Messi provokes the Netherlands
After scoring from the penalty spot, Messi congratulated his teammates and ran towards the Dutch coaching staff, saying: "You asked where Messi is? Where are you now?", jumped up and placed two hand close to the ear. "Here I am," he added.
Messi's congratulatory movement is often seen in former midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme. Once accused of provoking an opponent, Riquelme explained that the move helped him resemble the cartoon mouse Topo Gigio that his daughter likes. But many argue that that explanation only helped Riquelme avoid punishment.
Messi made his mark on both Argentina's goals, but the Netherlands equalized 2-2 to send the game into extra time and penalties. The Argentine captain continued to take the first penalty to put the home team ahead, then won 4-2 to enter the semi-finals.
After the match, Messi headed to the technical area of the Netherlands. He pointed and told Van Gaal and Davids that before the game they said too many bad things in the media about Messi and Argentina.
In the post-match interview with TyC Sports, catching a look from striker Weghorst, Messi said: "What are you looking at, idiot?", this radio reporter immediately stopped the 35-year-old superstar and brought him back to the interview. question. But Messi still tried to say: "Go somewhere else".
"Van Gaal said before the game that the Netherlands would play authentic football," Messi said. "But in the end they just brought in tall players and used a cross-header strategy."
Weghorst came on in the 78th minute and scored after just five minutes with a header from a Steven Berghuis cross. At the end of the second half, the 1.97 m tall striker pressed back in the penalty area and then sank to equalize 2-2 for the Netherlands.
Messi also criticized referee Mateu Lahoz because his way of managing the match made the two teams more tense. "FIFA should watch it again because a referee like that can't control a game like this," Messi added.
Messi reached the semi-finals with Argentina for the second time, after being runner-up in 2014. They will meet Croatia at Lusail Stadium on the evening of December 13, to compete for a place in the 2022 World Cup final.
