Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

    By Sportswriter Zheng Daojin

    SHANGHAI, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Lionel Messi may partner Juan Riquelme to orchestrate the Argentine midfield for the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympic football tournament.

    Messi likes to play in either flanks of the forward line, but as the gifted hitman can also function as an attacking midfielder with his sharp vision and outstanding pace, there's no problem for him to fill in the playmaker role.

    The 21-year-old prodigy, who just got permit from Barcelona to come to join the Olympic team after FIFA's single judge ended the week-long tug-of-war between the Catalan club and the Artentine Football Association(AFA), showed good form in a training session at Tongji University here on Sunday in a nine vs nine match.

    Messi played in the right midfield but moved freely to meet the short passes from Riquelme and Javier Mascherano, there seemed to be a fine understanding among these midfielders.

    There's no problem for Messi in the new role as the all-round player have proved his power in the midfield before. In the FIFA World Youth Championship 2005, Messi always collected the ball from Argentina's own half and stormed past several defenders to destroy the rivals' defence.

    In the Copa America 2007, Messi frequently joined the midfield and exchanged marvellous wall passes with Riquelme and Juan Veron, which had always been a nightmare for the other side.

    With Riquelme supporting nearby and Mascherano and Fernando Gago provided all the necessary interceptions, Messi could either display his energy and bursts in the flanks, or help unpick their opponents' defence after fine group passes with other midfielders. Up front, another prodigy Sergio Aguero and Napoli striker Ezequiel Lavezzi would benefit largely from the star-studded midfield.

    Argentina will play Cote d'Ivoire in their opening Olympic game in the Shanghai Stadium next Thursday. The other two sides in Group A are Serbia and Australia.