Ezequiel Lavezzi prepared to offer help to Lionel Messi

Ezequiel Lavezzi has insisted that he is fully prepared to help get the best out of Lionel Messi in Wednesday's World Cup semi-final.

Argentina take on the Netherlands in Sao Paulo looking for the victory which would earn them their first appearance in the final since 1990, and Lavezzi admits that the priority is to make sure Messi is as influential as possible against the Dutch.

"You can see Messi is feeling good," the 29-year-old told TyC. "This is what you prepare for. We have a unique opportunity. The fans are excited and he knows that. We will give everything. We will help him.

"We will try and be at the level needed, collaborate with him, and those who can make the difference."

Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal has suggested that Messi will be feeling the pressure to deliver on Wednesday night.