AKIPRESS.COM - Former Argentina coach Cesar Luis Menotti believes Lionel Messi can star at the World Cup like countryman Diego Maradona in 1986 but his form in Brazil “will depend a lot on the team,” The Hindu cited.

Argentina will be depending on the Barcelona striker being at his best for the June 12-July 13 tournament, as they seek a third World Cup title following 1978 and 1986.

But Menotti, who led Argentina to the 1978 title, said that he was not sure the current team would be able to support Messi enough for them to win the tournament.

“So far, the team does not play with the strength of an idea that has been fully absorbed and that has been practiced as much as needed. It is very much based on the inspiration of its players,” he explained.

“[Brazil] are always highly competitive, they are always candidates [to win the title], and they can be world champions. What I am not sure of is whether they will manage to play well,” 75-year-old Menotti, also a former Barcelona coach, noticed.

He picked out Germany as best hope for the win rather than world champions Spain. “Germany are the ones who would be most likely to do that (win in South America). They are very solid as a group, very clear in their football idea,” he said.