Argentina took a 2-0 lead, conceded an equalizer in the 11th minute of second-half stoppage time to send the match to extra time at 2-2, and then won the shootout 4-3 amid a deafening noise inside Lusail Stadium.
It’s the fourth time Argentina has advanced to a World Cup semifinal.
“When we won, it was a huge weight off our shoulders,” Messi said. “We suffered, [but] we got to the semifinal.” “Our objective is to play all seven games.”
“Diego is watching us from heaven,” Messi said of the former Argentina captain and coach, who died two years ago. “He is pushing us. I hope it stays like that until the end.”
Messi criticizes Spanish referee Antonio Mateu
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni called the game “ugly” and Messi also criticized the Spanish referee. Emiliano Martínez referred to the referee as “useless” in a post-game interview of his own, listing off calls on fouls and stoppage time as particular points to dispute.
“I don’t think he was up to the standard. He was very harmful to us,” Messi said after the game.
In addition, Messi expressed his anger in front of the media, which is rare.
“What are you looking at, stupid?” Messi yells at the Netherlands’ Woerter Weghorst.