Famous football icon Diego Maradona took a swipe at Argentina, saying that the team will be in trouble if they continue to play without rhythm in their upcoming quarterfinals match against Belgium Saturday.

Maradona, who was best known for his crucial goals in the 1986 World Cup, said that Argentina has been relying too much on Lionel Messi, saying that the team is expecting the star forward to do it all for them.

"The kid is very lonely out on the pitch," Maradona said of Messi via Mirror.co.uk. "I have a very strong feeling about what is happening and I can only describe it as bitterness, rage, anger. He just does not have enough support from the midfield and is expected to do it all on his own."

Maradona was particularly unimpressed with Argentina's performance in their 1-0 win against Switzerland in the round of 16, where they needed extra time and a crucial feed from Messi that led to the Angel Di Maria's game-winning goal.

"The team is only playing at 40 per cent of its potential," Maradona said. "It has no change of pace, no movement up front. Unless that alters, we will go out. If we don't wake up, we're in trouble. And the danger is that, if the kid doesn't get the help he needs, he will end up being blamed for a catastrophe."

Belgium is also aware of the lack of support for Messi in this year's World Cup, and they are planning to exploit that weakness in their showdown on Saturday.

Belgium coach Marc Wilmots took a swipe at Argentina, saying that the team lacks balance, while forward Eden Hazard said that they will have a good chance of winning if they can stop Messi in his tracks.

"We know the best player in the world is in this team, who can make the difference every game. But we are not afraid. If we can stop him we have a chance," Hazard said of Messi, who has scored four goals in the Brazil tournament.

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