 2010 that he started to perform well.The 26-year-old returned to his native Rosario on arrival in Argentina, and will join coach Alejandro Sabella and the rest of the squad on Monday at Ezeiza, the team’s training camp.He vowed to train “with maximum energy in order to give his best like always”. He added, “When I return to thetraining ground with my teammates, with my friends, it’s going to change mymentality and it’s going to be another story.”He also revealed that along with the restof the Barcelona team this season, they were suffering from a “lack of energy”.Messi’s statement appears to be a direct response to several comments made by fans of the Super Eagles who believe that his dip in form will serve as a plus for Nigeria when both countries clash in the final match of Group F. The attacker was in good shape when Argentina faced Nigeria at the last WorldCup in South Africa but it took quality performance from Vincent Enyeama in goal for Nigeria for a low margin win of 1-0 for the South Americans. Messi wasin very good form with Barcelona ahead of the 2010 World Cup. The attacker’s dip in performance reflected in Barcelona’s unprecedented poor run this season. For the first time in decades, the club finished the season without any trophy losing out on the domestic and international scenes to rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.Argentina will play friendlies against Trinidad and Tobago on June 4 and Slovenia three days later. Nigeria will face Scotland May 28 as the countdownto the World Cup continues.Argentina’s opening Group F match will be against Bosnia-Herzegovina on June16, which precedes games against Iran and Nigeria.