Lionel Messi stated Argentina have felt the presence of the late, nice Diego Maradona all through their World Cup marketing campaign, together with on Friday once they beat the Netherlands on penalties to achieve the semi-finals.
Messi appeared to have impressed Argentina right into a last-four assembly with Brazil’s conquerors Croatia after he arrange Nahuel Molina’s opener earlier than the break and added the second from the penalty spot.
But Argentina blew a two-goal lead deep into stoppage time earlier than goalkeeper Emi Martinez saved his cool to avoid wasting the primary two Dutch penalties and Lautaro Martinez scored the decisive spot kick to ship them by.
“Diego is watching us from heaven. He is pushing us and I really hope this stays the same until the end,” Messi instructed reporters.
“When Lautaro scored and we qualified there was a huge joy. It was a weight off our chest,” Messi added. “It was a really onerous match. From the start it was a extremely powerful match, we knew it could be this manner.
“We depart that on the pitch with our individuals. We had been actually comfortable and we loved that second and that is what we will see right here and likewise in Argentina as a result of persons are actually comfortable, they’re actually excited and they’re filled with enthusiasm.
“The Dutch team made trouble for us with long balls and a lot of players in the area. In the end they drew and we suffered. But we were able to seal our passage to the semi-finals, which is what we wanted.”
Argentina will tackle Croatia for a spot within the closing, after the 2018 runners-up beat Brazil on penalties earlier.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni stated regardless of their second-half collapse, his group had no drawback discovering gamers keen to take penalties.
“Sometimes it’s difficult in these situations, they shy away. This time we had too many volunteers. … We only had to decide the order of our penalty takers,” Scaloni stated.
“It is true that we’d have deserved to keep away from the penalty shootout however nonetheless we fought till the tip… This was a really unusual second half. Everything was managed by us however then we all know what occurs with soccer.
“It is a beautiful game, when you think that everything is over, you are surprised. This team had experience, pride, young players, and this is key, because we want to fight.”
Defenders Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel will miss the match in opposition to Croatia after choosing up their second yellow playing cards of the match on Friday.
