Lionel Messi praises 'not normal' Argentina as World Cup semifinal awaits
ESPN • • sports
Key Points:
- Argentina defeated a 10-man Switzerland 3-1 in extra time to reach the World Cup semifinals, with goals from Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez sealing the victory after Breel Embolo's controversial red card.
- Lionel Messi described Argentina's continued success as "not normal," highlighting the difficulty of maintaining top-level performance as reigning world champions and emphasizing the importance of enjoying the achievement.
- Argentina will face England in the semifinal in Atlanta, marking Messi's first encounter against England, a historically significant matchup given past World Cup controversies involving the two nations.
- Messi acknowledged the toughness of the Switzerland match, noting the impact of Embolo's red card on the game's dynamics but also the challenges Argentina faced in maintaining possession and control.
- The Argentine squad aims to rest and recover ahead of the semifinal, with Messi expressing confidence in competing against a strong England side and valuing the significance of the upcoming match.
