Lionel Messi spoke about the Argentina national team, the semi finals and the referee.

Messi scored and had an assist for Argentina vs. the Netherlands in the quarter finals. Being named as the Player of the Match, Messi spoke to the media about the team. Here is what he had to say:

“Argentina are among the four best in the world because we showed that we know how to play every match with the same desire and the same intensity.

“This team understands the moments of the match. When they have to play, they do. When they have to defend, they do.

“A lot of joy and relief. It wasn’t to go to penalty kicks. We suffered too much for how it all happened. But the it’s the quarter finals of the World Cup. Going through is the most beautiful and impressive thing.

Regarding the match vs. Croatia in the semi finals:

“Croatia have showed that they are a great team. At times, they played on equal footing with Brazil. It’s a team that has been working with the same coach for a long time and they know each other very well.”

He also spoke about the referee:

“I think that FIFA cannot use this referee for this type of match because he is not up to the task.”

And about the fans:

“We are really enjoying the people, going little by little. We are very happy.”

Argentina have won a World Cup classic with a 2-2 (4-3) win on penalty kicks and are in the semi finals of the World Cup.

For a second time in three editions, Argentina will be playing in a semi final. A tight game vs. the Netherlands in the quarter finals but it was Lionel Messi with a goal and an assist and the drama of penalty kicks.

Lionel Messi provided the assist of the tournament, a no look pass which split the Dutch back line and found Nahuel Molina. It was a great control by Molina and a toe poke to score and give Argentina the 1-0 lead. now has the most World Cup assists in the knockout stages, since Opta started recording them in 1966 with five, overtaking Pele who had four.

The second half saw very little chances by both sides until Marcos Acuna was tripped inside the Netherlands penalty area and Argentina were awarded a penalty kick. Lionel Messi would take it and he would score.

Messi has now scored 10 World Cup goals, joint top scorer with Gabriel Batistuta for all time goals in a World Cup by an Argentine. He now has four goals in this World Cup.

But the match was not over. The Netherlands would score off a cross and a header by Weghorst to pull one back. And the drama was on.

Referee Lahoz added 10 minutes of injury time and in the ninth minute, the Dutch were awarded a penalty after a foul by Pezzella. A free kick played short and Weghorst again would score and the Dutch were level.

It would go to extra time and Enzo Fernandez would come close as he hit the post in the 120 minute. For the first time in this World Cup, Argentina would go to penalty kicks.

Emiliano Martinez, just like at the Copa America, would be the hero. Martinez saved the first two penalty kicks by the Dutch, the first by Virgil van Dijk and the second by Steven Berghuis. Argentina took a 3-1 lead and Enzo Fernandez would miss his. Weghorst and Luuk de Jong would score theirs but Lautaro Martinez would score his and Argentina are through to the semi finals!

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni has announced his starting eleven for the quarter final match with Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez up front.

Lionel Scaloni has went with three center backs, as it can be a 5-3-2 or a 3-5-2 on the pitch. Ángel Di María does not start as Lisandro Martínez is in the starting eleven with Nicolas Otamendi and Cristian Romero. Here is the eleven:

Emiliano Martínez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Lisandro Martínez, Acuña; De Paul, Enzo, Mac Allister; Messi, Álvarez

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni has two different systems in mind for the quarter final match at the World Cup.

Rodrigo De Paul and Ángel Di María both trained on Thursday and Scaloni is waiting to decide if Di María will start. According to TyC Sports, De Paul could start but if he doesn’t, it would be Leandro Paredes with Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández.

Up front, if Di María does start, Scaloni will go with a 4-3-3, with Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez and Di María. If Di María does not start, it could be a 5-3-2, with Lisandro Martínez in his place. This is the rumored eleven:

Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Marcos Acuña or Nicolás Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul or Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister; Ángel Di María or Lisandro Martínez, Julián Álvarez and Lionel Messi.

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni tried out two teams in training on Thursday.

Lionel Scaloni tried out two teams, one with a four man back line and one with a five man back line. According to Ole, the first one was tried with Nahuel Molina and Nicolás Tagliafico as left back and right back, with Nicolás Otamendi and Cristian Romero as the two center backs.

Rodrigo De Paul is in the first team with Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister. Up front, it’s Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez and Ángel Di María.

The second team has a five man back line with Nahuel Molina and Marcos Acuña as the full backs. Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi and Lisandro Martínez are the three center backs. In midfield, Enzo Fernández, Rodrigo De Paul and Mac Allister. Up front, it was Lionel Messi and Julián Álvarez.

Emiliano Martínez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez and Di María

Emiliano Martínez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Lisandro Martínez, Acuña; Enzo Fernández, De Paul, Mac Allister; Messi and Julián Álvarez