Argentina ready to end 24 years of World Cup pain says Javier Mascherano

Javier Mascherano spoke his mind before Argentina’s quarter-final win over Belgium[EPA]

The former Liverpool midfielder has been a key player for Alejandro Sabella’s push to the semi-finals but their paltry return at football’s top table since reaching the final as defending champions in 1990 has hit him hard.

For a country like Argentina, one so rich in World Cup heritage, not reaching a semi-final for 24 years is tantamount to absolute failure.

The fact that in the 28 years since last lifting the most famous trophy on the planet Brazil have reached the holy grail twice just adds to Argentina’s intense pain.

With two failed campaigns under his own belt, Mascherano simply will not tolerate a third.

Before the quarter-final win over Belgium on Saturday Sabella, who has been boosted by the return to fitness of Sergio Aguero with the Manchester City striker set to be on the bench tomorrow, invited members of his squad to speak their minds in the build up to kick-off in Brasilia.

Mascherano’s words were stark, brutal and very much to the point.

“I am tired of eating this ****,” he said in the dressing room of the Estadio Nacional, urging Lionel Messi and Co to end their last-four drought once and for all.

At the end of a vibrant 90 minutes from the South Americans, led of course by that man Messi, the wait was over.

Now though, with Holland standing in their way of a trip to Sunday’s final in the Maracana, the expectations of emulating Diego Maradona’s glory run of 1986 are growing by the second.

Mascherano is ready.

“I love this profession, I love what I do but it has been 24 years since we have played a semi-final,” he said.

“We always say things to motivate, I am not sure how these intimate moments get out but it happens. Every player said something and when people speak, we all listen.

“The atmosphere has been spectacular. We hope it all ends in the best form for Argentina.

“Of course it is fantastic to have got to the semi-finals but now we want to be in the Maracana on July 13. The expectations are growing and we have to try and match them.

“The squad is very happy and we go into such a massive game with real enthusiasm..We know we will will have a great chance on Wednesday.

“To reach the semi-finals was not only a relief for me but for all the guys. We knew what was at stake and we were so desperate to stay at the World Cup.

“When we went to bed we knew that when we woke up, the first thing in our minds will be Holland. To think about being in a World Cup semi-final is a unique and beautiful thing to experience.

“For a football fan like me, 24 years is a very long time. The expectations grow but fate has put us where we are now. We need to keep up.”

The way Argentina disposed of Belgium on Saturday was impressive. Louis van Gaal’s side, however, will surely provide much sterner a test.

source: express.co.uk