(SPORT) I’ll bounce back before World Cup- Messi

Lionel Messi has appeared in eight World
Cup games for Argentina. If he scored at
the same rate for his country as he does for
his club, he would have found the net
seven times in those eight games.
Instead, his strike in the 6-0 win over
Serbia and Montenegro in Gelsenkirchen in
2006 is his one and only, and the little
man's small band of critics never shy away
from vocalising this blotch on an otherwise
perfect career.
The 26-year-old is mature now, and is
fully aware of the one bolt missing as
Argentina head into next summer's
carnival of football as second favourites.
"Slowly but surely I will be getting there
to hopefully peak at the right time of the
year," he told BBC Football Focus. "I hope
this could be a great year not only for me
but also for Barcelona and for Argentina."
Messi believes Argentina can win the
World Cup in the backyard of bitter rivals
Brazil, and insists this tournament will
be more special than any before it.
'It will be extra special, well above all the
other World Cups. It's in Brazil, with
everything that means for us, our
supporters will be there in their thousands
and with them behind us I'm sure we can
achieve something very, very special.'
Argentina have not been past the quarter-
finals of a World Cup since 1990, where in
the final they lost 1-0 to West Germany in
Italy, but their main man believes the
team have matured in recent times.
They finished top of the CONMEBOL
qualifying table with just two losses in 16
games in the most competitive qualifying
pot across the globe.
"I think this World Cup arrives at a good
time for Argentina. We have grown as a
team on and off the pitch. We have a great
bunch of lads that love to play for our
country.
"
I think we will get to Brazil in a great
shape and with all the chances in the
world. We know what a World Cup is about.
'I still have a lot to learn and a huge deal
to improve. I hope to keep performing at a
high level all the way to the World Cup.
"The desire to keep winning things is my
main motivation. I want to keep going and
win them all."