It became viral some ten years ago when some English pundits tried to diminish Lionel Messi’s importance in the world of football by saying something like, “yes, he’s great, but can he do it on a cold rainy night at Stoke”. They were trying to say it’s not the same being dominant in a sunny Spain with perfect pitches and surrounded by rivals that like to play clean and nice football without harsh tackles, and doing the same in England. A decade later, Messi is still the boss of the game, and his compatriot and Argentina teammate Alexis Mac Allister is about to return to everyday life in England after winning the World Cup title with the Albiceleste.CAMPEONES DEL MUNDO 🏆 pic.twitter.com/21DgMashJB— Alexis Mac Allister (@alemacallister) December 19, 2022 Not only was Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder an integral part of Scaloni’s squad, but he should probably be included in the tournament’s Best XI.And now – when the ecstatic and almost never-ending celebration comes to a close in Buenos Aires – Mac Allister is going to return to cold, rainy Brighton. Mac Allister-less Seagulls are facing Charlton Athletic in the fourth round of the League Cup on Wednesday night, with other fixtures spanning from Tuesday until Thursday.##NAJAVA_MECA_6900009##The Argentine player will, of course, miss this upcoming fixture for understandable reasons, but he’ll soon have to cope with his ‘old life’. The EPL season will resume soon, and all that WC euphoria will have to stay in the past for Mac Allister.International football is back to a halt, and the English club football returns with fog, rain and muddy pitches.ENGLAND LEAGUE CUP – ROUND 4Tuesday 22.45: (1.15) Wolverhampton (7.75) Gillingham (18.0)22.45: (8.50) Milton Keynes Dons (4.80) Leicester (1.37)22.45: (1.48) Newcastle (4.40) Bournemouth (6.75)22.45: (1.28) Southampton (6.00) Lincoln City (9.50)Wednesday 22.45: (9.00) Charlton (5.00) Brighton (1.35)22.45: (3.25) Blackburn (3.30) Nott.Forest (2.25)23.00: (1.43) Man.Utd. (4.50) Burnley (7.50)Thursday 23.00: (2.00) Man.City (3.60) Liverpool (4.00)***odds are subject to change
