‘This would have been impossible for Messi and Orsato’: Croatia sees Argentina already concede fourth penalty in six matches, two of which are controversial | sports

For example, the nicknames of the Croatian sports newspaper “Sportske Novosti” that its players miss the Grand Final. Because: “It would have been impossible against this kind of Messi and with this referee Orsato.”

Little discussion of the eleven meters that Argentina gained in the opening match against Saudi Arabia and against the Netherlands (after a foul by Dumfries). But after Scaloni’s side had already conceded a somewhat questionable penalty against Poland in the group stage and whistled 11 meters away with ease tonight, the debate will flare up again if Argentina and Lionel Messi have the advantage of missing out on a second World Cup. Bend their history — and for the first time for Macy’s — to their will. Especially since the Spanish referee Hauz acted mildly towards Messi in the quarter-final against the Netherlands.

Against Poland, there was also a lot to be desired about the Argentine penalty, when goalkeeper Szczesny caught the ball wide with a cross, but also touched Messi’s face. And tonight against Argentina, the ball also moved quickly to the penalty kick, after goalkeeper Dominic Levakovic moved slightly towards Julian Alvarez, who passed the ball a little closer to him.

Last weekend, the Portuguese players were also angry because their quarter-final loss to Morocco was whistled by Argentine referee Facundo Tello. “Isn’t that unacceptable?” said Bibi. “Especially after what happened yesterday… (Mathieu Lahoz to Messi, ed.). Did you see that referee there talking to Messi? And then the Argentine comes here to whistle for our game. I’m not saying they were partial, but how many minutes did we actually play in The second half? The goalkeeper was constantly on the ground, constantly slowing the game down. Then only eight minutes of injury time? Moreover, the referee only warned the Moroccans when they made those small and annoying mistakes. I also think a penalty kick can be whistled on Bruno (Fernandez, ed.). The arrogance of the referee…and then suddenly he gave Argentina the world title.”

Messi only missed the penalty kick against Poland. He convincingly converted the other three strikes, just as he did in the penalty shootout against the Netherlands. With goals against Mexico and Australia, he has five tackles in this World Cup, making him joint top scorer with Mbappe. Giroud and Alvarez followed in four pieces.

In total, Messi has scored eleven goals in the World Cup and is now Argentina’s top scorer in the World Cup. Past Gabriel Batistuta who scored ten goals in twelve World Cup matches.

Messi also played his twenty-fifth match in the World Cup against Croatia, equaling the record of German Lothar Matthaus. The Argentine will play again in Qatar: on Sunday in the Grand Final against France or Morocco.