Batista urges support for Messi

Argentina coach Sergio Batista has urged fans to get behind Lionel Messi as he struggles to find anything like his best form at the Copa America.

Argentina take on Costa Rica on Monday night and need a win in order to reach the quarter-finals on home soil.
Messi is under fire from supporters and the media, having so far failed to reproduce his stellar club form with Barcelona, but Batista believes the forward needs to be backed by the Argentinian people.
He said: "It is very difficult to understand how life is (for Messi). He is known worldwide. He goes to China and cannot leave the hotel and he suffers a number of things here.
"The world's best player is here. We have him and we must take advantage of that."
Veteran Javier Zanetti also insisted that Argentina's struggles are not Messi's fault alone.
"The problem is not how Messi plays but the whole team did not play as they should have," the Inter Milan man said.
"We know Messi is great. He is the best in the world. This is a team and each player has his responsibilities.
"This team knows what they are playing for, despite being young players. We must be very careful and not be excessively confident."
While Argentina have collected two draws so far, Costa Rica have gained three points in Group A before the last match day.
One of the Ticos' outstanding players in this year's Copa America edition is Joel Campbell, who is wary of the overall threat from Argentina, not only Messi.
He said: "Argentina feel pressure for winning and will try to do everything to gain it so we have to be relaxed. They host this Copa America.
"We don't play just against Messi. We play against a system, against a team called Argentina. We should think about Argentina as a team, not one player, and try to block their game."
Costa Rica coach Ricardo La Volpe, meanwhile, added: "We are fine. It will not be an easy game because Argentina have big talents. We know them very well and will try to do a great job to make a competitive match.