Messi: 'Argentina is the title candidate'

"Argentina is one of the candidates," Spanish newspaper Marca quoted Messi on December 4, a day after the 2-1 win over Australia in the 1/8 round. "Argentina is a powerhouse and has always been one of the strongest. We knew we were one of the contenders. But we had to prove it on the pitch, and we did it against Australia."

At the Ahmad bin Ali field on December 3, Argentina did not create many opportunities against the solid Australian defense, but led two goals thanks to moments of personal imprint. In the 35th minute, Messi cut the sole of his left foot and sent the ball away to open the score. In the 57th minute, Julian Alvarez stole the ball from goalkeeper Matt Ryan in the penalty area and then shot into an empty net.

Australia pushed up the line from the second half of the second half, and shortened the score with a shot that smashed Enzo Fernandez. At the end of the game, both teams created good chances, but no more goals were scored.

The group stage of the 2022 World Cup witnessed many surprises, when Germany and Belgium were eliminated early, while Spain and Argentina respectively lost to Japan and Saudi Arabia with the same score 1-2. In the last round, Brazil and France also lost to Cameroon and Tunisia 0-1, when both only used the reserve team because they soon won tickets to the next round.

Messi revealed that he had watched many group stage matches, and saw Brazil, France, and Spain as other strong candidates. "Brazil are playing well, even though they lost to Cameroon in the last leg. France and Spain too. Despite losing against Japan, Spain has a clear play, it is difficult to get the ball at their feet," the Argentine captain received. determined.

Messi was surprised when Germany was eliminated despite possessing a quality and potential team. He also emphasized that this is evidence that the teams participating in the World Cup are increasingly narrow in level and more uniform. "It shows how difficult the World Cup is. Now the names of the teams are not important, but the performance and determination on the pitch," Messi said.

When Argentina meet the Netherlands in the quarter-finals at Lusail Stadium on December 9, Messi will aim for Gabriel Batistuta's record of 10 goals at the World Cup, after surpassing the achievement of the late Diego Maradona.