Messi Defends Argentina Against Criticism
Lionel Messi has addressed critics of Argentina. He insists that their success wasn’t given to them but earned through hard work. After defeating England in the semifinals, Messi emphasized his team’s resilience and skill.
Argentina faced challenges throughout the tournament. They overcame Cape Verde and Switzerland in extra time. Against Egypt, they pulled off a significant comeback from a 2-0 deficit.
“We’ve been the best over these past four years, either you like it or not, and no matter what anyone says,” Messi stated.
Despite their accomplishments, Argentina faced allegations of favoritism. Some coaches and fans suggested that refereeing decisions were biased in their favor. Egypt’s coach, Hossam Hassan, expressed disappointment over officiating decisions that he felt unjustly benefitted Argentina.
In the match with Switzerland, a controversial call led to Swiss player Breel Embolo’s dismissal. Video reviews showed minimal contact from Argentina’s Leandro Paredes. Swiss coach Murat Yakin criticized the decision, suggesting it was unfair and detrimental to his team.
The Egyptian Football Association also voiced complaints about what it saw as biased officiating. However, Argentina’s camp largely ignored these criticisms. Coach Lionel Scaloni advised reporters to focus less on social media speculation.
Following their victory over England, Messi defended his team’s achievements. He stressed their qualification for consecutive World Cup finals as proof of their abilities. Enzo Fernandez celebrated a goal during the England match with gestures challenging the critics.
A banner declaring “The Malvinas are Argentine” appeared during the celebrations, rekindling tensions over the disputed Falkland Islands. The British government requested FIFA investigate the display.
Scaloni commented that discussions of undue assistance have always persisted but noted that modern technology, like VAR, made bias difficult to implement. He stood firm in his belief that Argentina received no special treatment.