Lionel Messi, the star of the Argentine national team, justified the difficulty his team faced, both offensively and defensively, during the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup.
Although the Tango advanced with two clean goals by the 73rd minute, the Dutch team was able to snatch a tie in the original time of the life of the summit.
The Argentine national team then prevailed, 4-3, in the penalty shootout, as Emiliano Martinez, the star goalkeeper, saved the first two penalties from the mills.
Messi admitted, “It was a very difficult game. It was really difficult from the first whistle, and we knew it would be like this.”
The 35-year-old explained, “The Dutch national team caused us a problem through long balls, and the presence of many of its players in its own penalty area. They equalized at the end of the match, and we suffered.”
Messi added, “But we were able to reach the quarter-finals, and this is what we wanted.”
The Tango captain described his feeling when the victory over the Netherlands was confirmed, and said, “When Lautaro Martinez scored (the last penalty kick), there was great joy in the atmosphere, and we removed a great weight from our chests.”