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World Cup 2022: Argentina and Messi take the quarter trembling

Even if he was all crumpled with anguish, the match between Argentina and Australia (2-1) will have served as an invitation card for next Friday and an enticing Argentina-Netherlands in the quarter-finals, where we will be able to summon the memories of these matches apart. Cruyff’s magic during the ’74 World Cup, the final four years later at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires or Bergkamp’s sublime goal during the quarter-final in Marseille in ’98. sublime vintage just after the mile. Because when you spent your 18-year career panicking statisticians and accumulating records, you couldn’t make your thousandth professional match a day out.

Lionel Messi should not have made this bad taste. On stage, the last song is often the one we remember. And we are not leaving with a sad air. But the little Parisian and his selection did not really try to put the public in the pocket, to blow up the decibels and to make everyone dance. For a round of 16 of the World Cup, we had more rhythmic district friendly matches. We gladly excuse the Australians who had finished happy but boiled three days earlier against Denmark (1-0). Minus the Argentines who, for 36 minutes, serve a form of porridge concocted based on tactical management and lack of energy. Too economical with their daring as against the Saudis (1-2) and too fearful as against the Mexicans (2-0).

Messi scores for his thousandth game

Where did this unbeaten team go for almost four years before the start of the competition? We’re this close to issuing an abduction alert. It takes a savior to unleash all of this. Messi as saviour? The joke is hackneyed and has worked hundreds of times out of a thousand. But she still works. You just have to ask. In this ocean of nothing, the sevenfold Ballon d’Or brings everyone to the surface. Served in depth by Mac Allister after a relay from Otamendi, he unleashes a precise and dazzling left shot. Ryan is beaten (1-0, 36th). In the spans of the Ben Ali Stadium, the Argentinian supporters can finally sing, tremolos of relief in the throat.

This is his fifth and final World Cup final phase. She has a taste for the last times and yet Messi seems the youngest in his team. We have entered the phase where destinies change in 90 minutes. Or rather 100 in this different World Cup. And it was up to him to make the difference. The concern of this Argentina is that only Messi has the key to open the opposing locks. The Albiceleste remains too ultra-dependent on his little genius.

Suarez, taking advantage of good pressing from De Paul on the goalkeeper, thinks to close the suspense (2-0, 57th). But a blocked strike from Goodwin sends Argentina back to its fear of the start (2-1, 77th) and a burning end to the match with anxiety as on this huge parade from Martinez in front of Kuol. This time, it passes but the weaknesses remain. It is not because she beat Australia that she will avoid a boomerang comeback until the end.

“It was a controlled game and then we took a goal and conceded a last chance at the very end of the game, we suffered until the last second, said Messi. The most important thing is that we pass. The match was very difficult, we were tired, we had little time to recover, so I’m very happy with this victory. »

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