Lionel Messi regrets controversy in opposition to Dutch on the World Cup

World Cup winner Lionel Messi regretted his testy exchanges with the Netherlands coach and gamers throughout their controversial quarterfinal in Qatar, he stated in an interview aired on Monday.

Messi gave his first interview since lifting the trophy in December to radio Urbana Play of Buenos Aires. The Argentina captain spoke concerning the feisty conflict with the Dutch which the South Americans received in a penalty shootout. A report 17 yellow playing cards have been issued, together with one to Messi for dissent.

When Messi scored from the spot in common time, he stood in entrance of Dutch coach Louis van Gaal and cupped each palms to his ears. After the sport, he gesticulated to the Dutch bench and insulted striker Wout Weghorst, who scored twice in regulation.

“I don’t like what I did, I don’t like what happened afterward,” Messi stated. “These are moments of a lot of tension, a lot of nerves. It is very quick and people react the way they react. Nothing was planned, it just happened.”

That quarterfinal was surrounded by controversy. Before the encounter, Van Gaal stated his gamers have been higher ready than their rivals for a penalty shootout. He additionally stated “Messi did not touch the ball” within the semifinal between the groups within the 2014 World Cup; Argentina additionally received that tie in a penalty shootout.

Messi stated his teammates advised him what Van Gaal stated to stimulate him.

About his second with Weghorst, Messi stated it was “natural.”

“I reacted that way. There had been many things with this player, moments of tension like these . . . I was at the mixed zone, it had just happened,” Messi stated. “I don’t like to leave that image, but these things happen.”

Messi additionally stated Argentina “in general was better than its rivals” and picked Mexico, its second group opponent as “the toughest.”

“It was the worst match we played because of all the things involved in winning it or not,” Messi stated. Argentina misplaced its opener to Saudi Arabia 2-1 in one of many greatest shocks in World Cup historical past, and needed to beat Mexico to remain in playoffs contentions. Mexico was crushed 2-0.

Messi stated he has not watched the ultimate in opposition to France. Argentina received the ultimate on penalties to win its first World Cup title since 1986.

“Since that day, everything changed for me,” he stated. “By luck, what we dreamed about so much happened. I wished that so much in my career and, at the end, it came.”

Asked what he would inform Messi in his childhood if he may, the star stated: “Something extraordinary awaits, you can’t imagine. You will have a beautiful path, with some tough moments that you will have to overcome, but never give your dreams away because at the end you will get your most desired reward. Your film will have a happy ending.”