Maradona would be happy: Messi
Lionel Messi believes Diego Maradona would be “super happy” ater he led Argentina into the World Cup last 16 on Wednesday thanks to a 2-0 win over Poland. Messi became his country’s most capped player at the tournament with a 22nd appearance surpassing his legendary compatriot who died just over two years ago.
“I learned it recently, I didn’t know it. It’s a pleasure to be able to continue to achieve these kinds of records. I think Diego would be super happy for me, because he always showed me a lot of affection, he was always happy when things went well for me,” said Messi.
Despite missing a penalty -- his 39th career failure from the spot -- the Argentina captain said he was “happy” with this “big match”.
“We achieved our first objective, which was to get out of the group ater starting the way we did (a shock 2-1 loss against Saudi Arabia),” said Messi.
“I was really frustrated to have missed the penalty, because I knew that a goal could change the whole match, that it makes you play in a different way. But I think that from the penalty I missed, the team came out stronger.”
Messi, who still needs a World Cup winner’s medal to cement his legacy as one of the sport’s greatest players, believes Argentina are moving up through the gears at precisely the right time.
“Ater the first goal, everything went our way. We started doing again what we had been trying to do since the start of the World Cup, but which we hadn’t been able to achieve for various reasons.
“Having been able to do it today, it gives us confidence for the future.”
Next up for Argentina is a last-16 clash against Australia on Saturday.
“We know that now everything will be very difficult. That whoever the opponent, it will be complicated. We have seen recently, at our own expense, that any opponent can play a good game and win.”
LEWANDOWSKI DELIGHTED: Robert Lewandowski let the field with a huge smile on his face ater blowing kisses to fans and hugging teammates.
You’d never know his team just lost a crucial World Cup game 2-0 to Argentina. But Poland scraped into the knockout stages of the tournament, despite Wednesday’s loss to the South American champions, ater Salem Aldawsari’s stoppage-time goal for Saudi Arabia in a 2-1 defeat to Mexico.
That late goal ensured Poland finished as runner-up in Group C, ahead of Mexico on goal difference, to set up a last 16 game against France on Sunday. “You can say it’s a happy defeat,” said Lewandowski, who failed to even have a shot on target. “I’m not happy with the way we played. Of course not. We can’t be happy with the game itself.”
Poland had been thoroughly outplayed by
Argentina with Lewandowski an ineffective isolated figure as his team was pegged back for the duration of the game. Argentina had 24 atempts at goal, 13 on target. Poland had three, none on target.
“We didn’t want to take any risk and, you know, we achieved our result because we reached the next round,” Lewandowski said with a smile. “Even though we lost, we can be happy.”
Poland coach Czeslaw Michniewicz said his team’s lack of atacking threat wasn’t Lewandowski’s fault.
“I’m not atacking anyone from the team, but we didn’t help him to score,” Michniewicz said.
“If (Lionel) Messi played for us and Robert played for Argentina, Robert would have scored five goals. Robert needed to get assistance and the match was played in our half. There were so many players covering him.”
Poland had goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to thank for a string of saves - including a first-half penalty from Messi - and Karol Swiderski for a goal-line clearance that avoided a heavier defeat.
Yet Poland’s players celebrated like they’d won, spraying each other with water botles on the field.
It had been an anxious wait. Poland’s game finished but Mexico was leading Saudi Arabia 2-0 and desperately pushing for the third goal that would have been enough to progress at Poland’s expense.
Both Poland and Mexico had four points, with two goals scored and two goals conceded each at that moment. Poland only had the edge by having fewer yellow cards than Mexico’s players.
Poland defender Bartosz Bereszynski covered his face. He couldn’t bear the tension.
SCALONI WARY: Coach Lionel Scaloni insisted World Cup giants Argentina would not be taking outsiders Australia lightly having already had their fingers burnt by Saudi Arabia earlier in the tournament.
Argentina’s World Cup hopes were hanging by a thread ater they were shocked 2-1 by the Saudis in their opening Group C match.
“They’re all difficult, we saw that with Saudi Arabia,” Scaloni told reporters late on Wednesday.
“If you think Australia will be easy you’re wrong because they have shown that geting through against tough teams in this World Cup.”
Scaloni admited he and his backroom staff had spent litle time analysing Australia so far but would do so now.
However he insisted that while “we have to analyse our opponents, we have to also think about how to hurt them.”
Scaloni also hit out at organisers as Argentina will play their last 16 tie on Saturday with only two full days to rest.
“We are happy today but I don’t want to be euphoric because I think it’s crazy that we’re playing in just over two days despite being winners of this group,” he said.