Former Argentina coach, Cesar Luis Menotti, believes Lionel Messi can lead Argentina to lift the World Cup trophy but his form ‘will depend a lot on the team’.

Argentina are eyeing their third World Cup success after the won the trophy in 1978 and 1986, but the South American’s will need Messi at his best in Brazil.

Menotti, who led Argentina to their first World Cup title in 1978, believes Messi has as much to offer as countryman, Diego Maradona, but his Argentina team mates need to support him more.

“If the team works well, if the team defends well, if the team recovers the ball easily, if the ball goes through Messi’s feet with a high percentage, he will have the chance to prove just how good he is,” the 75-year-old said.

“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.

“But there is also hope based on the fact that the coach will for the first time have the opportunity to have them all together for more than three days.”

Menotti’s favourites - aside Argentina - are Brazil and of the European teams, who have never won a World Cup in the Americas, he picks out Germany as best hope rather than current world champions Spain.

“(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,” he added.

“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.”

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