While acknowledging that Argentina’s shocking loss to Saudi Arabia was a “very severe blow,” Lionel Messi promised that the South American champions will overcome the setback.
Lionel Messi Opens Up On Argentina’s defeat
Argentina suffered an unexpected 2-1 setback in Group C, and Messi remarked afterward, “It’s a really big blow, a defeat that stings, but we must continue to have faith in ourselves.”
“This gang will not give up. We’ll make an effort to defeat Mexico, he continued.
On Tuesday at the Lusail stadium, Messi handed Argentina a lead from the penalty spot in the 10th minute. However, goals from Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari in the second half allowed the Saudis to pull off one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.
If not for three close offside decisions against Argentina in the first half that prevented them from scoring three goals, things would have turned out quite differently.
The Saudis’ strong defensive line was not exploited by coach Lionel Scaloni’s team in the second half as they had been able to do so in the first.
We are aware of Saudi Arabia’s strong team of players that play a high line and effectively move the ball around “Messi stated.
While working on it, we made a few mistakes. We will be more unified than ever before, therefore there are no justifications.
The strength of this group has been demonstrated in the past. This was a circumstance we hadn’t experienced in a while. We must now demonstrate that this group is legitimate.”
To try to save their chances of winning a third world championship, the Albiceleste still have two games in Group C left to play: one against Mexico on Saturday and one against Poland the following Wednesday.
Messi is competing in his fifth and most likely last World Cup, and he is carrying the weight of the hopes and aspirations of an entire nation.
One of the all-time greats, this could be his final opportunity to win football’s top honor, like Diego Maradona, his hero in Argentina, did in 1986.
“We must return to our fundamental nature. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner stated, “We have to consider what comes next.