Lionel Messi Defends Argentina Amid Criticism: 'Nothing Was Handed to Us'

Messi's Strong Response to Critics

Atlanta (US): Lionel Messi has addressed the critics of Argentina, stating, "Nothing was handed to us."

The Argentine football icon reacted to the backlash aimed at the reigning World Cup champions, who have faced accusations of receiving favorable officiating and support from the soccer establishment. Messi emphasized that the team's ability to recover from late-game deficits, particularly their recent semifinal win against England, stems from their championship experience.

In a thrilling match, Argentina came back from a 1-0 deficit in the 85th minute to secure a 2-1 victory over England, propelling them into the World Cup final.

This victory sparked massive celebrations in Buenos Aires, showcasing the resilience of a team just one win away from consecutive titles. Argentina is set to face Spain in the final on Sunday.

Earlier in the tournament, Argentina triumphed over Cape Verde and Switzerland in extra time and staged a remarkable comeback against Egypt, winning 3-2 after trailing 2-0 with only 11 minutes left in regulation. However, both Swiss and Egyptian coaches voiced their concerns about the officiating, with Egypt's Hossam Hassan claiming that his team was unfairly treated by a system that favors Messi and Argentina.

These remarks have intensified criticism from fans who believe that the FIFA tournament structure has favored La Albiceleste, alongside unfounded social media claims suggesting that the governing body is keen on seeing Argentina crowned champions again.

"We have been the best over the last four years, whether people like it or not, and regardless of what anyone says," Messi asserted following the win against England.

"Once again, we have proven ourselves among the top two teams globally. This shows that our achievements are legitimate and not a result of luck. Nothing was given to us."

The match against Switzerland was particularly contentious, with a pivotal call that fueled claims of favoritism towards Argentina.

After Switzerland equalized at 1-1 with Dan Ndoye's goal in the 67th minute, Leandro Paredes received a yellow card for a tackle on Breel Embolo. However, video evidence indicated that Embolo fell before contact was made, leading to his dismissal due to a prior yellow card, leaving Switzerland to defend with ten players.

"We were penalized due to a rule that I find completely unacceptable," Swiss coach Murat Yakin lamented post-match. "It’s painful to be eliminated in this manner. My players are the true heroes today."

The Egyptian Football Association also expressed its dissatisfaction, stating it "cannot remain silent" regarding what it perceived as biased officiating in their match against Argentina.

Despite the complaints regarding officiating, Argentina's squad has largely refrained from commenting on the matter. In previous press conferences, coach Lionel Scaloni had even suggested that journalists should avoid excessive social media consumption.

However, after their victory over England, the champions pushed back against the criticism.

"Reaching two consecutive World Cup finals is a rare achievement, and this group has accomplished it," Messi noted. "Had we lost to England, there would have been critics, but we didn’t give them that opportunity."

Wednesday's semifinal added another layer to the ongoing tensions that extend beyond the pitch, touching on the historical dispute over the Falkland Islands, which Argentina refers to as the Malvinas.

The British government has called on FIFA to investigate Argentina's players after they celebrated their win over England by displaying a banner from fans that read, "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" – "The Malvinas are Argentine."

Enzo Fernandez, who scored the equalizer, acknowledged that his celebration was directed at the team's critics. The Chelsea midfielder cupped his hands to his ears, a gesture often interpreted as a challenge to naysayers, before inviting further commentary with a hand gesture.

"There was a lot of discussion; it was a blend of excitement and frustration," Fernandez explained.

Scaloni, in the post-match press conference, remarked that the ongoing discussions about favoritism "will always exist; it doesn’t bother me."

"With VAR in play today, it’s challenging to receive assistance; it would have to be glaringly obvious."