The situation
Leo Messi charged hard against the Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz at the end of the quarterfinal match that Argentina won on penalties against the Netherlands. “I don’t want to talk about the referee because later they penalize you, you can’t be honest, you can’t say what you think. I think people saw what it was. We were scared before the game because we knew what it was and I think that FIFA cannot put a referee like that for such an important game in which the referee is not up to the task , ”Messi declared on the pitch of the Lusail stadium. “The referee did it wrong throughout the game , he always played against you. The last goal was not a foul. On the field you see that he wants to tilt the game for you, “continued Messi, who also criticized Van Gaal:” Van Gaal sells that he plays good football and then puts forwards and starts throwing balls. We deserved to go through and that’s how it ended up being”. In fact, the Argentine star also had them with the Dutch coach at the end of the clash. After the final penalty that gave the pass to Argentina, he went to the rival bench and addressed a few words in a combative tone to Van Gaal, before the eyes of Edgar Davis, who stood between them. The Albiceleste captain acknowledged that they did not expect to suffer so much and praised Dibu Martínez, who saved two penalties: “ We did not expect to reach extra time, much less penalties . We suffered, but hey, it’s a World Cup quarterfinals. Argentina shows game by game that they know how to play. We came out with intensity and desire and we understand the moments of the game. We needed this joy for the whole country. El Dibu once again showed what he is in penalties ”.
The details
Messi praised Croatia and assured that it will be a difficult confrontation: “ Croatia is a great team . He moves the ball very well, they have been working together for a long time, it will be very hard. The objective is to play all seven games, a very tough semifinal is coming up and we are going to prepare it from now on”.
Neymar, insubstantial leader
He worked day and night with a physiotherapist, shortened his recovery times and did the impossible to win the World Cup. Neymar Jr will make it to the 2026 World Cup, if he finally does not resign from the national team, something he left up in the air in the mixed zone this Friday, at the age of 34. In Qatar, the PSG star has not been able to confirm his extraordinary start to the season in Paris, playing three of the five games in Brazil and leaving a bittersweet taste for the fans. Despite having equaled Pelé as the Canarinha’s all-time top scorer, with 77 goals, after a marvelous slalom to put his team ahead after extra time, Neymar leaves the World Cup depressed, dejected, sunk, without having been able to hit it yet. , a great title for the five-time world champion. Since he made his debut in August 2010 against the United States, the Brazilian star has been submerged in a series of misfortunes, the last one against Croatia in the quarterfinals of this World Cup. The Brazilian suffers from a situation similar to the one that Messi experienced, precisely, until he was 34 years old, when he took revenge on the Copa América, and it is none other than the lack of a great title to decorate his presence with the national team. In 2014 he was not in the ‘Mineirazo’ against Germany (7-1) due to an injury against Colombia, in 2018 he ran into an immense Courtois in Brazil and, in 2022, his goal was not enough to defeat Croatia in the quarterfinals, who took an agonizing penalty shootout. If the World Cups are his Achilles heel, the Copa América is too.