Sabella hopes to start tenure with victory

Landing in Kolkata along with goalkeeper Estaban Andrada and 15 other officials following an arduous 39-hour journey from Buenos Aires,Sabella said the whole world expects to see the Messi magic. Messi is not only an Argentine star,the whole world expects him to do well. As a coach,I would like all the players to do well and win against Venezuela, he said.

Seventeen others,including the Real Madrid duo of Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria,will land on Tuesday. Though there is no official word on their arrival,Messi and his Barcelona teammate Javier Mascherano are expected to land on Tuesday or Wednesday night. The Barca duo are held back because of their clubs La Liga match with Villareal.

Five Argentine officials who arrived on Sunday visited the refurbished Salt Lake Stadium and Pernas Oscar Alberto,who had come on a recce last week,was pleasantly surprised to see its new look.