Lionel Messi addresses critics who claim Argentina benefits from favoritism and advantageous officiating. The soccer star asserts that Argentina’s recent victories at the World Cup are due to their team’s championship skill, not undue assistance.
Argentina, renowned for turning matches around, showcased this by defeating England 2-1 after trailing 1-0 late in the game. This win secured their spot in the World Cup final against Spain, stirring mass celebrations in Buenos Aires.
Earlier in the tournament, Argentina overcame Cape Verde and Switzerland in extra time, and defeated Egypt 3-2 after being two goals down. However, coaches from Switzerland and Egypt criticized the refereeing, alleging bias towards Messi and Argentina.
Messi dismissed these allegations, proclaiming Argentina’s consistent excellence over the past four years. He emphasized their status as one of the top teams globally, underscoring that no victories were handed to them.
“We’ve been the best over these past four years, either you like it or not… That proves that everything we’ve done is no fluke and that nothing was handed to us,” Messi said.
In the contest against Switzerland, controversy arose when a yellow card issued to Leandro Paredes affected the game’s outcome. Critics argued the call favored Argentina after a video showed Swiss player Breel Embolo falling before contact was made. Consequently, Embolo, already carded earlier, was sent off.
Swiss coach Murat Yakin expressed dissatisfaction with the elimination, and the Egyptian Football Association voiced grievances over perceived biased officiating against Argentina.
Throughout these controversies, Argentina remained focused on their achievements. Messi acknowledged the significance of reaching consecutive World Cup finals. He noted that losing against England would have fueled dissent but stressed that their performance prevented such criticism.
“Reaching two consecutive World Cup finals is something very few achieve… If we had lost to England, there would have been people coming out to spout some nonsense, but we didn’t give them the chance,” Messi stated.
Wednesday’s semifinal occurred against a backdrop of historical tensions between Argentina and England, including the long-standing dispute over the Falkland Islands. Argentine players displayed a banner asserting Argentina’s claim over the Malvinas after their victory over England, prompting a response from the British government.
Enzo Fernandez, who scored during the England match, symbolically challenged Argentina’s critics with his goal celebration. His gestures signified defiance and encouraged continued discourse.
Coach Lionel Scaloni remained unfazed by talk of favoritism, explaining that with today’s technology, any kind of assistance would be easily detectable.
Despite ongoing criticism, Argentina’s team dismissed claims of external aid and remained confident in their abilities and achievements.