Messi is angry because of the penalty failure

"I was angry because I missed the penalty," Messi said in a post-match interview. "But the whole team reacted strongly after my mistake. We knew that once the first goal was scored, the game would change and Poland would have to play more open." Messi also said that the victory against Mexico in the previous round helped the whole team reduce the pressure, and have a more relaxed spirit to complete the goal of defeating Poland.

Messi is the first player in World Cup history to be saved twice by a goalkeeper. The owner of 7 Golden Balls set this sad record in the 37th minute of the match against Poland, when he could not beat goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. This is the second of three penalties Messi has taken at World Cups.

In the match in the last leg of Group C on November 30, besides the sad record of penalties, Messi also entered Argentine history as the player who played the most matches at the World Cup with 22 matches, surpassing the late Diego legend. Maradona.

Messi missed the penalty, but two goals from Alexis MacAllister and Julian Alvarez helped Argentina beat Poland 2-0 on the evening of November 30, thereby entering the 1/8 round as the top of Group C. In the first knockout round, Argentina will face Australia - the second team in Group D. Messi thinks that this will be a difficult match for him and his teammates.

"In the knockout round, any team can beat the opponent, everything is very balanced," Messi added. "We need to stay calm and take it one game at a time. Another World Cup campaign begins and hopefully we can maintain the level we showed today."

Argentina's draw is considered favorable for them to advance to the semi-finals. If they beat Australia in the 1/8 round, the South American representative will face the Netherlands or the US in the quarterfinals. While the US has not been considered a worthy opponent of Argentina, the Netherlands is showing an unimpressive play in the 2022 World Cup.