Lionel Messi has a message for Argentina’s detractors: 鈥淣othing was handed to us.鈥�
The Argentina superstar responded to critics who have been bashing the reigning champions over perceptions of beneficial officiating and favoritism by the soccer establishment. He said the team鈥檚 ability to overturn late-game deficits, most recently the semifinal victory over England, is the result of championship pedigree and nothing more.
After trailing 1-0 going into the 85th minute, Argentina rallied for a on Wednesday to reach the World Cup final.
The victory led tens of thousands to flood the streets of Buenos Aires in , and marked another remarkable comeback that showed the perseverance of a team that is now one win from a back-to-back titles. Argentina faces Spain in Sunday’s final.
Argentina earlier survived by beating Cape Verde and Switzerland in extra time, and rallied for after coming back from being down 2-0 with 11 minutes of regulation time to play. But both the Swiss and Egyptian coaches criticized the refereeing. Egypt’s Hossam Hassan went as far as to say that his team was that favored Messi and Argentina.
The comments fueled criticism sparked by fans who argue that the FIFA bracket favored La Albiceleste, and unfounded allegations on social media claiming that the soccer governing body wants Argentina to once again become World Cup champion.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been the best over these past four years, either you like it or not, and no matter what anyone says,鈥� Messi said after the win over England.
鈥淥nce again, we鈥檝e established ourselves among the top two teams in the world. That proves that everything we鈥檝e done is no fluke and that nothing was handed to us.”
The game against Switzerland swung on a call that riled up those who believe Argentina has been favored by World Cup officials.
The Swiss had just tied the game at 1-1 on Dan Ndoye鈥檚 goal in the 67th minute when Leandro Paredes was shown a yellow card for a tackle on Breel Embolo. But video showed the Swiss player falling before the Argentina midfielder made contact with him, and since Embolo received a yellow card earlier in the match, and Switzerland was left to defend with 10 players.
鈥淲e were punished because of a rule that in my opinion is completely unacceptable,鈥� Swiss coach Murat Yakin said after the game. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very painful that we were eliminated that way. I don鈥檛 think we deserve that today, and in my opinion, my boys are the real heroes.”
Meanwhile, the Egyptian Football Association had said it 鈥渃annot remain silent鈥� after what it believed was unfair and biased officiating in Egypt鈥檚 loss against Argentina.
Argentina’s team had not acknowledged the complaints on officiating and FIFA. In previous press conferences, Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni had even advised journalists asking about the matter 鈥渘ot to consume so much social media.鈥�
But after the victory over England, the reigning champions fought back.
鈥淩eaching two consecutive World Cup finals is something very few achieve, and this group did it,” Messi said. “If we had lost to England, there would have been people coming out to spout some nonsense, but we didn鈥檛 give them the chance.鈥�
Wednesday鈥檚 semifinal was the latest chapter in a long-running feud that has transcended the field to encompass British control over the , which and claims as its sovereign territory.
urged to investigate Argentina鈥檚 team after players celebrating their victory over England posed with a banner handed over by fans, reading 鈥淟as Malvinas son Argentinas鈥� 鈥� 鈥淭he Malvinas are Argentine.鈥�
Enzo Fernandez acknowledged that his goal celebration, which leveled the score at 1-1, was aimed at Argentina’s critics. The Chelsea midfielder first cupped his hands to his ears, a gesture interpreted in soccer as a challenge to critics. Then, he opened and closed his fingers, as if inviting them to keep talking.
鈥淭here was a lot of talk; it was a mix of euphoria and frustration,鈥� Fernandez said.
Scaloni, for his part, stated in the post-semifinal press conference that 鈥渢his talk of 鈥榟elp鈥� will always exist; it doesn鈥檛 bother me.鈥�
鈥淲ith VAR today, it鈥檚 very difficult to get help; it would have to be glaringly obvious. We knew there was no help.鈥�
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