Tottenham's Argentina Midfielder: Nigeria Big Rivals, We Want To Win World Cup

Tottenham Hotspur's Argentina international Erik Lamela is hoping to be named to La Albiceleste's roster for the 2018 World Cup, and is confident that they can win the World Cup even though he considers the teams in Group D difficult opponents.

Lamela has been in the international wilderness for more than a year, with his last appearance for the two-time world champions coming against Venezuela in a World Cup qualifier in September 2016.

''The goal for us is always to become champion because the team deserves it, because of the quality of the people on the squad and because we have people who have won everything with their club and deserve to win the World Cup," Lamela told Agencia EFE, according to Ole Argentina.

 "It's a difficult group, Croatia, Iceland and Nigeria are big rivals, but if Argentina does things right, I think we can go through.''

The Spurs number 11 added : ''It is difficult to compete with players of such a high level, but it is a motivation ... In the Argentine National Team there are always very good players, and that is better: it means that there is a very good squad. We all aim for the same goal, which is to bring Argentina to the highest possible level''.

Lamela represented Argentina at the Copa América 2015 and Copa América Centenario 2016.

Igho Kingsley