How does Messi see the Netherlands as a rival?

The 10 and his people. “Hand in hand, with Leo Messi, we are all going to turn around”. The captain and his companions. “Because the players are going to show me that they are going out to win, they want to be champions…”. His genius and lamp, to put together that great goal, to make all Argentines explode with happiness, to continue with that unique chemistry that he, on top of that, does not stop highlighting: “The thing about the people is impressive, really. The support they give us is great,” said Leo, as soon as the game was over. And he already got into the quarterfinals. Unstoppable.

Leo then focused on what the game was. And above all, at the weight he had to play with less than 72 hours of rest. And right there, the fans’ bench stood out again, which once again made the National Team local: “When we said we played every three days, it seemed crazy to us. But at the same time, we wanted to be here because of what it feels like , getting together with people, because it’s incredible how they live it, they transmit passion and energy to us. We must continue united as we have been doing. Now comes the hard part too.”

“What do I tell people? It’s incredible sensations to share this with the fans, We know the effort they made to be in every game here. As the people there also enjoy it. All of Argentina would like to be here and that union that has existed for some time is very nice. It is what the National Team always has to do,” he added about

Also, he referred to his thousand game, which he celebrated with another goal, the third in Qatar 2022, the ninth in the World Cups: “Honestly, I don’t think about that, I found out today, at first I thought there were a couple more left for that. But nothing I live in the moment I enjoy what we are going through and I’m happy to have taken another step, to have made it to the quarterfinals”.

And for this reason, he referred to the peace of mind of having fulfilled his duty: having put the National Team in the top eight, something that could not be achieved in Russia 2018: “Very happy for having taken another step. We knew it was going to be that hard. We had no rest. We were worried because the truth was that it was a very physical game. We found ourselves with a goal, then with another, although we ended up complicated and suffering from that discount. But this is the World Cup. All games are difficult.”

Lastly, he spoke of the Netherlands and what is to come: What are we here for? Now we are going to have a very tough match against an opponent who plays very well, who is very difficult, who will want to get the ball out of us, who have great players. I imagine a very disputed game. If the World Cup was difficult up to now, it gets tougher in the quarterfinals.” If he says so…

Leo, in his thousand game, also took an extra prize, in addition to the goal and the classification: he was chosen the best of the game. Although he also wanted to highlight other teammates as a figure: “I always say that everyone had a great game, I think that Ota and Cuti have been having good games, they are two beasts back there, but they all made a great effort”the captain valued his two centrals.