By Tim Stannard

Leo Messi expects best and worst from World Cup adventure

Eagle-eyed soccer fans may have noticed that the sum total of big games being played on Monday around the world is zero – no offense Albanian Superliga.

That’s because it’s time for another international fortnight of footie. Rather than cliff-hanging qualifiers or play-offs, this time around the soccer schedule is stuffed with friendlies as 32 nations tune up for the World Cup and Italy make up the numbers. Don’t get too downhearted though, it’s a few days free to get some weeding in, clear out the fridge or notice that Tiger Woods actually seems to be properly back for good.

One of those countries with an awful lot of business to be done is Argentina, a team that will be facing Italy on Friday – live on beIN SPORTS – and then Spain as Jorge Sampaoli’s tries to find suitable striking partners for Leo Messi, as well as some kind of midfield.

Speaking ahead of the games, Messi suggests that he is living a split existence in terms of what people want from his summer with Argentina with the country having blown the three previous big finals they have played in. On one hand, there are those around the world “waiting for Argentina to become the champions and for it to be given to me, it is impressive."

However, in the homeland, there are also those waiting for a World Cup flop in Russia with pitchforks at the ready. "If so, they will ask that the entire group of players leave the national team." Nice!

Klopp suggest Mo Salah closing in on Messi-greatness

The ‘New Leo Messi’ alert has just gone off at beIN SPORTS with a manager claiming that his player could be on the way to being somewhat close to being as good as the magisterial magician of Barcelona. That manager is Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp and with some justification after witnessing Mo Salah score four in the Premier League trouncing of Watford at the weekend. "I think Mo is on the way,” announced the German on a footballer who has scored 36 in all competitions this season.

Salah will be in action for Egypt on Friday, where the footballer will face another player who is in sizzling form and scored four at the weekend – a certain Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal posse.

Stay tuned to the XTRA all week from 7PM ET / 4PM PT where Kevin Egan and the beIN SPORTS gang will tell you everything you could possibly need to know as the countdown begins to World Cup 2018.

Summer clear-out at Old Trafford as Mourinho renews his moans

While everything is rosy at Liverpool, the same cannot be said about Manchester United.

Friday saw a 12-minute long series of complaints from Jose Mourinho defending his own performance during his spell at Old Trafford. And despite an FA Cup win against Brighton, those complaints were back on Sunday with the coach suggesting that some of his players were missing in the character department. “There was a lack of personality, a lack of class, and a lack of desire,” were the morale-boosting comments from Mourinho.

This has Monday’s papers guessing which names will be ousted from Old Trafford this summer – and it is a long list that includes Juan Mata, Ander Herrera, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Daley Blind and Matteo Darmian. These are to be added to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Michael Carrick and Marouane Fellaini who are out of contract or retiring as in Carrick’s case.

Looks like there will be plenty of room for Gareth Bale in the Manchester United locker room, then.

Giant NCAA March Madness bracket disaster for America

America, be ashamed. Be very ashamed. It seems that not one person across this fair nation has a fully functioning bracket after a frenzied Round 2 of March Madness. Not one. The NCAA announced on Sunday that UMBC’s win over the University of Virginia was the tipping point that saw not a single correct prediction in the millions of brackets filed online with various organizations.

March Madness is back in business with the Sweet 16 on Thursday while the silence from the lack of water-cooler boasters will be almost deafening.

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The life philosophy of Sports Burst is that if you are not upsetting someone, then you are not trying hard enough. Sports Burst is a daily trawl and troll through the morning's sports news to bring you fact-nuggets to make you both smile and swear. Hopefully at the same time.