'Nothing was handed to Argentina': Messi unloads on favouritism claims
Lionel Messi has publicly dismissed claims that Argentina's success in the FIFA World Cup is due to favorable officiating or external influence. He emphasized that the team's performance is the result of hard work and consistency over the past four years.
Why it matters
The comments address ongoing controversies regarding refereeing standards and perceived bias in international football tournaments.
Lionel Messi has hit back at critics questioning Argentina's run to the FIFA World Cup final, insisting the defending champions have earned everything through their performances and not because of favourable officiating or outside influence.Argentina came from 1-0 down after the 85th minute to beat England 2-1 in Wednesday's semifinal and book a place in the final, where they will face Spain on Sunday.The win sparked celebrations across Buenos Aires, with thousands of fans filling the streets as Argentina moved within one victory of winning back-to-back World Cups.It was also another comeback in a tournament where Lionel Scaloni's side have repeatedly found a way back into matches. Argentina had earlier beaten Cape Verde and Switzerland in extra time and recovered from 2-0 down with 11 minutes left to defeat Egypt 3-2.Those victories, however, have also brought criticism. Coaches from Switzerland and Egypt questioned refereeing decisions after their defeats.
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