Poland and Argentina’s infamous spat during the 2022 FIFA World Cup knockout stages has been pointed to as an example to never anger Lionel Messi, according to the Albiceleste’s winger, Angel Di Maria.
The penalty shootout victory for the World Cup winners over their European counterparts was highlighted with a lot of flashpoints between players of both sides and particularly as a usually timid Messi became very vocal and aggressive.
At the Stadium 974 game, the ex-Real Madrid forward noted that he knew Messi was fired up once he saw a smile on his face.
“I realized it, you realized it, my grandmother realized it…” Di Maria said, on seeing the grin. “These are things of his, that sometimes stay inside him. When you talk about him, he ends up throwing it to you in a note or he does it to you in a court.
“He talks like that, in that way. I think it is normal. There are people who sometimes don’t respect him and don’t realize that he is the best player in history. You shouldn’t say anything to him because he ends up getting fired up and it’s worse.”
The winger, who also played for Manchester United and PSG, said that Messi‘s persona changed during the tournament when he first tasted international success: the 2021 Copa America.
“Already in the Copa América 2021, Messi was another man,” Di Maria added. “He began to have another character, which he had but he didn’t show it so much. After that cup, he started not to keep quiet”.
Di Maria: The Netherlands didn’t play soccer
The Netherlands coach, Louis Van Gaal, is known for his tactical innovations and his manner of doing whatever needs to be done to get over the line and the system he employed against Argentina wasn’t appreciated.
The Dutch played direct football, aiming to combat the short and tricky South Americans with aggressive defense and balls to their 6ft 6in forward, Wout Weghorst, who provided a goal.
“That game was spectacular, impeccable,” Di Maria said. “They tied us by long balls and pushing, things that normally one says: ‘Yes, we also play soccer’.
“That’s not playing soccer, that’s throwing balls. They tied us playing like that. In the end, we went through and we deserved it for the game we played.”
