Lionel Messi confirmed on Friday that Spanish referee Antonio Mathieu Lahoz was “not ready to play” for Argentina’s quarter-final clash with the Netherlands as they progressed to the semi-finals. After the shootout defined by penalties.

“I don’t want to talk about the referee because they punish you and you can’t say what you think. FIFA should review it, they can’t put it in an event, no referee. For that,” he said.Between excitement and anger.

“People saw what it was and we were scared before the game because we knew what it was,” 10 said of the Spaniard again.

Leo, on the other hand, highlighted the intensity the team will have throughout the World Cup.

“We showed game after game that we know how to play with the same intensity and you win. We always go in search of our opponent, we understand the moments of the game. When we play, we will play, if not, we are all very excited and this happiness is what the people needed. ” he said.

More than ever, the Argentina captain was encouraged to question his rival’s coach, Louis van Gaal, this Friday: “He sells that he plays football, but he brings tall men and starts throwing balls.”

Regarding his personal feelings for this win, he said: “We don’t have a lot of joy, relief, going to extra time or penalties. We suffered a lot, they are the quarter-finals of the World Cup, we know how to do it. We suffer when we have to. We live very well now, Awesome”.

La Albiceleste will play Croatia in the semi-finals of Qatar 2022 next Tuesday at 4:00pm (ARG) and Messi did not shy away from responding to that opponent.

“Croatia is a team that has been working with the same coach for a long time, that’s why they’re here. It’s going to be a semi-final, it’s going to be tough. They’re very tough opponents.” warned.