World Cup: Why Lionel Messi got angry with Louis Van Gaal and the Netherlands

Published on 11/12/2022 at 22:13
Reading time: 3 mins

VFriday evening, Lionel Messi left his mark on the meeting between Argentina and the Netherlands. But not in a good way. If he scored a penalty, delivered an assist and converted his shot during the penalty shootout, he also completely unpinned during and after the meeting. After scoring his second goal, the Pulga advanced in front of the Batavian bench and put his hands behind his ears, performing the Topo Gigio. A gesture which was the trademark of his former teammate Juan Roman Riquelme, the ex-Argentine international who had evolved under the orders of Louis van Gaal in Barcelona in the early 2000s and who had had trouble with the Dutch technician . So much so that he had finally left Barça on a failure, spinning in Villarreal where he was going to live the best period of his career on European soil.

As soon as the match was over, Messi added a layer of it, heading again towards Van Gaal, slipping him a few hostile words before miming him to close his mouth. This required the intervention of Edgar Davids, the deputy of the Netherlands, who separated the two men before they came to blows.

A reaction of rare violence from the head of the Argentine star who will however be justified a few moments later, referring to van Gaal’s pre-match remarks. The latter said that in the semi-final of the 2014 World Cup, Messi did not play well and “did not touch a ball”. “Van Gaal didn’t show respect in his comments before the match,” explained the Argentine captain who, incidentally, took the opportunity to knock out the Batavian coach’s tactics. “He says he offers good football and then he sends long balls into the box. Our victory was deserved. »

But the story did not end there as Messi then violently attacked Wout Weghorst, insulting the Dutch double scorer who was nearby in the middle of an interview on Argentine television. “What are you looking at, silly?” But what are you looking at, silly? Go away! “, he launched to the unfortunate hero of the Oranje (who would have provoked him with a look).

“I wanted to shake his hand after the match,” explained the striker on loan to Besiktas from Burnley. “I have a lot of respect for him as a footballer. But he pushed my hand away and didn’t want to talk to me. My Spanish isn’t very good, but those weren’t respectful words. It really disappointed me,” he said.

Still, Messi’s image has taken a big hit. To see now if he will be sanctioned for his attitude by FIFA which has opened an investigation against the Argentine federation. We dare not imagine that he will be suspended for the semi-final against Croatia, a meeting which will be led by the experienced Italian referee Daniele Orsato.