A rare act from Lionel Messi before the historic goal that broke the “curse” – the Argentinian media gave a shout about the unnecessary suffering

At last – we think, at least in Argentina. Lionel Messi scored the first goal of his career in the playoff phase of the World Cup on Saturday night.

The Australia quarter-final was hyped in advance also because it was Messi’s thousandth professional career match. In them, Messi has scored an incredible 789 goals and distributed 338 goal assists.

Australia took 34 minutes until Messi slotted the ball into the back corner with the inside edge of his left foot – this has been seen before.

According to The Athletic (You will be transferred to another service) the atmosphere at the Al Rayyan Stadium was flat, until Messi’s goal stirred the Argentinian crowd and caused the stadium to literally shake.

Before the goal, we saw a rare performance from Messi. After a stray pass by Argentina, he pressed Australia’s left wing pack for a long time Aziz Behich. Messi pushed Behich out of the sideline and made the Aussie player hot.

– It was very rare. Of course, Messi does situational pressures if something happens right next to him, but very often he is left out of defensive situations, signs the expert Jonne Kunnas.

The statistics also show that Messi’s participation in the team’s defensive plays has decreased year by year.

Behick, who was on the rounds, broke foolishly Papu Gomez and Argentina were awarded a free kick. Australia cleared Messi’s cross, but the ball returned to the wing. Messi passed To Alexis Mac Allister. At the same time, Messi continued his movement, when two Australian players who had come to press and watched the ball too much were left out of the situation.

Mac Allister passed to the keeper who got into a special situation For Nicolas Otamendifrom whose dribble Messi placed the ball in the cage.

In the video below, you can see how Messi first made Behich nervous and completed the 1-0 goal. Paint also with the video that is the main picture of the story.

Of his thousand matches, Messi has played 778 in FC Barcelona, ​​53 in PSG and 169 in the national team. In Argentina and in various statistical services, a comparison between Messi and the deceased was again made diligently Diego Maradona between.

It also came up that With Cristiano Ronaldo the playoff goal has not been scored. He has played six matches in the follow-up games of the World Cup.

Messi is Argentina’s player who has played the most international matches and scored the most goals, 94.

The 35-year-old Messi passed Maradona, who scored eight times in the World Cup. The above list has scored ten World Cup goals Gabriel Batistuta.

Among Argentines, Messi has played the most matches in the World Cup, 24. Maradona played 21 World Cup matches. In the number of professional games, ahead of the Argentinian Messi is the defensive legend with 1,102 games Javier Zanettiwhose career lasted until the age of 40.

Australia made the end a stunner

Argentina took a 2–0 lead with 57 minutes on the clock. Julian Alvarez got to finish the Australian goalkeeper by Mathew Ryan for losing the ball.

– Ryan should observe better before that performance. In the first, the ball is out, demanded the expert in ‘s studio, the Huuhkajie’s head coach Markku Kanerva.

It was easy for Argentina to finish their press when the Australian players did not fill the empty spaces. However, the match also showed that Argentina’s press is quite easy to open.

Australia got a glimmer of hope in the 76th minute when by Craig Goodwin the shot went off by Enzo Fernandez through in. The hit was marked as an own goal.

At the end of the match, Australia got a hard Myllytsen in Argentina’s defensive zone. At the end of extra time, the goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saved his team by saving the 18-year-old Garang I died top lot.

– Argentina was the team that developed the game the most in the group stage, but this match did not give answers to how far the potential is enough, Kunnes stated.

– We saw poor overall defense from Argentina. Australia weren’t special with the ball but could pose a threat. Argentina’s defense was quite open, which can backfire against tougher countries.

“Argentina could have crushed, but ended up suffering”

The reactions of the Argentinian newspapers spoke first and foremost of relief.

– Sometimes you don’t need to play so well to win: all you need is Messi, common sense and a little luck, Clarin title (you are moving to another service).

According to Clarin, Argentina could have crushed Australia but ended up suffering. Against Poland, Argentina was in a class of its own, even though the numbers were only 2-0. According to Clarin, Australia’s press and intensity were at a completely different level than Poland’s.

It was also pointed out that Argentina did not play their last group game until Wednesday. However, the newspaper praised Argentina for being pragmatic and playing sensibly.

Messi also admitted to being tired after the match.

– This was a difficult day. We came into the game tired because we had really little rest time and this was a really physical match.

of The Athletic (you will switch to another service) according to Messi became sensitive after the match when talking about his family. Messi’s children Thiago (2012), Mateo (2015) and Ciro (2018) and wife Antonella Roccuzzo were in the stands. Messi said that it is special when Thiago and Mateo understand and can enjoy the World Cup for the first time.

– From the beginning, I thought about my children. Now they live together and for me that is special. We are excited, as are all Argentines.

In another In Clarin’s article (you will switch to another service) note that Argentina did not have a single shot on goal before Messi’s goal.

– Had to suffer. This crazy World Cup demands it. Before that, a small light, almost invisible, had to be found among the Australians. Nothing happened until Messi hit the left to lead the way, the paper painted.

– With this hit against Australia, Messi broke the “curse” in the national team and silenced the haters, Argentinian channel TN downloaded (you will switch to another service).

TN writes (you switch to another service), that Messi was now the captain and leader that the team needed. According to TN, Argentina should have won more clearly – for example, a striker Lautaro Martinezwho came on the field in the 70th minute, got a kick out of his wastefulness.

Instead, goalkeeper “Dibu” Martinez received great praise from the press, whose last-minute save saved Argentina from the next match.

30-year-old veskari told TN (you are switching to another service) that he needed psychological help after the loss to Saudi Arabia in the first group. Saudi Arabia had two shots on goal in the match and both went in.

– The eyes of 45 million people are on us. I think I could have done more in that game. Today we showed how ready we are to fight.

Holland can really hurt Argentina

In the studio, Kanerva wondered that “in the end it happened and it happened”, even though Argentina’s 2-0 hit seemed to have already decided the game. There was another expert on the same lines, who often confessed to being a supporter of Argentina Erkka V. Lehtola.

– It’s nice when the World Cup exists. Really. Dull matches that suddenly come alive. Australia came with steam and tried to catch from the top. Argentina are vulnerable under pressure. That will be a big question in the future, Lehtola said.

According to Kanerva, Australia should be very proud. Australia became the “cinderella story” of these games. It started the tournament with a miserable 1-4 against France, but after that the defense was iron. Australia progressed from Group D to the next round after beating Tunisia and Denmark 1–0.

– Open-minded, brave. You also always have to think about what material is used. The power of team play was visible, Kanerva praised.

Among other things, it surprised Kanerva and Lehtola, what the head coach of Argentina Lionel Scaloni applied by replacing Papu Gomez from the attack in the 50th minute and taking on the third topper, by Lisandro Martinez.

You can watch the full post-match studio chat below.

Now, Argentina will get more of the rest time it needs when its quarter-final against the Netherlands is played on Friday, December 9. The Netherlands beat the USA 3-1 in Saturday’s first quarter-final.

– Neither of them has been incredibly convincing. Argentina has improved its playing, Holland also showed signs of improvement. Holland has been effective, but does not create chances from the assembly line. If Holland can get its press to work, Argentina could be in trouble, Kunnas predicts.