In a tense FIFA World Cup quarterfinal that set a new record for the most yellow cards ever shown in a single game, Lionel Messi was harshly critical of the Netherlands’ strategy.
Wout Weghorst of the Netherlands scored twice in the dying moments to force extra time and ultimately penalties, which Argentina won. However, speaking after the match, the Paris Saint-Germain star criticised the Netherlands for using what he saw to be crass, long-ball tactics to draw level.
Messi, who assisted Argentina’s first goal with a beautiful through ball to Nahuel Molina and later increased their advantage from the penalty spot, remarked that “[Dutch coach] Van Gaal thinks that they play wonderful football, but all he did was bring on big individuals and hit long balls.”
However, the 6’6″ Weghorst’s late intervention threatened to break the Argentines’ hearts in what was a heated match that saw match referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz hand out an astounding 18 yellow cards. Several of these were issued after the Dutch substitutes’ bench reacted angrily to Leandro Paredes advancing the ball towards the Netherlands dugout after fouling Nathan Ake.
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Surprisingly, once the penalty was awarded, only one player, Denzel Dumfries of the Netherlands, received a red card.
“I don’t want to talk about the referee because you can’t be honest. If you talk they sanction you, FIFA must think about it, they can’t put a referee like that for these instances, they can’t put a referee who isn’t up to the task,” Messi added afterwards.
Messi also sparked some debate when he celebrated his goal in regulation time by cupping his ears in front of the Dutch bench. This was interpreted as a dig at former Barcelona and Argentina midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme, who similarly celebrated his goal in front of Van Gaal while the two were both at Barcelona and during a heated argument with the Dutch manager at the time.
Messi further stated that he believes Diego Maradona, Argentina’s last World Cup champion, is watching over the present team as they strive to repeat their triumph from 1986 in Mexico.
“Diego is seeing us from heaven. He is pushing us and I really hope this stays the way until the end,” said Messi.
Argentina and Messi will now face Croatia in the semifinal of the FIFA World Cup on Tuesday. The victor of that game will face either Portugal, Morocco, England, or France in the championship game on the following Sunday.
