Lionel Messi has stated that Emiliano Martínez and Gerónimo Rulli helped him with his penalty kick vs. Croatia in the semi final of the World Cup.

Messi scored for Argentina in their 3-0 win vs. Croatia and it was a penalty kick. Croatian goalkeeper Livakovic had previously saved penalty kicks against Brazil and was high on confidence. Messi spoke with TyC Sports regarding his penalty kick. Here is what he had to say:

“I was taking penalty kicks yesterday and just as they study us, we study them too. I spoke with Rulli and Martínez and that he was a goalkeeper who waited a lot.

“The truth is that the goalkeeper came with a lot of confidence in the penalty kicks and us, with Rulli, he told us that sometimes he slows down and goes to one side and that he stands still and blocks the low shots very well. And to be precise somewhere high.”

The Argentina national team have a day to rest after qualifying for the World Cup final.

Lionel Scaloni will not have his players training on Wednesday after their 3-0 win vs. Croatia in the semi finals. The team will train on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Scaloni will have Ángel Di María, Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel all rested. Ángel Di María was brought on as a substitute in the quarter final match vs. Netherlands but did not play in the semi final as he is still recovering.

Marcos Acuña and Gonzalo Montiel were both suspended for the semi final match and will be able to play in the World Cup final on Sunday.

Lionel Messi has stated that the World Cup final on Sunday is his last match at a World Cup.

Messi will play his final match at a World Cup in a final. He scored for Argentina in the 3-0 win vs. Croatia in the semi finals and spoke to Ole Clarin after the match. Here is what he had to say:

A lot of happiness to be able to achieve this. Finishing my journey at World Cups playing my last match in a final. Everything I have experienced in this World Cup is something very exciting, what the people have experienced, how people in Argentina are enjoying it.

When asked if this would be his last match at a World Cup:

“Surely it is. There’s a lot of years ahead for the next one and I don’t think I’ll make it. And to finish it this way is the is the best.”

He also spoke at a press conference after the win. Here is what he had to say:

“I feel good. It was not easy, we arrived tired but the group gained strength again and we played a very serious match. We knew that they were going to have a lot of the ball because they have very good players in midfield but we were well prepared for the match.

“This group is very smart, they know how to read the moments of every match. Scaloni said it: They know how to suffer when they have to suffer and to have the ball when they have to have it.

“We have a very good coaching staff who leave nothing to chance. The reading they do of every match, afterwards it happens.”

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni spoke about making the World Cup final.

Lionel Scaloni will coach Argentina in a World Cup final on Sunday. Speaking to the media after Argentina’s 3-0 win vs. Croatia in the semi finals, here is what he had to say:

“We’re celebrating because it’s something very exciting but there is still one step left. It’s a moment to enjoy but we already have to think of what is to come.

“In the first minutes, they controlled the ball, we know that it could happen. Their midfield is very difficult to mark. We understood that the match had to be played that way. We did what we had to do.

“I try not to get emotional. I’m in the dream place for any Argentine. When you represent your country, it’s impossible not to do what these guys do. It’s emotional.

“We we lost vs. Saudi Arabia, the people were with us. We felt everyone’s support and that is unequalled. We all push towards the same direction. We all want the common good, we are all fans of the sky blue and white.

“This coaching staff radiates illusion. We have experiences very strong things in the national team. We live for the national team and we suffer like the fans. For those who are not Argentine, I know it is difficult to understand how we live football.”

“Winning like this and before a final is the best rest, the best remedy that you could have. We were able to play every outfield player, for me, that was important.

“I believe we have played better matches than this. The opponent makes the win and the context even bigger. Playing against this team is not easy, there is a reason they are currently runner-ups in the world.”

Lionel Messi was named the Player of the Match as he spoke about the World Cup final.

Messi had one goal and one assist, the assist of the tournament, in Argentina’s 3-0 win vs. Croatia in the semi finals of the World Cup. Speaking to the media after the win, here is what he had to say:

“Many things went through my mind. It’s very exciting to see all of this, the people, the family. The entire World Cup was incredible, what we experienced and now we are going for the last match, which is what we wanted.

“I don’t know if it’s my best World Cup or not. I’ve been enjoying this a lot for a long time. We were confident that this group was going to pull it off. We know what we are and we ask the people to believe in us.

“We have been through tough situations, other very good ones. Today, we are living something spectacular. I’m enjoying it with all of these people and all the Argentines that are in our country. I imagine it has to be crazy.

“We knew were not the top favorites but we were not going to gift anyone anything. We showed it match by match.”